People don't like to contemplate their own deaths, but they do need to consider what will happen to their assets when they die. Tax issues, medical decisions, and a wide range of planning documents make the process even more complicated. But you can give your clients peace of mind by creating effective wills and trusts that carry out all of their wishes.

Order today to learn the fundamentals of preparing estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, and ancillary documents such as powers of attorney. Discover the pros and cons of using various types of documents, as well as the tax ramifications involved. Tackle the ethical issues related to estate planning, both from the attorney's perspective and from that of the client who must make end-of-life medical decisions. Have the skills and information you need right at your fingertips!

1. Fundamental Principles of Will Drafting
2. Using Living Trusts and Powers of Attorney as Estate Planning Tools
3. Basic Tax Considerations - What You Need to Know in Order to Choose the Appropriate Plan
4. Ethics and Estate Planning
5. Planning Methods to Control Medical Treatment

1. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF WILL DRAFTING
   9:00 - 10:15, Melanie L. Grayson
   1. Selecting the Vehicle - Initial Advice to the Client
   2. Checklist for Gathering Client Information
   3. The Statutory ABCs: What is Required?
   4. Methods of Designating Fiduciaries
   5. Disinheritance and No Contest Clauses - Will They Stand?
   6. Protective Clauses for Minors, Incompetent Persons and Beneficiaries With Special Needs
   7. Building Flexibility Into the Plan - Checklist of Special Provisions
   8. Practical Pointers With Sample Forms
   9. Developing a Document Preparation System
2. USING LIVING TRUSTS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY AS ESTATE PLANNING TOOLS
   10:30 - 11:45, Lori L. Holzwarth
   1. Common Elements in Trust Agreements
   2. The Revocable Living Trust - Why You Should Use It
   3. Disadvantages of Revocable Living Trusts
   4. Sample Pour-Over Will and Living Trust Agreements
   5. Durable Powers of Attorney
3. BASIC TAX CONSIDERATIONS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE PLAN
   12:45 - 2:00, Lori L. Holzwarth
   1. Tax Considerations of Drafting Living or Testamentary Trusts
   2. Marital Deduction Planning - Qualifications and Basic Formula Approaches
   3. Estate and Gift Taxes
   4. Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
   5. Income Tax - Ramifications of Trusts
4. ETHICS AND ESTATE PLANNING
   2:15 - 3:15, Melanie L. Grayson
   1. Selected Ethical Rules Affecting the Estate Planner
   2. Who's Your Client? Conflict of Interest
   3. Competency - A Word to the Wise
   4. Practice Before the IRS
   5. Attorney Fees
5. PLANNING METHODS TO CONTROL MEDICAL TREATMENT
   3:15 - 4:30, Melanie L. Grayson
   1. What a Living Will Can and Cannot Accomplish
   2. Picking Up Where a Living Will Ends - Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care/Health Care Proxy
   3. Preserving Your Client's Dignity Through the Patient Self-Determination Act
   4. Anatomical Gifts - Making the Difficult Decisions During Life and Upon Death

MELANIE L. GRAYSON is a partner in the Arkansas law firm of Grayson & Grayson, P.A., where she practices in the areas of nursing home litigation, probate, estate planning and tax. She previously has spoken for various professional groups on estate planning techniques. Ms. Grayson has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, teaching communications, regulations and media law. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. Ms. Grayson is a member of the Arkansas and American bar associations, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and VOCALS.

LORI L. HOLZWARTH is an attorney with the Little Rock law firm of Hyden, Miron & Foster, PLLC, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and business planning. She has lectured for attorneys and other professionals on estate planning and administration issues. Ms. Holzwarth is a member of the Arkansas and Pulaski County bar associations and The Missouri Bar. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas.

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