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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF WILL DRAFTING
   9:00 - 10:15, J. Richard Owensby
   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, J. Richard Owensby
   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 - 2:15, Lisha A. Masters
   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, Lisha A. Masters
   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, Lisha A. Masters
   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

LISHA A. MASTERS is a partner in the Springfield law firm of Worsham and Masters where she focuses her practice in family law, estate planning, business succession planning, elder law, probate, guardianships, family law mediation and bankruptcy. Ms. Masters earned a B.S. degree from Drury University before completing her J.D. degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a frequent lecturer and author on various areas of her practice. Ms. Masters is a certified mediator with advanced training in high conflict divorces and is certified as a divorce financial analyst. Additionally, she has been a certified guardian ad litem since 2000. In 2006, she taught federal tax at Drury University as an adjunct professor. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at Missouri State - Springfield where she teaches negotiation. She is a recipient of the Fred L. Howard Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy. Ms. Masters is a member of The Missouri Bar (Family, Elder Law and Estate Planning committees) and the American Bar Association (Family Law and Real Property, Trusts and Estates sections). She also is a member of the National Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, a founding member and officer of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and is the founder of the Family Conflict Resolution Center in Springfield, Missouri, a non-profit organization providing low-cost mediation and parent education to low-income litigants.

J. RICHARD OWENSBY is a partner in the law firm of Neale & Newman, L.L.P., in Springfield. His primary areas of practice are estate planning and probate administration. Mr. Owensby received his B.S. degree in business administration from the University of Arizona and his M.S. degree in accounting and his law degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia. He presently serves on the Probate and Trust committees of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and The Missouri Bar, and he is a past president of the Greene County Estate Planning Council and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association. Mr. Owensby also is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com