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Heckerling Themes and Takeaways: Reviewing the Most Important Topics Discussed at the 2025 Institute and More
January 30 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm EST
Jonathan G. Blattmachr JD, Abigail E. O’Connor, JD, and Martin M. Shenkman Esq.
The 59th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning was held in Orlando, Florida, on January 13-17, 2025. The Institute is the preeminent estate planning conference of the year and always provides a full week of valuable seminars covering a broad range of estate planning issues for all types of practitioners and all types of clients. Not only does the Institute inform planners of new developments from the past year and state of the art estate planning techniques, but it also includes an array of eclectic topics to broaden the knowledge and perspective of practitioners attending.
This year’s Institute included a focus on business succession planning and also planning in light of the upcoming sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The schedule included additional topics such as:
- IRA planning under the final regulations
- Estate planning for real estate investors
- Religious beliefs and estate planning
- New developments in charitable planning
- Taxable gift reporting
- Foreign trust law
- The changed landscape for governmental regulations
- Trust non-judicial settlement agreements
- and much more
Each year we find it impossible to condense this massive amount of education into 90 minutes. Therefore, this presentation will provide an overview of the highlights of this Institute and identify core themes and takeaways that will inform planners about what to expect in 2025.
This presentation is not produced in conjunction with or endorsed by the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, and the Heckerling Institute is not responsible for its content. For information about the Heckerling Institute, including the 2025 conference, visit www.law.miami.edu/heckerling.
Continuing Education Credits
InterActive Legal is not an approved Continuing Education (CE) Sponsor. However, several states and regulatory agencies for a variety of professionals that participate on our teleconferences may still receive continuing education credit for their participation. If a participant wishes to receive CE credit for their participation in these teleconferences, they must apply to receive credit on their own and through their individual states and regulatory authorities. It is the responsibility of the participant to file for CE credit and is not guaranteed by the webinar sponsors.
Speakers
Mr. Blattmachr is a Principal in ILS Management, LLC and a retired member of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, NY and of the Alaska, California and New York Bars. He is recognized as one of the most creative trusts and estates lawyers in the country and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He has written and lectured extensively on estate and trust taxation and charitable giving.
Mr. Blattmachr graduated from Columbia University School of Law cum laude, where he was recognized as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and received his A.B. degree from Bucknell University, majoring in mathematics. He has served as a lecturer-in-law of the Columbia University School of Law and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University Law School in its Masters in Tax Program (LLM). He is a former chairperson of the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and of several committees of the American Bar Association. Mr. Blattmachr is a Fellow and a former Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and past chair of its Estate and Gift Tax Committee. He is author or co-author of eight books and more than 500 articles on estate planning and tax topics.
Among professional activities, which are too numerous to list, Mr. Blattmachr has served as an Advisor on The American Law Institute, Restatement of the Law, Trusts 3rd; and as a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation and a member of the American Bar Foundation.
Abigail O’Connor serves as Chief Fiduciary Officer for Peak Trust Company and is an InterActive Legal Advisor. With over 15 years of law practice in the trusts and estates field, Abigail has honed her expertise in a variety of practice areas, including estate planning, estate and gift tax strategic planning, representation of trustees and beneficiaries, estate administration, and family business succession planning. Her comprehensive approach to estate planning integrates tax considerations, challenging family dynamics, and the unique needs of family business owners.
Abigail’s professional affiliations are extensive. She serves as the Alaska State Chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and has held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including the Anchorage Estate Planning Council and Anchorage Trust & Estate Professionals. She is a prolific writer and speaker, contributing to numerous publications and presenting at various industry events. She holds a Juris Doctor with a concentration in Estate Planning from Albany Law School, a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rutgers University. Abigail is licensed to practice law in Alaska and Florida.
Martin M. Shenkman is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, NJ, and New York City. His practice concentrates on estate and tax planning, planning for closely held business, and estate administration. Mr. Shenkman is an author of over 42 books and more than 1,000 articles. He is an editorial board member of Trusts & Estates Magazine and the Matrimonial Strategist, and an advisor for InterActive Legal. He is the recipient of many awards including being a 2013 recipient of the prestigious Accredited Estate Planners (Distinguished) award from the National Association of Estate Planning Counsels. Mr. Shenkman was named Financial Planning Magazine 2012 Pro-Bono Financial Planner of the Year for his efforts on behalf of those living with chronic illness and disability. Investment Adviser Magazine featured him on the cover of its April 2013 issue naming as the lead of their “all-star lineup of tax experts.”