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Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. 59 posts 0 comments

Vanessa Kanaga currently serves as InterActive Legal’s Special Advisor on Estate Planning and Legal Strategy. She is the former CEO of InterActive Legal. Vanessa received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Wichita State University, as well as an Advanced Professional Certificate from New York University School of Law. She is licensed in New York, Kansas, and Arizona, and currently lives in Arizona.

Prior to joining InterActive Legal in 2013, Vanessa practiced in New York, at Milbank LLP and Moses & Singer LLP, and in Kansas, at Hinkle Law Firm, LLC. She has experience in a range of estate planning matters, including high net worth tax planning and asset protection planning.

In 2024, Vanessa returned to the practice of law. She is an Associate Attorney at Greengard Law Firm, PLC in Phoenix, Arizona.

Roundtable

Practical Options for Estate Planners in Unexpected Times

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Mar 25, 2020

The first quarter of 2020 has evolved into a challenging time for many, and while estate planning may not be top of mind for most people, it remains important for many of our clients and their families. In the current environment of social…

Blog

Executive Orders and Proposed Legislation Address Remote Signing During COVID-19

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Mar 24, 2020

These Executive Orders demonstrate a quick and proactive response to the constraints on mobility due to the current pandemic. Practitioners should be cautioned, however, that the use of the executive power to modify notary and witness…

BlogPractice Development

Estate Planning is a Process

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Mar 3, 2020

Each year, at the annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning (known simply as "Heckerling"), InterActive Legal hosts a luncheon for our subscribers, prospective subscribers, and Advisors.

Drafting

SECURE Act Drafting

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Jan 31, 2020

The enactment of the SECURE Act late last year has been a hot topic among estate and financial planners for the past several weeks. Of most importance to those of us who draft estate planning documents is how the Act affects existing and…

Roundtable

Courageous Conversations…Topics to Avoid at the Dinner Table, but Bring to the Conference…

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Dec 12, 2019

As we make our way through the holiday season, we are reminded of the old adage about avoiding certain subjects such as religion, sex, and politics at the dinner table. Many of us know from experience how difficult it can be to discuss…

Blog

The Collectibles Trustee: It’s crucial to place your treasured items in the right hands

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Sep 20, 2019

Naming an Executor (called a Personal Representative in some states) to administer your estate is an important decision, and can be a difficult one, particularly if you own property that requires special knowledge and attention, such as…

Roundtable

Wills in the Cloud – The Pros, Cons, and Inevitability of Electronic Wills

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Aug 28, 2019

Four states now permit (or will in 2020) some version of an “electronic will,” and the Uniform Electronic Wills Act drafted earlier this year is likely to bring the concept to other states sooner rather than later. It appears inevitable…

Blog

Major Change in Planning for Retirement Benefits on the Horizon

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. May 28, 2019

On May 23, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that, if signed into law, would significantly change estate planning for Qualified Plans and IRAs (referred to herein, collectively, as "Retirement Benefits").

Blog

Healthy Debate Shines Light on Automated Drafting

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Apr 9, 2019

A recent set of articles published in the February issue of Trusts & Estates discusses the pros and cons of using Document Assembly Systems. The articles are nicely presented as a Point/Counterpoint feature.

Roundtable

The Balancing Act – Staying Upright When Dealing With Diminished Capacity

Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq. Mar 28, 2019

As lawyers, our primary obligation is to serve the best interests of the client. One way estate planners do this is by putting a plan in place to protect both the client and the client’s assets in the event of incapacity. In the ideal…

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