Estate Planning and Administration

Programme Structure

The program focuses on:

• Initial considerations in estate planning and administration

• The lawyer’s responsibility regarding substantiating capacity

• Dealing with undue influence leading to will changes

• Estate administration

• How to determine which assets form part of the estate

• Disclosure issues – what are beneficiaries entitled to know?

• Securing and administering the assets with and without a certificate

• Potential liability issues facing the estate trustees

• Best practices for protecting yourself and your client

• Overview of will drafting, executing and reporting

• Using multiple wills

• Tips of advising on and drafting multi-jurisdictional wills

• Preferential treatment to one beneficiary

• Avoiding common errors when dealing with complex situations

• Getting a will signed in difficult situations

• Techniques to avoid negligence claims

• Key issues in taxation during estate planning

• Taxation of testamentary trusts

• Charitable bequests and estate donations