Pooled special needs trusts can provide an essential safety net in estate plans. Attorneys who draft estate plans must anticipate the unexpected—a client’s unforeseen disability, a fiduciary who becomes ill, a contentious relationship between the beneficiary and the fiduciary, or assets that are depleted below the corporate fiduciary’s minimum. By including additional authorities in documents, attorneys-in-fact, executors, and trustees can react to unforeseen circumstances and create and fund pooled special needs trusts for clients and their loved ones without the need for court involvement. After giving an overview of pooled special needs trusts, this presentation will cover powers that should be considered for inclusion in trusts, wills, and powers of attorney to utilize pooled special needs trusts as a safety net.

The 60th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning was held in Orlando, Florida, on January 12-16, 2026. 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.

InterActive Legal is a proud sponsor of the 55th Annual Portland Estate Planning Seminar, taking place Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Oregon Convention Center.

As the region’s premier continuing education event for estate planning professionals, this year’s seminar features nationally recognized speakers addressing the most critical topics in our field.

Join top elder law professionals for two days of advanced strategy, practical sessions, and peer discussion. Sessions built for experienced elder law attorneys looking to sharpen planning strategies and expand impact.

-Annuity Innovations in Medicaid Planning
-Taxes, the Big Beautiful Bill and Elder Law Planning
-Elder Law Ethical Conundrums
-“Sell” is not a four-letter word, practices to show your value proposition
-Mindset and Life Balance for the Special Needs and Elder Law Attorney
-Intersection between Estate Recovery and -Creditor Claims
-White Board Discussions

PAELA’s 2026 annual winter conference is scheduled for February 19 – 21, 2026 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa in Bedford, PA.  Be sure to stop by InterActive Legal’s booth to connect with Steven Palumbo and chat about how our innovative estate planning and elder law drafting tools support your daily practice.

The ABA TECHSHOW is where lawyers, legal professionals, and technology all come together. Attendees learn about the most useful and practical technologies available.