ONLINE
Monday, July 20, 2026 - Tuesday, July 21, 2026
8:45 AM - 5:00 PM
The 2026 Conference Features 6 Leading National Experts Partnering with an Accomplished Minnesota Faculty
And Don't Miss These Perennial Conference Highlights:
Plus These Bonus Benefits:
Take a Break from Your Office for 2 Days of Immersive Learning, Community and Fun!
All times listed are CDT.
ONLINE REPLAY NOTE:
Limited online replay includes all plenary sessions and the selected breakout sessions highlighted in yellow below. A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
Sponsored by Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
8:45 – 9:00 a.m.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
– Joel A. Sommers
9:00 – 9:40 a.m.
2026 Non-Tax Case Law Update
An in-depth review of all Minnesota and national published and unpublished probate and trust cases that provide relevant insight to our practice of law in Minnesota.
– Andrew T. Howard & Robert A. McLeod
9:40 – 10:10 a.m.
2026 Legislative Update
A fast-paced review of estate planning related developments in the 2026 legislative session.
– Cameron R. Kelly & John A. Wehrly
10:10 – 10:50 a.m.
Should Contesting Cost Everything? The Chafoulias Case and No-Contest Clauses
– Cameron R. Kelly & Evan A. Nelson
10:50 – 11:10 a.m.
BREAK
11:10 – 11:50 a.m.
2026 Tax Law Update
Three experts highlight recent developments in tax law of interest to all trust and estate lawyers.
– Keri D. Brown & Steven B. Gorin
– Tessa R. Mielke (moderator)
11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Planning with Life Insurance LLCs after Connelly and Huffman
– Steven B. Gorin
12:30 – 12:40 p.m.
SECTION MEETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
– Joel A. Sommers
12:40 – 1:30 p.m.
CONFERENCE LUNCHEON
Sponsored by Capital First Trust Company
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A
101
Your First Client: Using the Initial Client Interview to Inform the Estate Plan
– Letty M-S Van Ert
102
A Deep Dive into the SECURE Act and Final Regulations
– Bryan Jamison
103
Current Developments in Estate and Gift Tax Audits and Litigation
– Keri D. Brown
104
How to Work Through Minnesota’s Slayer Statute
– Andrew M. Baese & Thomas H. Rauenhorst
105
Recognizing the Literary Archetypes of Family Wealth Disputes and Practical Tips for Managing Them
– Spencer C. Butts & Denise S. Rahne
106
The New Financial Exploitation Injunction Law: A New Tool to Protect Vulnerable Adults
– Mary McGurran & Nicholas B. Wanka
– Jill M. Sauber (moderator)
107
How to Effectively Use AI in Your Law Practice
– Daniel A. Tysver
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
POPCORN BREAK
Sponsored by Security Bank & Trust Co.
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
201
Your First Will and Trust: Key Considerations When Drafting Your First Will and Trust
– Omni N. Kiecker
202
Speak at Your Own Risk: Attorney-Client Privilege Issues for Estate and Probate Lawyers
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Eric T. Cooperstein
203
Strategic Wealth Transfer: Balancing Income Tax Planning and Estate Tax Planning
– Charles A. “Clary” Redd
204
Probating the Difficult Estate: Identifying and Managing Problem Assets
– Joshua C. Hillger & Barbara M. Kristiansson
205
How to Handle a Contested Probate Case Step-by-Step from Start to Finish
– Bethany J. Rubis & Patricia J. Stotzheim
206
Minnesota’s New Partition Law, the New FinCEN Regulations, and Other Real Estate Tips
– B. Steven Messick
207
Where Are We on Electronic Wills, Other Electronic Estate Planning Documents, Harmless Error and Remote Notarization?
– Cameron R. Kelly & John A. Wehrly
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
SNACK BREAK
Sponsored by Management Planning Inc.
