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Trusts, Estates & Probate

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Irrevocable Trusts - Simplified

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 6 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 0 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 49 minutes
Nika Gholston
Nicholas Bjorklund
Jared Sands
Johnnie James
Susan Wordal
With Nika D. Gholston from Nika Gholston Law + 4 others
Recorded November 14, 2025
Product ID 101185

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Overview

Smart Trust Planning Starts Here

How confident are you in using irrevocable trusts? Are your clients comfortable permanently giving up control of their major assets to a trustee? This course will give you the skills and tools to harness the power of these vital estate planning tools. Demystify the purposes, structure, tax implications, and administration of irrevocable trusts. This session emphasizes practical applications, compliance with trust law, and recent developments. Learn to distinguish trust types, manage fiduciary obligations, and assess key drafting and tax considerations for irrevocable trust planning. Register today!

  • Build a clear foundation to explain irrevocable trusts to clients.
  • Identify the right trust type to meet each client's planning goals.
  • Avoid errors with proven tips for effective drafting and funding.
  • Spot key tax issues and structure trusts for compliance and efficiency.
  • Guide trustees in meeting their legal duties and avoiding liability.
  • Stay current on case law and IRS trends affecting trust practice.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. What Are Irrevocable Trusts?
  2. Types and Uses of Irrevocable Trusts
  3. Drafting and Funding Irrevocable Trusts
  4. Basic Tax Considerations for Irrevocable Trusts
  5. Managing, Modifying, and Terminating Irrevocable Trusts
  6. Practical Scenarios, Current Developments, and Case Law Review
  7. Legal Ethics for Trust Practitioners

Related Topics

Product ID 101185

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 6 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 0 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. What Are Irrevocable Trusts?

    1. Essential Trust Concepts and Terms
    2. Key Distinctions From Revocable Trusts
    3. Core Purposes
    4. Relevant Statutes: UTC, Restatement (Third) of Trusts, etc.
    5. Key IRS Regulations

  2. Types and Uses of Irrevocable Trusts

    1. Suitability and Client Goals
    2. Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
    3. Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) and Grantor Retained Unitrusts (GRUTs)
    4. Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs)
    5. Charitable Trusts (CRATs, CRUTs, CLTs)
    6. Medicaid-Qualifying Trusts
    7. Asset Protection Trusts, Offshore and Domestic

  3. Drafting and Funding Irrevocable Trusts

    1. Essential Provisions to Include
    2. Flexibility vs. Irrevocability (e.g., Trust Protectors, Decanting)
    3. Trustee Selection and Duties
    4. Common Drafting Errors to Avoid
    5. Trust Funding: Transfer of Various Asset Types

  4. Basic Tax Considerations for Irrevocable Trusts

    1. Grantor Trust Rules (671-678)
    2. Income Taxation of Trusts (Form 1041)
    3. Gift Tax Implications: Completed Gifts and Crummey Powers (IRC 2501, 2511, Form 709)
    4. Trust Income Distribution Deduction (IRC 651-652)
    5. Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax Basics (IRC 2601)
    6. Estate Tax Inclusion/Exclusion (Form 706)

  5. Managing, Modifying, and Terminating Irrevocable Trusts

    1. Trust Administration Duties
    2. Judicial and Nonjudicial Modification Options
    3. Decanting and Trustee Discretion
    4. Trust Termination

  6. Practical Scenarios, Current Developments, and Case Law Review

  7. Legal Ethics for Trust Practitioners

    1. Client Capacity and Undue Influence
    2. Conflicts of Interest (Representing Multiple Parties)
    3. Competence and Due Diligence in Trust Planning
    4. Attorneys Acting as Fiduciaries
    5. Guarding Confidentiality

Who Should Attend

This legal guide is designed for attorneys. Accountants, tax professionals, trustees, wealth advisers, and paralegals may also benefit.

