65th Annual Estate Planning Short Course

DAY ONE

Moderated By: David E. Braden, Yudell and Lonoff, LLC, Northfield

Recent Developments in Federal Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Taxes    Sponsored by 

Learn about new law affecting this area in the last year.
Karen Van Meter, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Chicago

Federal Income Taxation for Estate Planning & Administration     Sponsored by 
Understand recent developments in income tax matters and the impact on estate planning and administration.
Adam Garber, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC, Chicago 
Robert A. Romanoff, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC, Chicago 

Illinois Law: Case Decisions & Trends     Sponsored by 

Get up to date on new cases and Illinois legislation specifically applicable to estate planning, estate taxation, trusts, and more.
Ryan A. Walsh, Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP, Chicago 

FEATURED PRESENTATION: A Practitioner’s Guide to the Illinois Trust Code – How to Address Common (and Not So Common) Issues     Sponsored by 

Jonathan W. Michael, The Michael Law Group, P.C., Chicago
Stacy E. Singer, Northern Trust, Chicago 

The Spill on E-Wills: Key Considerations when Executing Electronic Wills
This presentation focuses on the Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act and the recent amendments to the Illinois Notary Public Act, including practical tips for practitioners to consider when using Electronic Wills, Remote Witnesses and Electronic and Remote Notaries.
Reetu Pepoff, Northern Trust, Chicago
Ray Prather, Prather Ebner LLP, Chicago

Planning with Permanent Uncertainty     Sponsored by 

How do we advise clients when each year seems to add more uncertainty to future estate planning techniques?  Learn about drafting and administration tools to manage potential change in the estate planning landscape, even when that change is unknown.

Jessica Birnbaum, Schiff Hardin LLP, Chicago
Carrie A. Harrington, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC, Chicago

Adjourn Day 1

DAY TWO

Track A Moderator:
Grant R. Hendricks, Levenfield Pearlstein LLC, Chicago 

Track B Moderator:
Katherine L. Opel, Weinheimer Opel Law Firm, PC, Edwardsville

Breakout Session 1

Track A
Post-Death Administration of Estates & Trusts     Sponsored by 

Navigating the post-death administration of a loved-one’s estate or trust can be challenging, overwhelming and emotional for your clients. Learn the steps and processes for administering an estate or trust, discuss the obstacles that can arise in the administration, and how to overcome them.
Fredrick B. Weber, Northern Trust, Chicago 
Beth K. Flowers, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, LTD., Edwardsville

Track B

What Was That Tax Bracket? Federal Income Tax Rules for Trusts and Estates
This session provides an overview of the federal income tax rules for simple and complex trusts and estates and delves into structure and planning that may be available to minimize income taxes.
Rebecca Wallenfelsz, Chapman and Cutler LLP, Chicago 

Breakout Session 2

Track A

Spousal Lifetime Access Trust—Drafting Considerations, Gifting Strategy, and Potential Pitfalls    Sponsored by 

Having avoided the Congressional chopping block in 2021, Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, or SLATs, continue to be a popular gift planning vehicle for married couples. This session will explore what makes SLATs so popular, with examples of many of the common provisions and drafting considerations for these trusts. In addition, this discussion will touch on maximizing clients’ gifting strategies through one or more SLATs, the reciprocal trust doctrine, the effects of divorce, and providing flexibility for changes in circumstances.

Joe Blumberg, Northern Trust, Chicago
Jessica L. Coutré, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC, Chicago

Track B
Basics of Special-Needs Trusts, SSI & SSDI     Sponsored by 

Ben A. Neiburger, Generation Law Ltd., Elmhurst 

Breakout Session 3

Track A

The SECURE (“Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement” Or “Sending Everyone Cowering Under Reduced Expectations”) Act and Other Recent Developments in Estate Planning for Retirement Assets

Sponsored by  

Effective on January 1, 2020 (with a few minor exceptions), the SECURE Act brought a sea of change in estate planning for retirement benefits. This presentation will cover the latest developments with respect to the SECURE Act and other recent happenings in this area.
Robert K. Kirkland, Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP, Liberty, MO

