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, Valerie DeFontes
   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 - 12:00, Harold W.T. Purnell II
   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
   1:00 - 2:15, Harold W.T. Purnell II
   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
   2:30 - 3:30, Valerie DeFontes
   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
   3:30 - 4:30, Denise Nordheimer
   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

VALERIE DeFONTES is an attorney with the Law Office of Bayard Marin where she practices in the areas of wills and estates and real estate law. Ms. DeFontes received her B.A. degree from the University of Delaware and her J.D. degree from Villanova University School of Law. She is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association (member, Estates and Trust Section, Real and Personal Property Section).

DENISE NORDHEIMER is currently in private practice in Wilmington, Delaware, and focuses on the areas of estate planning, estate administration and domestic relations. Ms. Nordheimer is a graduate of New York University and Widener School of Law and is admitted to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Before going into practice, she was the chief deputy in the New Castle County Register of Wills Office. Ms. Nordheimer is a frequent speaker on estate administration in Delaware. In addition to her law practice, she is also an associate professor of business law at Wilmington University.

HAROLD W.T. PURNELL II is a partner in the law firm of Archer & Greiner, maintaining offices in Georgetown and Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Purnell practices in the areas of business, estate and tax planning matters. He also handles probate and trust administration matters. Mr. Purnell frequently lectures on estate planning issues. He received his B.A. degree from Gettysburg College, his J.D. degree from Delaware Law School and his LL.M. degree from Villanova University Law School. Mr. Purnell is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Courts of Delaware and Pennsylvania and the Delaware State and Sussex County bar associations.

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