Directed trusts are a powerful—and often underutilized—planning tool that can help estate planning attorneys meet today’s realities: complex family dynamics, evolving asset classes, and heightened fiduciary risk. In this one-hour webinar, attorney Mary Vandenack explains what a directed trust is and why it matters—specifically how it separates traditional trustee responsibilities so that an administrative trustee can take direction from specialized “directors” or advisors over investments, distributions, special holdings, charitable decisions, and more.

A look at some of the significant developments of 2025, what planning might still be done before year end, and the importance of continued planning in the current environment.

InterActive Legal Speaker Series presents K. Eli Akhavan “International Estate Planning – Advising Foreign Clients with US Assets and Beneficiaries”

Estate planning for foreign clients with US assets requires understanding the intersection of US tax law, international treaties, and foreign legal systems—areas where many practitioners lack deep expertise. This foundational webinar informs attorneys about the primary estate and gift tax challenges that arise when representing international clients or US clients with foreign connections. Additionally, the webinar will explore alternative estate and gift structuring strategies for foreigners with US-based assets or beneficiaries.

The use of LLCs in estate planning is shaped by a complex interplay of state law, federal tax statutes, and judicial decisions. This program will discuss advanced drafting techniques for LLC operating agreements, focusing on asset protection, tax compliance, and estate inclusion risks.

InterActive Legal is a proud sponsor of the 2024 Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (AFELA) UNPROGRAM. The UnProgram Advanced track is limited to AFELA Member attorneys practicing in the area of Elder Law for 5+ years. The schedule reflects sessions devoted to discussing elder law hot topics in a group format initiated by attorneys in attendance. The UnProgram Meet the Mentors program is open to all attorneys. The program is comprised of diverse breakout sessions, each of which is geared toward elder law attorneys with varying levels of experience. There are advanced sessions as well as sessions focusing on more basic concepts. Participants, facilitators and sponsors will engage in relaxed networking and share information in intimate group workshops.

Elder Law and special needs planning attorneys use different types of trusts for different purposes, based on each client’s situation – first-party and third-party trusts, d(4)(A) and d(4)(C) trusts, trusts to allow qualification for Veterans Benefits or Medicaid…the list goes on. And within each type of trust, different drafting decisions are made for various tax and non-tax reasons. In this webinar, Letha McDowell will discuss the different types of trusts unique to elder law and special needs planning and provide some guidance on which trust to use in various situations. In addition, specific trust provisions that can be included to reduce overall taxation and provide future asset protection for family members will also be covered. Join us for a primer on this important category of trust planning.

Estate planning and asset protection both usually involve giving property away, often in trust, and someone must be named as the trustee.  Some clients – who may not be keen on the idea of transferring property to begin with – may want to maintain control and therefore would like to be the trustee.  Other clients may not have anyone else that they trust to fill that role and therefore would like to serve as trustee themselves.  These scenarios raise the important question of when a client who creates a trust can serve as trustee.  

InterActive Legal is a proud sponsor of the Million Dollar Solutions (MDS) Dementia Focused Practice® Conference. The Million Dollar Solution, founded in 2002, is a business coaching group for elder law and estate planning attorneys across the United States.  At this conference, a curated team of experts will share strategies and best practices to add this focus to your practice.