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
301
Your First Health Care Directive and Power of Attorney
– Chad A. Carr
302
The 2026 Small Estates Panel: How to Analyze Common (and Uncommon) Planning Scenarios
– Amanda N. Juelson, Melissa Taylor & Susan L. Waldie
– James T. McNary (moderator)
303
SLATs – Third Wheel (or Third Rail!) of Planning for Married and Divorcing Couples: Ethical, Practical, and Tax Considerations
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– James I. Dougherty & Stephanie Loomis-Price
304
2026 Probate Panel: Reviewing and Resolving the Latest Issues in Probate Administration
– Yvette Andrade, Laura E. Halferty, Tina M. Johnson & Jennifer S. Santini
– Daniel R. Donovan (moderator)
305
Preserving Your Record for Appeal: Burdens of Proof, Developing the Record, and Appellate Review in Trust and Estate Litigation
– Amy E. Erickson & Richard C. Landon
306
Minnesota’s Modern Rule Against Perpetuities: What Changed and Why It Matters
– Jesse C. Beier
307
What’s Working (and Not Working) in Your Practice: A Roundtable Discussion
– Callyn T. Bedker & Heather M. Gilbert
5:00 p.m.
RECEPTION
Join your friends and colleagues for the Conference Reception
Sponsored by Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management
7:30 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
401
Your First Probate: How to Manage Important Timelines and Deadlines
– Amy M. Crea, Emily Ditzler & Amanda J. Kruse
402
Assessing Testamentary Capacity: Legal Standards Versus Clinical Realities
– Courtney R. Sebo Savica & Dr. Rodolfo Savica
403
Charitable Gift Planning in Practice: How Estate Planners and Charities Work Together
– Kassandra K. Heinrich-Wydra, Mark Hintz, Luther Ranheim & Kyle Wesely
– Jayne E. Sykora (moderator)
404
2026 Trust Officer Panel
– John Kvamme, Jay M. Olson, Trey Roberts & Ivory L. Ruud
– Kiley E. Petty Henry (moderator)
405
Medical Assistance Issues for Farmers
– James T. McNary & Traci J. Sherman
406
Behind the Curtain of Probate Real Estate: Valuation Insight, Contract Wisdom, and Better Decisions
– Jordan M. Carew, Dave Dettmann & Eric Eickhof
407
Wills v. Revocable Trusts – Part 1: Walk Through a Maritalized Family Trust Will
– Matthew J. Frerichs & Edward H. Tully
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
BREAK
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION E
501
Preparing Estate Plans: A Balancing Act Between Avoiding Probate and Avoiding MA Recovery Claims
– Jill M. Sauber
502
2026 Medical Assistance Update
– Amber M. Hildebrandt & Christopher J. Kradle
503
2026 Large Estates Panel
– Jennifer A. Ede, Jennifer A. Lammers & Lauren Winter Routhier
– Michael P. Sampson (moderator)
504
Location, Location, Location: The Importance of Choosing a Trust Situs
– Sarah F. Armstrong
505
Hot Topics in Agricultural Estate Planning: Opportunity Zones, CRTs and More
– Paul Neiffer
506
Real Estate Mistakes Made by Estate Planning and Probate Attorneys
– Marty G. Helle
507
Wills v. Revocable Trusts – Part 2: Miscellaneous Clauses, Including Beneficiary
Designations and Miscellaneous Documents
– Andrea S. Breckner & Paul D. Funke
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
BREAK
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION F
601
New Lawyer Panel: Advice, Dos and Don’ts, Q and A and Resources
– Nicole A. Raebel, Emily Valentine-Grimm & Mai Yang
– Kimberly A. Prchal (moderator)
602
Two States, One Marriage: Entrance and Exit Planning When Moving Between Separate Property and Community Property States
– Alison J. Midden
603
Hot Topics in International Estate Planning in 2026
– David Kula & Sonny F. Miller
604
Main Character Energy: Tax-Saving Power Moves with CRTs and CLTs in the 2026 Era
– Andy P. Gregory & Thomas H. Rauenhorst
605
Keeping the Farm in the Family: Succession Strategies for Farming and Non-Farming Heirs
– Chrisopher M. Roe
606
Power of Attorney and Parental Delegation for Immigrants in Our Community
– Christine B. Courtney & Miluska L. Novota
607
How to Draft Cabin Trusts
– Matthew J. Frerichs & Ruthanne Hedstrom Vos
11:30 – 11:45 a.m.
