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, Charles Kennedy
   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, Colin L. Murchison
   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, Colin L. Murchison
   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, Evaleen M. Davis
   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, Charles Kennedy
   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

EVALEEN M. DAVIS is an attorney in Plano. She is board certified in estate planning and probate and has more than 26 years of experience in the field. Ms. Davis also specializes in non-profit compliance and considers offering her assistance on a pro-bono basis in appropriate situations. She has previously lectured on claims procedures in probate and is a frequent lecturer at the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System pre-retirement programs. Ms. Davis also is a previous presenter at seminars for the National Business Institute. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her J.D. degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. Ms. Davis is a member of the Board of Directors for the Plano Bar Association and on the Estate Planning Section of the Collin County Bar Association. She also is on the board of directors at the Collin County Adult Clinic.

CHARLES KENNEDY is an attorney/CPA focusing on helping individuals plan for financial and healthcare problems through estate planning, probate, bankruptcy, guardianship and asset protection planning. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the State Bar of Texas. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1983 in Texas. Mr. Kennedy earned his B.B.A. and J.D. degrees at Texas Tech University.

COLIN L. MURCHISON is an attorney in the Tax and Estate Section of Jackson Walker L.L.P., where he practices in the areas of tax and estates, wealth planning and transfer. Mr. Murchison is certified by the State Bar of Texas as an attorney ad litem and a guardian ad litem. He wrote ?Kiddie Tax Broadened to Apply to 18 Year Olds and to Full-Time Students Under the Age of 24,? which was published in Jackson Walker's Wealth Planning E-Alert in June 2007. Mr. Murchison earned his B.S. degree from Texas Tech University, his J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law and his LL.M. degree from the University of Denver. He also attended the Institute on World Legal Problems at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Mr. Murchison is a member of the Tarrant County Probate Bar, the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association and the State Bar of Texas.

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