Concern over local people being given bad advice on living trusts and other estate planning devices has prompted the creation of a new organization -- Financial and Estate Planning Advisors of Mercer County.

The group is hosting a seminar 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hickory VFW to talk about the law surrounding living trusts and what people can do to protect themselves from living trust scams.

Like other parts of the country, Mercer County in recent years has seen its share of mostly out-of-town businesses offering living trusts who often charge sky-high rates and give the wrong information on the law, said Douglas Watson, an attorney with the Hermitage law firm of Lewis and Ristvey.

"There are some bad people out there putting out bad things,'' Watson said. "This is kind of a defense to it.''

A living trust is a trust created for an individual while they are still alive. The property and other assets of the person are transferred into the trust to make it easier to avoid probate after they die.

Fast-talking salesmen try to convince people that there are no local experts on the subject and that's just wrong, Watson said.

"We know these subjects and there are other qualified people in this area where people can go to,'' he said. "We tell people to go to your banker, financial advisor or your attorney.''

Watson said he's discovered Internet schemes from businesses falsely claiming they can create a living trust whereby people don't have to pay any taxes and another more elaborate one touting how to create offshore trusts to avoid taxes.

In addition to the Hermitage law firm, the other members of the new group are: First National Investment Services, First National Trust Co., John O'Malley of AllState Financial, Arc of Mercer County Foundation and the Shenango Valley Foundation.

No products will be offered at the seminar as it's designed to be educational.

"We're doing this for the benefit of the community,'' Watson said.

During the seminar Watson will talk about living trusts and death taxes, Edana Hough of First National Trust Services will speak about trusts and how to administer them and Larry Haynes, executive director of the Shenango Valley Foundation will speak on charitable giving.

Future seminars are planned in September on topics where:

   » Carolyn Hartle of Lewis and Ristvey will talk on Medicare and long-term care insurance planning.

   » Joe O'Malley will speak on long term care insurance.

   » Financial and estate planning for parents who have special needs children will be discussed.

Hors d'oeuvres will be served before the seminar at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required by calling Lewis and Ristvey's office: 724-981-8700.