Speakers

Nika D Gholston
Nika D.
Gholston
Nika Gholston Law
Nicholas S Bjorklund
Nicholas S.
Bjorklund
Birch Grove Legal PLLC
Jared S Sands Esq.
Jared S.
Sands, Esq.
West & Feinberg, PC
Johnnie J James III
Johnnie J.
James, III
The Law Office of Johnnie James, PLLC
Susan Wordal
Susan
Wordal
Wordal Law, PLLC
Speaker bio
Nika D Gholston

Nika D. Gholston

Nika Gholston Law
Nika Gholston

, Esq. serves as the Founding and Managing Attorney at Nika Gholston Law, LLC, (NGL), an expert focused law firm with offices in Alabama and Georgia. With two decades of counseling and litigation experience, NGL handles complex legal matters, including Estate and Trust Administration, Trademark and Copyright Counseling, and Business Formation. In 2025, NGL was named the 'Best of Alabama' Estate Planning Law Firm, an award that honors the state's most outstanding businesses and organizations. Ms. Gholston is a proud Alabama native. She graduated from Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2001 and received her Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, in 2005. At Cumberland, Ms. Gholston focused her studies on alternative dispute resolution and was a member of the National Mediation Team. In 2005, her team placed first at the American Bar Association (ABA) National Mediation Competition in Los Angeles, CA. In 2006, Ms. Gholston represented the United States at the Inaugural International Chamber of Commerce Mediation Competition in Paris, France. In 2005, Ms. Gholston joined the United States Department of Justice, Community Relations Service (CRS), as a Conciliation Specialist in Atlanta, GA. At CRS, she worked closely with government officials to assess and respond to local and national conflicts based on race, color, and national origin. She monitored the racial climate in communities throughout the Southeast and substantially contributed to the Annual Assessment of Racial Tension (AART), which is submitted to the U.S. Attorney General and to the U.S. Congress. After leaving USDOJ in 2008, Ms. Gholston worked at a large litigation law firm in Atlanta, GA until she founded NGL in 2016. Ms. Gholston is a former Fellow of the American Bar Association's Family Law Section and a graduate of the Alabama State Bar (ASB) Leadership Class 15. She currently serves on the ASB Board of Bar Examiners and the Bench and Bar Task Force. In addition to her professional roles, Ms. Gholston volunteers as a board member for Independent Rights and Resources, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering individuals with physical and mental disabilities to live independent and meaningful lives. Ms. Gholston is a member of the Alabama and Georgia Bar Associations.

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Speaker bio
Nicholas S Bjorklund

Nicholas S. Bjorklund

Birch Grove Legal PLLC
Nicholas Bjorklund

is an attorney with Birch Grove Legal PLLC, where he practices in the areas of business planning, estate planning, probate and trust administration, situs planning, and tax. He is admitted to practice in Colorado and Wyoming and before the U.S. Tax Court. Mr. Bjorklund is a member of the Wyoming State Bar and Colorado Bar Association (Tax and Trust sections). He earned his B.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Colorado Mesa University and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Wyoming College of Law.

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Speaker bio
Jared S Sands Esq.

Jared S. Sands, Esq.

West & Feinberg, PC
Jared Sands

is an attorney for West & Feinberg, PC. He practices in private wealth planning, tax, and trust and estate litigation. Mr. Sands counsels high-net-worth individuals and multigenerational families on estate planning, business succession planning, and wealth preservation. He earned his B.A. degree from University of Maryland College Park, his J.D. degree from American University Washington College of Law and his LL.M. degree, with distinction, from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Sands is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. He is a member of the American Bar Association; District of Columbia Bar Association; Washington DC Estate Planning Council; Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland; and Maryland State Bar Association.

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Speaker bio
Johnnie J James III

Johnnie J. James, III

The Law Office of Johnnie James, PLLC
Johnnie James

is an attorney at The Law Office of Johnnie James, PLLC. He specializes in business, criminal defense, DUI law, copyright, estate planning, entertainment, intellectual property, legal consulting, personal injury, and trademark law. Within estate planning, Mr. James focuses on key elements such as wills, trusts, power of attorney, and beneficiary designations ensure assets are distributed according to your wishes while minimizing tax burdens. He earned his degree from The University of Oklahoma and his J.D. degree from Charlotte School of Law. Mr. James is admitted to practice law in Oklahoma and before the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma.

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Speaker bio
Susan Wordal

Susan Wordal

Wordal Law, PLLC
Susan Wordal

is a government law attorney and owner of Wordal Law, PLLC. She practices primarily in the areas of local government law, church administration, criminal law, and contract law, but has handled some Estate Planning over the years. Ms. Wordal was a city prosecutor/assistant city attorney for the city of Bozeman, Montana for over 21 years and has been a contract City Attorney for a local government since 2015. Before going into private practice, she earned her B.A. degree from The University of Montana and her J.D. degree from The University of Montana School of Law. Ms. Wordal is a 2nd generation Montana lawyer and has been licensed to practice law in Montana for over 30 years. She is also a member of the State Bar Ethics Committee.

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