About Us

Conference Objectives & Description

This two-day conference consists of a series of lecture sessions designed to examine in detail current developments in the estate and gift tax field; strengthen the practitioner’s knowledge and application of estate planning techniques to a multitude of diverse and complex problems; and to provide a forum for the discussion of important estate planning problems and their solutions. Sessions will be led by a group of conference faculty members comprised of estate planning and tax practitioners and legal scholars. Faculty members have been selected for their knowledge of the subjects, presentation skills, and ability to communicate.

45th Annual Duke University Estate Planning Conference

October 19-20, 2023

Thursday, October 19
7:00 – 8:15 am Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:15 – 8:30 am Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:30 – 9:30 am Topic: Recent Developments in Wealth Planning and Transfer Tax
Speaker: Tom Abendroth
9:30 – 9:40 am Break
9:40 – 10:40 am Topic: No contest clauses: Striking terror into the hearts of anyone seeking to undermine testamentary intent?
Speaker: Meghan Hubbard
10:40 – 10:50 am Break
10:50 – 11:50 am Topic: Inbound Investment into U.S. Markets
Speaker: Scott Bowman
11:50 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 pm Topic: The Estate Planner’s Guide to Religious Implications in Estate Planning
Speaker: Stacy Singer
2:00 – 2:10 pm Break
2:10 – 3:10 pm Topic: The Best Laid Plans: Avoiding Litigation Of Your Estate Plans…And How to Handle the Witness Chair if you Do Not
Speakers: Joan and Mike Anderson
3:10 – 3:20 pm Break
3:20 – 4:20 pm Topic: Drafting Charitable Gift Agreements to Stand the Test of Time
Speaker: Alan Rothschild, Jr.
4:20 – 5:20 pm Topic: The Evolution of the SECURE Act: Proposed Regulations and SECURE 2.0
Speakers: Larry Rocamora and Christina Hinkle

 

Friday, October 20
8:00 – 8:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 am Topic: Gift Return Mistakes (ETHICS)
Speaker: Christine Wakeman
9:30 – 9:40 am Break
9:40 – 10:40 am Topic: Problems with Marital Deduction Planning
Speaker: Stuart Dorsett
10:40 – 10:50 am Break
10:50 – 11:50 am Topic: Not Too Rich, Not Too Poor – Goldilocks Planning for the Middle-Rich Clients Who Need Our Help
Speaker: Turney Berry
11:50 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 pm Topic: Reality versus Scary Theory: What’s really going on these days in Estate and Gift Tax Audits, and Approaches to Avoid Turning a Sunny Day (good result) into a Cloudy One (bad result)
Speaker: Lou Harrison
2:00 – 2:10 pm Break
2:10 – 3:10 pm Topic: You’re Fired! Why, When, and How to Fire Clients
Speaker: Bruce Stone
3:10 – 3:20 pm Break
3:20 – 4:20 pm Topic: Challenges Cometh: Demographics, Disability and Declining Availability of Adequate Medicaid Funded Supports for Seniors and those with Special Needs
Speaker: Tara Pleat
4:20 – 5:20 pm Topic: North Carolina 2023 Statutory Updates: An overview of the latest Legislative Developments
Speakers: Catherine Wilson and Judy Linvill