Individual sessions also available.
| MCLE Credit: | 12.0 (Ethics: 2.0) |
| Live-Interactive Credit: | 0.0 |
| GAL for Incapacitated Persons CE Credit: | 5.0 (GAL Information) |
| Price: | $459 (Includes a downloadable audio version.) |
| Viewable Through: | 03/31/2029 |
$459.00 (or 12 Bundle Credits)
A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay from the April 2026 live seminar, Conner-Zaritsky 47th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Administration.
Cosponsored with the Wills, Trusts and Estates Section of The Virginia Bar Association, Conner-Zaritsky is a perennially anticipated program of national reach and sophisticated content.
Topics covered:
Trust and Estate Scouting Report: Uncovering Tax and Fiduciary Trends to Better Plan and Prepare
William I. Sanderson
For at least the last two decades, the federal wealth transfer tax has been in a state of continued—sometimes gradual, sometimes fast-paced—evolution. This presentation will review the landscape of federal legislation dealing with the estate and gift tax, and it will address trends in recent cases, regulatory guidance, and administrative updates that have an impact on estate planning and estate administration.
Virginia Developments in Estate Planning and Administration
Alvi Aggarwal
This session reviews significant state law developments.
Top 30 Best Practices When Advising Clients with Disabilities
Kristen Lewis
This presentation reviews the “Top 30 Best Practices” when advising families with special needs issues, including the “network” of Special Needs Trusts that serves as the foundation for securing the future of persons challenged by disabilities; the team of “allied professionals” that helps design and implement a comprehensive Special Needs Estate Plan; and the most common challenges (and solutions) encountered in Special Needs Estate Planning.
Circular 230 and Related Rules
Chris Rizek
Tax practitioners are subject to several different ethical and practice regulation regimes, such as Internal Revenue Code provisions, state bar or CPA licensing rules, and Circular 230. This session considers how these rules may affect trust and estate practitioners, particularly how they may differ in various specifics such as conflicts and conflict waivers (e.g., Model Rules 1.7 and 1.8; Cir. 230, § 10.29), confidentiality (Model Rule 1.6; IRC § 7216), fees and handling client funds (Cir. 230, §§10.27 and 10.31; IRC § 6695(f)), and advising taxpayers with respect to return positions (Cir. 230, §§ 10.34, 10.37; IRC § 6694). We conclude with a discussion of proposed changes to Circular 230 (esp. proposed §§ 10.21 and 10.51) and how these rules may affect practitioners in the future.
Demystifying the Valuation Process
Kathi Ayers, Craig Stephanson, Lauren Jenkins
Valuation is central to effective planning and administration, but the process can be overwhelming. In this interactive panel, two experienced estate planning attorneys and a valuation expert walk through the valuation process from engagement through the final report, offering practical insights, common pitfalls, and best practices to help practitioners work confidently and collaboratively with valuation professionals and deliver better outcomes for their clients.
Estate Planning Strategies for QTIP Trust Assets
Read Moore
The assets of a QTIP trust may be a substantial part of a client’s estate that are subject to estate taxes on his or her death. The provisions of the trust instrument and tax law, however, complicate the use of typical estate planning strategies for QTIP trust assets. This presentation addresses the special gift tax and estate tax rules that apply to QTIP trusts and discusses strategies to minimize wealth transfer taxes for QTIP trust assets in light of these special tax rules as well as typical governing instrument provisions and limitations.
Post-Mortem Planning: It’s Not Too Late to Plan
Ellis Pretlow, Tom Yates
In this presentation, we will dive into the many planning opportunities that present themselves after death. We will examine the impact that utilizing various techniques can have on income, gift, estate, and GST tax and survey issues that arise in the valuation process and preparation of the estate tax return. We will also consider the power of disclaimers and various tax elections for an estate and its beneficiaries.
Artificial Intelligence and the Estate Planner: Resistance Is Futile
Gerry Beyer
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly being incorporated into estate planning practices. AI products can increase the speed by which you prepare, review, and summarize estate planning related documents, tax returns, and client communications. Likewise, the speed by which you can conduct legal and financial research is faster than ever. This presentation is designed to explain how AI operates, the potential use of AI in your practice, warnings about the use of AI, and how to address the ethical issues that arise when using AI.
The Two of You Came to Me for Estate Planning—But Let’s Talk About What Happens When You Get Divorced! (Ethics)
Bruce Stone
Sound and routine estate planning advice can lead to surprising and harmful consequences to one or both of our married clients if they divorce. Given divorce rates, are we obligated under VRPC 1.1 to routinely incorporate family law concepts into our estate planning advice to married clients? But would that create impermissible ethical conflicts for us under VRPC 1.7? Can we even advise married clients in advance on their estate planning options if they should get divorced? When we represent married couples, what are our obligations under VPRC 1.6 to maintain confidentiality of communications with one but not both of the spouses?
Dogs, Horses, Turtles, and More! (Almost) Everything an Attorney Needs to Know to Help Clients Plan for Their Pets
Kelli Brown
When clients think about protecting their loved ones, they often forget an important member of the family—their pets. Whether it’s a dog, a horse, or a turtle, pets rely on their humans to secure their future. Yet many estate plans leave these beloved companions in legal limbo. This session equips estate planning attorneys and professionals with the tools to ensure pets are properly accounted for in their clients’ plans—from straightforward “Pet Custodian” designations to more sophisticated “Pet Trusts.” The session covers practical strategies for handling reluctant family members, creative planning options, and tax considerations around pet planning.
You will laugh, you will cry, it’s better than “Cats.” Okay, maybe not better than Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical “Cats,” but join Kelli Brown to learn how to turn an overlooked topic into a meaningful service and give clients peace of mind knowing that their pet family members are protected.
Hot Topics
Farhad Aghdami, Howard Zaritsky
This session covers significant developments or topics of interest that may have arisen after the program and speakers are set for the coming year.
Q&A Panel
Farhad Aghdami, William I. Sanderson, Howard Zaritsky
In this session, several of our speakers respond to questions presented by attendees.
Alvi Aggarwal, Yates Campbell & Hoeg, LLP / Fairfax
Farhad Aghdami, Williams Mullen / Richmond
Kathi L. Ayers, Vaughan, Fincher & Sotelo, PC / Tysons
Prof. Gerry W. Beyer, Texas Tech University School of Law / Lubbock, TX
Kelli Brown, Goldberg Simpson, LLC / Prospect, KY
Lauren A. Jenkins, Offit Kurman, P.A. / Vienna
Kristen M. Lewis, Harrison, LLP / Atlanta, GA
M. Read Moore, McDermott Will & Schulte / San Francisco, CA
Ellis H. Pretlow, Bessemer Trust / New York, NY
Christopher S. Rizek, Holland & Knight / Washington, DC
William I. Sanderson, McGuireWoods LLP / Washington, DC
Craig Stephanson, Valuation Services, Inc. / Arlington
Bruce Stone, Goldman Felcoski & Stone, P.A. / Coral Gables, FL
Tom Yates, Yates Campbell & Hoeg LLP / Fairfax
Howard M. Zaritsky / Rapidan
MODERATOR
Frank A. Thomas, III, Frank A. Thomas, III PLC / Orange
