Step-by-Step Guide to Drafting Wills and Trusts

May 5, 2017 Hannah St. Peter

Off

Don C. St. Peter, Estate Planning, Events, Jason C. Harby, Office News, Trusts, Will

Program Description

Draft Enforceable Estate Planning Documents With These Practical Techniques

Do you have all the information you need to draft customized testamentary documents for each of your clients? Don’t spend years gathering precious bits of legal practice wisdom – our experienced attorney faculty are here to share their time-tested methods of identifying clients’ needs and creating custom-tailored wills and trusts to fit each specific situation. This legal primer offers all the tools and sample forms to get you started. Get the fundamental skills you need to build your estate planning practice – register today!

Get practical will and trust drafting skills to speed up the process and give the testator’s last wishes power.
Stave off conflicts of interest with a clear determination of who your client is from the start.
Learn how to deal with interested relatives who want to be present at all the planning meetings.
Explore the pros and cons of using a revocable living trust in the will’s stead and find out when it’s a better option.
Explore the functions and mechanics of major trust structures – and make certain you choose the right tool for each job.
Give each provision full power with precise word choices – get sample forms to speed up the process.
Make sure your remarried and unmarried clients know the default inheritance laws and help them make sure the right beneficiaries are assigned.
Anticipate key tax issues, including individual income tax planning and trust taxation.
Phrase the fiduciary and beneficiary designations to leave no room for interpretation.
Learn how to verify and document the testator’s competency to close the door on any potential will contests.

Who Should Attend

This basic-to-intermediate level seminar offers foundational will and trust drafting skills that will benefit:

Attorneys
Paralegals
Trust Officers and Personal Representatives
Estate and Financial Planners
Accountants and CPAs
Tax Preparers

Continuing Education Credit

Continuing Legal Education – CLE: 6.00 *

Financial Planners – Financial Planners: 7.00

International Association for Continuing Education Training – IACET: 0.60

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy – CPE for Accountants: 7.00 *

* denotes specialty credits

Agenda / Content Covered

KEY ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE WILLS
9:00 – 10:15, Donald C. St. Peter
1. Establishing Statutory Framework
2. Types of Wills
3. Verifying and Documenting the Testator’s Competency
4. Beneficiary Designations in Retirement Plans and Life Insurance
5. Pension Distributions During and After Life
6. Titling Assets
7. Designating Fiduciaries
8. Planning for Disabled Children
9. Sample Will Verbiage
10. Sample Forms
11. Updating Will Documents
TRUSTS AS ALTERNATIVES TO WILLS
10:30 – 11:45, Lynne Conkling
1. When to Recommend a Trust Over a Will
2. Types and Functions of Trusts
3. Selecting Trustee(s)
4. Choosing Trust Situs
5. Trust Funding Basics
6. Sample Forms
BASIC TAX CONCERNS
12:45 – 2:00, Jason Harby
1. Get Updated on Changing Legislation and Case Law
2. Federal Estate and Gift Tax Update
3. Assess the Impact of the State Estate Tax
4. Individual Income Taxes – Issues You Need to Look At
5. Generation Skipping Transfer Tax – Recent Changes
6. Trust Taxation Basics
7. Disclaimer Trusts
8. Crummey Powers and the IRS
9. Frequently Asked Questions About Fiduciary Taxes
10. Tips for Calculating Tax Deductions
11. Why a Comparison to Neighboring States’ Taxes is Important
PLANNING FOR UNMARRIED AND REMARRIED COUPLES
2:15 – 3:30, Donald C. St. Peter
1. Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements
2. Planning for Children from Previous Marriage(s)
3. Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples
ETHICS
3:30 – 4:30, Lynne Conkling
1. Defining Who Your Client is from the Start
2. Handling Clients with Diminishing Mental Capacity
3. Lawyers Acting as Fiduciaries
4. Practicing Before the IRS
5. Conflicts of Interest