See the full schedule of sessions and speakers below
A CLEPassport subscription includes free access to the 2026 EPI.
CLEPassport holders also have unlimited access to the full CEB MCLE library, including all Estate Planning Institute sessions since 2020.
2026 EPI Confirmed Sessions & Speakers
Thursday, April 23rd | 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Join Bill Sanderson for a comprehensive update on the most significant federal statutory and case law developments impacting estate planning this year. This program will examine recent legislative activity, notable court decisions, and evolving regulatory guidance that are shaping current estate planning strategies. Attendees will gain practical insights into how these developments affect tax planning, wealth transfer techniques, and trust and estate administration—equipping practitioners to confidently advise clients amid a continually changing legal and regulatory environment.
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Designing Practical Estate Plans Below the Tax Threshold
In this program, Nikki Sherwood and Christina Dawson focus on the design and implementation of non-taxable estate plans. Aimed at practitioners advising clients whose estates fall below applicable tax thresholds, the session addresses practical planning strategies that prioritize dispositive intent, asset management, incapacity planning, and efficient administration over tax minimization. Topics include streamlined drafting approaches, beneficiary designations, trust administration considerations, and common pitfalls in “simple” estate plans to deliver effective, client-centered estate plans that balance clarity, flexibility, and ease of administration for non-taxable estates.
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Undue Influence and Capacity Issues in Estate Planning
Estate plans are often most vulnerable to challenge when issues of undue influence and capacity are overlooked. Here, Vivian Thoreen and Mark Poochigian focus on identifying risk indicators of undue influence and developing effective strategies to address them in estate planning matters. Through a discussion of practical safeguards, documentation techniques, and ethical considerations, attendees will receive guidance on how to recognize potential issues early, navigate difficult client interactions, and structure estate plans that are more likely to withstand challenge while protecting both the client and the practitioner.
1:45am - 2:45 pm
Purpose Trusts and How California Practitioners Can Use Them
Join Jocelyn Borowsky, Susan Gary, and Jeff Patterson as they examine the use of purpose trusts as specialized planning tools to carry out noncharitable objectives under applicable law. The session explores when purpose trusts may be appropriate, the statutory frameworks that authorize them, and key drafting and administration considerations. Topics include enforceability issues, the role of trust enforcers or trustees, duration and termination concerns, and practical applications with the goal of structuring and drafting purpose trusts to ensure they effectively implement client intent while remaining administrable and legally sound.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Communicating the Estate Plan to Family: To Disclose or Not to Disclose?
In this program, Matt Owens, Amy Castoro, and Stacie Nelson host an engaging and interactive discussion exploring the advantages and risks of communicating an estate plan to family members. This program examines whether—and how much—clients should disclose about their estate planning decisions, weighing transparency against privacy and potential family conflict. Drawing on real-world scenarios and practitioner experience, the program addresses legal, practical, and relational considerations, including managing expectations, reducing the risk of disputes, and preserving client intent. Gain practical guidance to help clients make informed decisions about estate plan communication in light of their unique family dynamics and goals.
Friday, April 24th | 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Stay up to date with Andrew Pharies’ in-depth discussion of the most significant recent developments in California law and their impact on estate and trust practice. Covering key legislative changes, court decisions, and emerging trends affecting estate planning, trust administration, and probate litigation, practitioners will gain practical insights on how to adapt their strategies to comply with new legal requirements and mitigate risks for their clients.
Estate planning used to be about what happens when we die. Today, it is increasingly about what happens if we live. As clients live longer and experience extended periods of retirement, incapacity, and multigenerational involvement, traditional estate planning assumptions are increasingly tested. Join Martin Behn, Jeff Ostrum, and Laura Zeigler as they examine estate planning strategies tailored to extended lifespans. Topics include life insurance planning, incapacity planning, evolving beneficiary needs, and flexibility in trust design to help structure estate plans that adapt over time, preserve client intent, and address the realities of longer lives and changing family dynamics.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
But I Thought it was Irrevocable? Using Decantings and Nonjudicial Settlement Agreements to Modify and Modernize Trusts
This program with Kirsten Wolf and Michael Gordon explores the use of trust decanting and trust situs changes as tools for modifying and modernizing trusts and how they might benefit California practitioners. The session examines statutory frameworks governing decanting, judicial and nonjudicial options for moving trusts, and the practical considerations involved in administering and restructuring existing trusts. Through a discussion of drafting strategies, fiduciary duties, tax implications, and potential pitfalls, attendees will gain practical guidance on when and how to decant or move a trust to better align with evolving client goals, beneficiary needs, and changes in law.
Designed for estate planning practitioners, this program with practitioners Steven Trytten and Erica Deutsch explores best practices for drafting documents that address the SECURE Act’s retirement planning rules. This session examines how the SECURE Act has reshaped retirement asset planning and the drafting considerations necessary to align documents with current law. Through a discussion of statutory requirements, regulatory developments, and common drafting pitfalls, the program addresses beneficiary designations, trust provisions for retirement accounts, and strategies for preserving tax efficiency. Learn actionable drafting tips to ensure estate planning documents effectively implement client objectives while complying with the evolving retirement plan rules.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Guaranteeing Access to Digital Assets and Cybercurrency
Join James Creech, Michelle Ferreira, and Dennis Leonard as they examine the growing importance of addressing digital assets and cryptocurrency in modern estate planning. As clients increasingly hold online accounts, digital property, and cybercurrency, practitioners must understand the legal and practical challenges involved in ensuring access and transfer at incapacity or death. This session explores applicable federal and state laws, fiduciary access issues, and key drafting considerations for wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, offering practical guidance on how to safeguard client intent, facilitate fiduciary access, and integrate digital assets and cryptocurrency into comprehensive estate plans.
Sign in or subscribe for your CLEPassport today!
Lock in up to 12 hours of MCLE/LSCLE credit and gain access to the full suite of CEB’s estate planning content.
