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. Living Trusts 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. Medical Decision Making in West Virginia

1. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF WILL DRAFTING
   9:00 - 10:45, Staci Norman Criswell
   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. LIVING TRUSTS AS ESTATE PLANNING TOOLS
   11:00 - 12:00, William H. Scharf
   1. Basic Elements of Trust Agreements
   2. The Nonprobate Revolution
   3. Advantages of Revocable Living Trusts
   4. Disadvantages of Revocable Living Trusts
   5. Role of Durable Powers of Attorney and Pour Over Wills
3. BASIC TAX CONSIDERATIONS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE PLAN
   1:00 - 2:15, Andrew L. Ellis
   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, Andrew L. Ellis
   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. MEDICAL DECISION MAKING IN WEST VIRGINIA
   3:30 - 4:30, Christopher J. Winton
   1. West Virginia Health Care Decisions Act
   2. Living Wills (Forms Included)
   3. Medical Powers of Attorney (Forms Included)
   4. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Form Included)
   5. Guardian or Conservator

ANDREW L. ELLIS is an attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. Mr. Ellis is a member of the firm's corporate department. His practice focuses on estate administration, estate planning, business planning, taxation and general litigation. Mr. Ellis is a member of The West Virginia State Bar (Probate Committee) and the Charleston Estate Planning Council. He earned his B.A. degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, his LL.M. degree from the University of Denver and his J.D. degree from the University of Denver College of Law.

STACI NORMAN CRISWELL is an attorney at the law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, where her practice is concentrated in estate and tax planning. Ms. Criswell's practice focuses on large and complex estates and trusts. She was vice president and personal trust specialist with BB&T Wealth Management, where she administered complex personal trust and fiduciary relationships, and advised clients and staff regarding fiduciary standards, principles, and applicable laws and regulations. Prior to her position with BB&T Wealth Management, Ms. Criswell was an associate with a local law firm where her practice focused on wills, trusts and estates. She earned her B.A. degree from West Virginia University and her J.D. degree from West Virginia University College of Law. Ms. Criswell is admitted to practice in West Virginia and Virginia. She is a member of the Charleston Estate Planning Council, The West Virginia State Bar (Probate Committee, and State and Federal Taxation Committee) and the John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court.

WILLIAM H. SCHARF is the founding member of William H. Scharf PLLC. Mr. Scharf is a Charleston attorney practicing in the areas of tax and estate planning. He has frequently lectured for the West Virginia Continuing Legal Education Program and The West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Scharf has written several articles relating to taxation, including "Buy-Sell Agreements Can Endanger a Corporation's NOL Carryovers," 18 Estate Planning Magazine 22, and has contributed to the West Virginia Practice Handbook chapter on "Administration of Decedents' Estates" (1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003). He is past-president of the Charleston Estate Planning Council and a member of The West Virginia State Bar (member, Probate Committee) and the American Bar Association (member, Taxation Section). Mr. Scharf earned his A.B. degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University and his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

CHRISTOPHER J. WINTON is the managing member of the Charleston law firm of Ray, Winton & Kelley, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of estate planning and administration, business planning, taxation, and civil litigation. He is a frequent lecturer to professional and business groups on wills and trusts, ethics, litigation and insurance, and co-wrote "Laying Claim: A Practitioner's Guide to Will Contests in West Virginia," published in 96 West Virginia University Law Review 123 (1993). Mr. Winton is a member of The West Virginia State Bar (Probate Committee), Charleston Estate Planning Council and the American Bar Association (member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law sections). He earned his B.A. degree, with high distinction, and his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia.

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