Will Drafting 101 (2024 Edition)

Mary Akkerman | Partner, Davenport Evans Lawyers

Mary practices in estate planning, including dynasty trusts, domestic asset protection trusts, estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, business and tax planning, estate and gift tax planning, tax appeals, and related litigation. She is skilled at establishing public and private trust companies in South Dakota and regularly works with U.S. and international families and advisors.

Mary is an American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Fellow. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council.

Mary has received an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, for the highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. She has a Band 1 individual ranking in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide by Chambers and Partners in the area of Private Wealth Law and is listed by Best Lawyers® in Trusts & Estates. Mary has also been ranked in the top 5% of practicing attorneys in South Dakota by Great Plains Super Lawyers in the areas of Estate Planning & Probate.

I. Basics of estate planning | 2:00pm – 2:30pm

• Who needs and estate plan?
• What is an estate?

II. The importance of titling | 2:30pm – 3:00pm

• Joint tenancy
• Tenancy by the entirety
• Tenants in common

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

III. Beneficiary designations | 3:10pm – 3:30pm

• How they affect the estate plan
• What wills control

IV. Testacy versus intestacy | 3:30pm – 3:50pm

• Partial intestacy
• Formalities of will execution

V. Drafting of the Will | 3:50pm – 4:10pm

• Tax planning
• Incapacity planning
• Basic provisions