Track B

Misplaced Trust: Court Intervention to Remedy Power of Attorney Misconduct     Sponsored by 

When an agent exploits their principal’s trust, legal action may be taken to remedy that breach of faith. Practitioners will learn procedural and substantive strategies to remove bad actors or invalidate powers of attorney within the guardianship forum.
Ashley C. Coppola, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago
Ray J. Koenig III, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago 

Breakout Session 4

Track A

To Have and to HODL: Planning with Cryptocurrency Sponsored by    
This presentation will address fiduciary administration and estate planning considerations related to cryptocurrency including: planning ideas, practical tips and an overview of recent cryptocurrency developments.
James H. Cundiff, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Chicago 
Elise J. McGee, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Chicago 

Track B

Proactive Planning for Potential Disputes in Family Business Succession Planning
We are in the midst of the largest inter-generational transfer of wealth than at any other time in history.  In this session, we will identify and explore the various issues that arise in planning for the transition of a family business from the senior generation to the family members who are next in line.  Many of these challenges are ones that may not have been faced by previous generations, simply due to changes in societal norms.  By anticipating and planning for these potential issues, you will be better able to serve your family business clients.
Natalie M. Perry, Harrison & Held, LLP, Chicago 
Sally Venverloh, JP Morgan, Chicago

Breakout Session 5

Track A

Mulitstate Jurisdiction Over Trustees & Beneficiaries   Sponsored by  
Discuss legal and practical concerns relating to the determination of an Illinois court’s jurisdiction over out-of-state trust property, trustees, and beneficiaries.  Topics will include the distinction between, and necessity for, in rem and in personam jurisdiction, relevant statutes and constitutional law.  Practical solutions, pitfalls and the Illinois Trust Code will be discussed.
David M. Lutrey, Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe, LLP, Lake Forest 
Shawn McCullough, Harrison & Held, LLP, Chicago

Track B

Third-Party Claims Against Decedents Under the Illinois Trust Code
What happens to claims made against a decedent’s estate when probate is not open, but the decedent had a fully funded revocable trust?  Can creditors reach the assets of the revocable trust and what is the process from both the creditor’s perspective and the estate’s perspective? Get an in depth look at applicable provisions of Article 5 of the Illinois Trust Code, and how to properly evaluate different types of claims against the decedent’s estate and trust.
Sarah M. Barnes, Harrison & Held, LLP, Chicago 
Thomas G. Hamill, Harrison & Held, LLP, Springfield 

Breakout Session 6

Track A

Changes in the Practice - Generationally and Post-COVID    Sponsored by 
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
Has the post-COVID-19 world widened the generational gap among attorneys? Featuring a range of panelists with a variety of years of experience, this session will explore how different generations interpret the recent changes to the practice of law and what changes may be here to stay.
Lorraine Cavataio, Sandberg Phoenix, O’Fallon 
Payton M. Heyen, Sandberg Phoenix, St. Louis
Edward Reilly, Sandberg Phoenix, Clayton

Track B

Firm Succession Planning - Practical Tips for Professionally Preparing Your Practice for Life’s Planned and Unplanned Transitions
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
As estate planners we help our clients prepare for death but often fail to think about our own legal practices and firms as an asset that deserves planning. In our session, we will address the importance of creating a firm succession plan (and the professional responsibility to do so) as well as planning for other transitions including attorney leave (whether caused by happy or unhappy circumstances), sale of practices, and attorney transitions to new firms. We will examine a case study of a firm where decedent lawyer did not have a succession plan (and the resulting headaches and heartaches) and give practical suggestions for attendees including sample language to consider adding to firm engagement letters, internal policies and practical guides for succession planning, and provide attendees a succession plan template that can be adapted to fit the transition circumstances.
Patrick B. Mathis, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, LTD., Belleville 
Madeleine J. Minton, Harrison & Held, LLP, Chicago

Adjourn

  = IICLE® Publications Author