Estate Planning Short Course 2026

A practical discussion of recent statutory, regulatory, and case law developments affecting estate planning and administration, with an emphasis on emerging trends and their real-world implications for practitioners.

Elizabeth A. Garlovsky, Harrison LLP, Chicago 📚
Adam Garber, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC, Chicago 📚
Steven L. Kriz, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Chicago

A deep dive into the special considerations that arise when beneficiaries cannot represent themselves in trust or estate matters. This session examines applicable statutory frameworks, fiduciary responsibilities, and practical planning techniques for administration, modification, and distributions, with a focus on drafting estate plan provisions that anticipate and effectively address these circumstances.

Alec B. Covey, Northern Trust, Chicago
Katherine Marshall, Northern Trust, Chicago

A roadmap for identifying, collecting, and administering assets that pass outside the probate estate, including beneficiary designated accounts, life insurance, retirement plans, and contract-based transfers. This session addresses common pitfalls, coordination challenges, and best practices for ensuring a smooth and efficient administration process.

Alyx P. Durachta, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Chicago
Grant R. Hendricks, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Chicago

This session explores strategic uses of disclaimers before and after death to adjust distributions, preserve tax advantages, and respond to changing family or financial circumstances. Attendees will gain insight into technical requirements, critical timing considerations, and practical, real-world applications.

Patrick B. Mathis, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, LTD., Belleville 📚
Chad J. Richter, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, LTD, Edwardsville

Complex jurisdictional challenges and overlooked probate tools can significantly impact estate administration. This panel will explore the Norris Rule and the Illinois Attorney General’s role when charitable interests are involved, offering practical insights for navigating high-stakes probate matters.

Hugh F. Drake, Brown, Hay + Stephens, Springfield
Beth K. Flowers, Flowers Law, LLC, Edwardsville
Madeleine J. Minton, Harrison LLP, Chicago

This session provides a practical guide to the trustee’s administrative responsibilities, alongside key income tax concepts essential for estate planning practitioners. Topics include distributable net income (DNI), preparation of Form 1041, and compliance considerations, with an emphasis on real world application.

Shawn M. McCullough, Harrison LLP, Chicago 📚

Technical knowledge alone is not enough to build a thriving estate planning practice. Success also requires strong operational systems, clear client communication, and intentional business development. This session provides practical guidance on growing and managing a client centered estate planning practice, with a focus on streamlining client intake, managing expectations, and adopting effective business development strategies.

Hugh F. Drake, Brown, Hay + Stephens, Springfield 📚

Estate planning attorneys frequently navigate complex ethical issues, particularly when representing fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and family members with overlapping interests. This session provides a focused discussion of conflicts of interest in estate planning matters, with special attention to the fiduciary exception and attorney client privilege considerations. Learn how to identify potential conflicts, avoid common pitfalls, and maintain compliance with ethical obligations.

Paige Goepfert, Andersen, Chicago
Lauren J. Wolven, ArentFox Schiff, LLP, Chicago

An overview of special needs trust (SNT) types, Medicare considerations, and planning resources critical to developing and administering effective special needs planning strategies.

Kit M. Adderholt, Sandberg Phoenix, Kansas City
Lorraine K. Cavataio, Sandberg Phoenix, O’Fallon

This session addresses income tax challenges that arise in non-taxable estates and examines effective trust structuring strategies to navigate those issues.

Christopher Floss, ArentFox Schiff, LLP., Lake Forest

Retirement assets present unique income tax and planning challenges in a post SECURE Act environment. This session explores drafting and administration strategies for naming trusts as retirement plan beneficiaries, including conduit and accumulation trusts, the 10 year rule, and planning considerations for eligible designated beneficiaries.

Julie S. Pleshivoy, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Chicago 📚

Review recent significant trust and estate decisions, including Coffman, and the practical lessons they offer. This session examines common sources of disputes and identifies strategies to reduce litigation risk.

Patrick Bushell, Harrison LLP, Chicago

Selling discounted assets to an Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust can dramatically enhance wealth‑transfer results for high‑net‑worth clients. This session highlights how valuation discounts, grantor trust rules, and interest rate planning work together to move appreciation out of the taxable estate while minimizing transfer tax exposure. Practical structuring tips and common pitfalls will be addressed to help practitioners confidently implement this powerful strategy.

Nina B. Stillman, Handler Law, LLP, Chicago

By using modeling to illustrate the financial impact of an estate planning proposal, clients can better understand the four factors that shift wealth to future generations as well as the financial impact these factors have on the client's retained assets needed to support the clients for the remainder of their lives. The materials use spreadsheet modeling that can help understand the four primary wealth shifting factors that contribute to successful wealth transfer, including which factors are more and less important and mitigate the "burn" caused by the grantor paying the income taxes on trust income. Modeling a strategy provides tangible numerical data and deep insights into the strategy proposed. The materials provide readers with practical tips to help clients make decisions about their planning so that their decisions align with their personal needs and financial goals.

Jerome M. Hesch, Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP, Boca Raton

Seemingly routine boilerplate language can create unintended fiduciary exposure, administrative inefficiencies, or beneficiary disputes. This session examines those risks and offers practical guidance on counseling clients through fiduciary selections and distribution decisions to help ensure estate plans operate as intended.

Lucy D. Bickford, CIBC Private Wealth, Chicago

An examination of estate planning strategies designed to address the unique challenges of second marriages, blended families, and evolving family structures.

Jennifer F. Kuzminski, Aronberg Goldgehn, Chicago

With AI tools increasingly available to clients, this session explores how estate planning attorneys can continue to add meaningful value in the age of artificial intelligence. The discussion surveys common AI estate planning products, identifies red flags and ethical pitfalls, and examines responsible uses of AI for drafting, document review, and summarization, while emphasizing best practices for protecting client confidentiality and data security.

Linda M. Strohschein, Strohschein Law Group, LLC, St. Charles 📚