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Overview
Get Critical Tools for Shaping Your Clients' Legacies
This no-nonsense introduction to estate planning breaks it down to its key working documents and fundamental steps. Learn how to map out asset transfers during life and distributions in probate, prepare clients for incapacity and nursing home care, and more. Whether you're just getting started or looking for a practical refresher, you'll find our expert faculty's insights helpful. Get the tools and tactics you'll need to ensure your client's estates function as intended. Register today!
- Explore the top types of wills and trusts used in the practice, and pick the right one for each client.
- Build Medicaid eligibility planning into your overall plans and avoid unintentional tax and creditor exposure.
- Prevent POA abuse through wise choice of proxy and careful drafting.
- Help clients plan for medical decision-making and diminishing capacity.
- Plan for the tax consequences of trusts and other planning techniques and find ways to minimize the tax burden.
- Spot common mistakes that will land you in hot water in joint representation of spouses.
Abbreviated Agenda
- Essential Will and Trust Drafting
- Gifts, Joint Accounts, Intervivos Transfers, LLCs, IRAs, and Annuities
- Essential Tax Tactics
- Special Needs Trusts and Medicaid Planning
- Probate in a Nutshell: What to Expect
- Financial and Medical Decision-Making, Guardianships
- Legal Ethics
Credit Details
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia CLE |
|
6 Total | 10-31-2026 |
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Agenda
-
Essential Will and Trust Drafting
- Client Intake and Crafting the Overall Plan
- Wills vs. Trusts
- Top Trusts to Use
- Drafting Essential Provisions (With Sample Language)
- Fiduciary Powers
- Distributions
- Special Clauses
-
Gifts, Joint Accounts, Intervivos Transfers, LLCs, IRAs, and Annuities
-
Essential Tax Tactics
- Current State and Federal Tax Rates and Exclusions
- Tax Tactics for Small vs. Large Estates
- Valuation of Assets
- Taxation and Tax Consequences of Trusts
-
Special Needs Trusts and Medicaid Planning
- Medicaid Eligibility Criteria
- Medicaid Planning Tools
- Types of Special Needs Trusts
- Essential SNT Provisions
- Preserving Benefits
- ABLE Accounts
-
Probate in a Nutshell: What to Expect
-
Financial and Medical Decision-Making, Guardianships
- Choosing the Right Proxies
- "Dangerous" Powers
- Adult Guardianships
- Medical POAs and Advance Directives
-
Legal Ethics
- Who Is Your Client?
- Conflicts of Interest
- Joint Representation of Spouses
- Client Capacity
- Effective Communication
- Practicing Before the IRS
- Attorney Fees, Engagement Agreements, and Client Trust Accounts
- Preventing UPL
Who Should Attend
This basic level online seminar is designed for:
- Attorneys
- Accountants and CPAs
- Tax Professionals
- Trust Officers
- Estate Planners
- Paralegals
Speakers
Speaker bio
Dominique Carmichael Braggs
is a Senior Partner with Braggs Law Offices, PLLC. She focuses on three specific areas of law; elder law, estate planning, and probate. Ms. Braggs attended the United States Military Academy and went on to receive her J.D. degree from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law. In the years in between, she served as a finance officer in the United States Army, stationed in South Korea and Texas. Ms. Braggs is admitted to practice law in Virginia, District of Columbia, and Maryland; and before the District of Columbia State Courts, Maryland State Courts and Virginia State Courts
Speaker bio
Heather L. Sunderman
is an associate at McMillan Metro and Faerber, P.C., where she focuses on the areas of wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, guardianships and family law. In addition, she is trained as a mediator and collaborative law practitioner. Ms. Sunderman has been appointed by courts to represent disabled persons in guardianship matters, and children in contested custody matters. She has litigated cases in many different areas of the law including divorce, guardianships, domestic violence and civil disputes. Ms. Sunderman earned her bachelor's degree from Allegheny College and her J.D. degree from Washington College of Law (American University). She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland. She is admitted to practice law in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Speaker bio
Sarah C. Aviles
is a principal with McCandlish Lillard, PC, where she concentrates her practice in estate planning, trust and estate administration, fiduciary representations, and civil litigation. Ms. Aviles advises clients on planning for family financial needs, probate avoidance, and incapacity. She has prepared hundreds of estate plans including wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney and advance medical directives. Ms. Aviles is a member of the Fairfax Bar Association. She earned her B.A. degree from The College of William & Mary and her J.D. degree from William & Mary School of Law.
Speaker bio
Theresa D. Small
is an attorney at McCandlish Lillard, PC practicing in the areas of civil litigation, and estate planning. She works primarily in the firm's Fairfax office however, she represents clients across Northern Virginia. Ms. Small received her undergraduate degree from James Madison University and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law, where she served as the editor in chief for the Civil Rights Law Journal, Mooting Committee Chair for the Moot Court Board, student president of Mason Inn of Court, and member of the Trial Advocacy Association. She is the president of the Young Lawyers Section of the Fairfax Bar Association.
Speaker bio
George F. Reilly
is an attorney and partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC. He has been an attorney for over 38 years, with the first half of his career serving the legal needs of Sailors, Marines, and their families as an officer in the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. During his Navy career, Mr. Reilly served as the Navy's Tax Counsel during three separate assignments. In that position, he represented the interests of Navy leadership as well as Sailors, Marines, and their families with respect to tax legislation, regulations, and policy. He also did extensive writing and teaching on such topics as income and estate taxation, estate planning, legal readiness, and financial planning. Mr. Reilly brings financial, tax, and legal planning experience into the comprehensive peace of mind plan that is offered at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC that addresses the life and estate planning needs of his clients. He received his B.S. degree from Manhattan College, his J.D. degree from Saint John's University School of Law, and his LL.M. degree in taxation from George Washington University School of Law. Mr. Reilly is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Tax Court. He is a Certified Financial Planner(TM) professional and member of Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council.
Speaker bio
Sarah L. McCurry
is a partner in the Midlothian law firm of Winslow McCurry & MacCormac, PLLC, focusing her practice on representing area small businesses and practicing trust and estates law. She earned her B.A. degree from Hendrix College and her J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ms. McCurry is admitted to practice law in Florida and in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since early 2009, she has practiced in the Richmond area and currently leads her firm's estate practice. Additionally, Ms. McCurry regularly instructs other lawyers in estate and business related topics in Virginia and nationally. She is admitted to both state and federal courts in each principality, including all Virginia General District and Circuit courts, Virginia Court of Appeals, Virginia Supreme Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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