SNACK BREAK
Sponsored by Cornerstone Private Asset Trust Company, LLC
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION G
701
Open Forum on the SECURE Act and More – Your Questions, Answered!
– Bryan Jamison
702
Buy-Sell Agreements and Succession Planning
– Lauren Winter Routhier & Justin J. Seitz
703
Trust / Fiduciary Accounting Versus Tax Accounting: A Practical Guide to 1041s for Trustees and Advisors
– Philip J. Ruce
704
Practicing in Greater Minnesota: Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges
– Heather M. Gilbert, Jennifer L.J. Gilk, Marty G. Helle & Amber M. Hildebrandt
– Brandon J. Edmundson (moderator)
705
Behind the Scenes: How Financial Institutions Implement Estate Plans
– Shannon E. Berg, Robyn Ingber, Nicole Scanlon & Andrew Theis
– Andrew J. Peterson (moderator)
706
Open Forum on Drafting Wills & Trust Agreements: Your Questions Answered!
– Andrea S. Breckner, Michael P. Sampson & Jayne E. Sykora
The learning continues even when the Conference is over! Following the Conference, all attendees may view 4 live webcasts for free and receive 4 additional CLE credits – 1 ethics, 2 elimination of bias and 1 mental health/substance use. Instructions for how to register will be distributed at the Conference.
Thursday, July 23
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Your New Associate Doesn’t Sleep – But It Hallucinates: AI and Legal Ethics
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Christopher D. Luehr
Thursday, August 6
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Perfecting Without Perfectionism: How to Strive for Excellence Without Stressing Out Over Unattainable Ideals
1.0 mental health / substance use credit applied for
– Sarah M. MacGillis
Thursday, August 6
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Elimination of Bias: The Black Lawyer in Minnesota 1973 to 2023 – A Story of Firsts and Those Who Made a Difference
1.0 elimination of bias credit applied for
– Jeffrey A. Hassan
Friday, August 7
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Elimination of Bias: Drafting and Planning for Muslim Clients
1.0 elimination of bias credit applied for
– Imani S. Jaafar
LIVE IN-PERSON
Monday & Tuesday, June 8-9, 2026
Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, Minnesota
LIMITED ONLINE REPLAY
Monday & Tuesday, July 20-21, 2026
Attend online
Limited online replay includes plenary sessions and selected breakout sessions. A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
For Attendees of the In-Person Institute:
Minnesota CLE has established room rates with the hotel(s) listed below. Be sure to identify yourself with Minnesota CLE’s 2026 Probate and Trust Law Section Conference to get the best rate, and make your reservations early to ensure room/rate availability.
Saint Paul Hotel
$149.00 (plus tax)
350 Market Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-292-9292
To make reservations:
Visit the Saint Paul Hotel website at www.saintpaulhotel.com. Click on Reservations and enter the following information:
Reserve by: Monday, May 11, 2026
Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown
$115.00 (plus tax)
175 Seventh Street West
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-225-1515
Make reservations at the Holiday Inn
Reserve by: Friday, May 8, 2026
Hampton Inn Downtown St. Paul
$115.00 (plus tax)
200 Seventh Street West
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-224-7400
Make reservations at the Hampton Inn
Reserve by: Saturday, May 16, 2026
$595 MSBA members / $595 paralegals / $695 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 10.25 CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credit for sessions #202 and #303. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 10.25 credits, not including the post-conference webcasts.
