Local Estate Planners to Discuss Digital Death and Planning for Changing Families at 2013 Estate Planning Seminar

SEATTLE, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Two signs of the times - same-sex marriage and an individual's digital life - will be hot topics discussed at the 58^th annual Estate Planning Seminar, hosted by the Estate Planning Council of Seattle and the Washington State Bar Association and presented in cooperation with the Utah State Bar Association and the Alaska Bar Association.

Approximately 1,000 lawyers, accountants, insurance professionals, trust officers, financial planners, and planned giving/development officers for nonprofit organizations will meet Oct. 21-22, 2013, at this nationally recognized event, to be held at the Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle.

"As a member of the Estate Planning Council and chair of this year's seminar, I find these two days a not-to-be-missed event," said event chair William E. Whitaker, CLU, with Kibble & Prentice Private Client Service in Seattle. "The program provides a concentrated discussion of current rulings, cases and procedures - often by the people that were directly involved in the issues. The content and ability to meet other professionals informally to discuss further is invaluable. If you work in the area of estate planning/wealth transfer, this is the conference you should have on your calendar. The 58 continuing years speaks volumes."

One of this year's hot topics includes what happens to digital accounts - including e-mail, Facebook and Twitter - when someone becomes incapacitated or dies. Including information about this in an estate plan is something planners and clients didn't have to deal with only a few years ago. Another hot topic is determining who is a spouse and a child in light of new laws on same-sex marriage and the expanded use of assisted reproductive technology.

"It's a particularly interesting and dynamic time to work in the estate planning field," said seminar co-chair Michael C. Harman of JP Morgan Private Bank in Seattle. "In the one short year since we adjourned last year's seminar, we have seen the passage of significant new federal and state transfer tax legislation, witnessed landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings, and watched as an expanding body of trust rules have been put in place. The annual estate planning seminar is a great way for professionals to catch up on the substantive areas of practice and to connect with their colleagues from around the Pacific Northwest."

Speakers will also explore the areas of business succession planning for family-owned businesses and participants will be updated on the landmark federal estate tax passed in 2012.

The seminar runs from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. For more information about the Estate Planning Seminar, contact Heather Kistner at 206-727-8258, 1-800-945-WSBA or [email protected] or go online to register at https://www.mywsba.org/OnlineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=8158&page=none&mt=&utm_source=event&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=estateplanning

About the Estate Planning Council of Seattle:

Originally founded in the early 1940s and one of the leading estate planning councils in the nation, the Estate Planning Council of Seattle is comprised of King County's top estate planning lawyers, financial planners, certified public accountants, trust officers and insurance agents. The council aims to promote the highest quality estate planning services in the Pacific Northwest by developing and improving the capabilities of its members, fostering cooperation among professionals, and by educating the public about estate planning matters.  New members are welcome. Membership includes colleagues to network with at quarterly dinner meetings, helpful information about specific fields of expertise, and a welcoming organization that values high quality estate planning to help members of the community. For more information go to www.epcseattle.org. 

About the Washington State Bar Association:

The Washington State Bar Association is part of the judicial branch and is authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 35,400 lawyers. The Washington State Bar Association both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The Washington State Bar Association's mission is to serve the public and the members of the Bar, ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice. For more information, go to www.wsba.org.

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SOURCE Estate Planning Council of Seattle