Will Drafting Fundamentals

Category: On Demand

Member Price: $200

Non-Member Price: $250

Product Code: ON0581252

Areas of Law: Estate Law

CLE Credits
NJ CLE:NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 4 hours of total CLE credit, including 1.0 in Ethics (Full Credits Available: NJ Ethics: 1.0, NJ General: 3.0, NJ New Admit Estate Planning: 4.0).
NY CLE (t&nt):NY Ethics Transitional: 1.0, NY Professional Practice Transitional: 3.0
PA CLE:PA Ethics Credit: 0.5, PA Substantive Credit: 2.5
New: No PACLE fee is required for this program. To earn PA CLE credits, a valid PA Bar ID number must be entered into the CLE form provided after attending the program.
Faculty

Keynote

Moderator

Judson M. Stein, Esq.
McCarter & English, LLP, Newark

Presenters

Lauren M. Ahern, Esq.
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP, Red Bank
Brian D. Reynolds, Esq.
Mantell Prince & Reynolds PC, Basking Ridge
Tara S. Sinha, Esq.
Witman Stadtmauer PA, Florham Park
Deirdre Wheatley-Liss, Esq., CELA
Porzio Bromberg & Newman, Morristown

Almost every lawyer gets asked at some point in their career to draft a will, whether for an existing client, relative, or friend. While you don’t have to be an expert, you do need a general understanding of the tax laws and the options you should consider to draft a document that will fulfill the wishes of your clients. 

Register today to learn everything you need to know to draft wills that stand up to even the toughest scrutiny while getting the best results for your clients. You’ll also learn important provisions that need to be included in a will, as well as the procedures that are required for the proper execution of a will.

This fundamental program is designed for general practitioners, new attorneys, and support staff who have little or no experience in will drafting. The seminar will guide you step-by-step through the will-drafting process, starting with the initial client interview and the ethical considerations to keep in mind while conducting it. Learn what questions to ask and how to ask them. From there, learn how to decide which options work best for individual clients and get different sample drafting ideas. Finally, discover the proper way to prepare the final document for execution. You will see how seasoned estate planning attorneys fashion a will—clause by clause.

Topics include:

  • The initial client interview and ethical considerations - Lauren M. Ahern, Esq.
  • Sample annotated simple will, including the proper execution of a will - Deirdre Wheatley-Liss, Esq., CELA
  • Summary of federal and state death taxes - Judson M. Stein, Esq.
  • Basic testamentary estate planning - Brian D. Reynolds, Esq.
  • Special situations (e.g. same-sex couples, second marriages, disabled beneficiaries, unmarried cohabitants, family businesses, pets) - Tara S. Sinha, Esq.
  • What’s new in will drafting and things you don’t know you need to know - Entire panel