American College of Trust and Estate Counsel - ACTEC

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American College of Trust and Estate Counsel - ACTEC

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The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a nonprofit association of lawyers established in 1949.

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a professional society of peer-elected lawyers and law professors from across the United States and abroad with expertise in estate planning, probate and trust administration Its members are elected to the College by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors. All ACTEC members have made substantial contributions to the field of trusts and estates law through writing, teaching and bar leadership activities. The members work together in a collegial manner to
• Enhance their ability to provide the most efficient and highest quality services to their clients;
• Develop qualified trust and estate counselors;
• Improve and reform probate, trust and tax laws, procedures, and standards of professional responsibility; and
• Cooperate with bar associations and other organizations with similar missions. ACTEC members advise clients or teach in one or more of the following areas: planning for the orderly and tax efficient transfer of wealth during life and after death and preparing all related estate planning documents; administering trusts, decedent's estates, guardianships, conservatorships and other family entities; planning for incapacity and elder concerns; planning for employee benefits; Planning charitable gifts and advising exempt organizations; and handling tax controversy and fiduciary litigation. Membership in ACTEC is by election of the regents of the College. Individual lawyers meeting the criteria for membership are nominated for membership by fellows of the College, and subjected to careful review by both state and national membership selection committees, prior to consideration by the regents of the College. Applications for membership by members of the bar are not accepted by the College.

10/20/2026

How can estate planners maximize tax efficiency when working with Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) trusts? The latest ACTEC Trust and Estate Talk podcast explores post-death basis adjustments, Section 2519 planning strategies, and the implications of the recent Anenberg and McDougall decisions.
Discover how the no-aggregation rule may create valuation opportunities and why careful planning is essential to avoid unintended gift tax consequences.

Listen to the podcast.

Explore tax planning strategies for QTIP trust assets, including Section 2519, the Anenberg and McDougall decisions, and valuation discounts.

10/08/2026

What happens to a business when an owner dies, retires, or decides to leave? A well-planned buy-sell agreement can help provide a roadmap—but valuation, funding, life insurance, and tax considerations can all affect how well that plan works when it’s actually needed.

Learn how buy-sell agreements work, important tax considerations for business owners, lessons from the Supreme Court’s Connelly decision, and why these agreements should be reviewed as a business grows and circumstances change.

Watch now to learn more about buy-sell agreements and business succession planning.

Learn how buy-sell agreements can support business succession planning, including valuation, life insurance funding, estate tax considerations, and key tax risks for business owners.

09/29/2026

Should lawyers serve as trustees? Serving as a trustee can provide valuable continuity for clients, but it also comes with significant ethical, fiduciary and practical responsibilities.

What should a lawyer consider before saying yes? Learn about potential conflicts of interest, fiduciary liability, attorney-client privilege, directed trusts, insurance coverage and other issues to weigh before accepting a trusteeship.

Listen to the latest ACTEC Trust and Estate Talk.

09/22/2026

Divorce can raise complex estate planning questions long before the divorce is final. What documents can be changed right away? Are trust assets protected? And what happens to beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and jointly held property?

Learn key estate planning considerations during divorce, including how trust terms, control, and even the history of trust distributions can affect whether assets may be reachable.

Listen to the latest ACTEC Trust and Estate Talk.

09/15/2026

Estate planning for married couples may be common, but no two couples—and no two estate plans—are exactly alike.

In a new ACTEC Trust and Estate Talk podcast, learn about key considerations when advising married couples, including ethical obligations, joint representation, confidentiality, and engagement letters. The discussion also highlights two often-overlooked tax issues: portability and the marital deduction mismatch.

Listen to learn practical approaches for helping married couples plan their legacy while addressing their individual needs and circumstances.

Explore ethical considerations, client representation, portability, and marital deduction issues when estate planning for married couples.

09/09/2026

ACTEC is pleased to welcome Jennifer Briggs, MBA, CAE, IOM, as Executive Director today, September 9, 2026, and to honor Deborah (Deb) O. McKinnon’s 17 years of dedicated leadership and service to the College.

As ACTEC begins this new chapter, we look forward to building upon a strong foundation and continuing to advance excellence in the trust and estate profession.

Read the Leadership Transition Announcement:
https://www.actec.org/leadership-transition-jennifer-briggs-executive-director

ACTEC welcomes Jennifer Briggs as Executive Director on September 9, 2026, and honors Deb McKinnon’s 17 years of leadership and service to the College.

09/08/2026

How is artificial intelligence changing estate planning—and what should you know before using it to create legal documents?

ACTEC’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Trust and Estate Law resource page brings together educational videos and podcasts exploring the benefits, risks, and ethical considerations of AI. From document preparation and data security to professional responsibility and the future of legal practice, these resources offer insights for individuals, families, and trust and estate professionals.

Explore the resources:
https://www.actec.org/resources-for-wealth-planning-professionals/artificial-intelligence-and-trust-and-estate-law-ai/

AI transforms estate planning with document creation, risk evaluation, and tax planning. ACTEC explores its safety and benefits in podcasts and videos.

09/01/2026

Premarital planning can be an important part of protecting family wealth—but the process involves much more than simply signing an agreement.

This ACTEC Trust and Estate Talk explores premarital planning for high-net-worth families, including protecting legacy assets, understanding separate and marital property, preparing clients for the negotiation process, and important considerations involving SLATs and DAPTs.

Listen to learn what estate planning advisors should consider before their clients—or their clients’ children—head down the aisle.

Premarital planning for high-net-worth families, including legacy asset protection, property laws, trusts, SLATs, DAPTs, and client preparation.

08/25/2026

August is —a good reminder that creating or updating an estate plan involves more than deciding who receives your assets.

What’s the difference between a will and a trust? Do you need one, the other—or both? And how do beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives fit into the picture?

This Estate Planning Essentials video explains how wills and trusts serve different purposes and can work together as part of a comprehensive estate plan. Watch “Will vs. Trust: Which Estate Planning Option Is Right for You?”

Learn the differences between wills and trusts, how probate works, and why revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives matter.

08/24/2026

ACTEC is pleased to welcome Jennifer Briggs, MBA, CAE, IOM, as the College’s next Executive Director, effective September 9, 2026.

Jennifer brings more than two decades of association leadership experience and will succeed Deborah McKinnon, who is retiring after 17 years of outstanding service to ACTEC.

Read the announcement and learn more about this important leadership transition.

ACTEC announced today that Jennifer Briggs, MBA, CAE, IOM, has been appointed Executive Director of the College, effective September 9, 2026

Address

901 15th Street NW, Ste 525
Washington D.C., DC
20005

Telephone

(202) 684-8460

Website

https://www.actec.org/

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