Mastering Revocable Living Trusts from Start to Signature: Conducting Consultations, Customizing Clauses, Drafting with Clarity, and Navigating Ethical Duties
3 hour CLE
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Program Summary
Session I – Foundational Skills in Trust Planning – Ronald Fatoullah
This session will provide a basic understanding of how to conduct client consultations, gather the correct information, and how to identify and clarify the client’s goals. This session will also provide a basic understanding of the revocable living trust and how to evaluate the suitability of a revocable trust for their client. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of trust and factors that must be considered such as the possibility of long-term care needs, ownership and control, estate tax concerns, avoiding probate, and possible creditor issues.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Conducting effective client consultations: Identifying goals and intent
- Gathering information and preparing a comprehensive asset inventory
- Evaluating suitability for revocable trust
Session II – Drafting Essentials and Customization – Debby Rosenfeld
This session will provide an outline of the drafting essentials with the revocable living trust and how to clarify the purpose and goals of the client to determine what type of trust is best. Benefits of the revocable trust vs. a last will & testament will be outlined along with the differences between revocable vs. irrevocable trusts. Participants will learn the importance of understanding the key players in creating the trust and how it should be formatted. Various special clauses will also be reviewed, and the attendees will gain an understanding of these clauses and how they can ensure protection for retirement assets, loved ones with special needs, minors, and spendthrift family members. This session will end with an outline of trust language and methodology for reviewing and refining the final trust.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Core provisions of a trust document
- Including special clauses and considerations
- Reviewing and refining trust language for clarity and precision
Session III – Ethical Considerations for Drafting, Executing, and Maintaining Trusts – Paloma Holloman
Drafting a trust is only the beginning of protecting your clients' legacy. Preparing supplemental documents and transfer instructions can help clients achieve their estate planning goals, but how can practitioners set clear expectations so that our clients' loved ones don't end up in probate with an unfunded trust? After documents are drafted, estate planning with trusts is an ongoing and collaborative process. This session will explore the ethical duties of estate planning practitioners throughout the trust drafting and funding process. Practical tips will be provided to help estate planning practitioners mitigate the risks associated with drafting trusts.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Avoiding ethical traps, Rules 1.1, 1.3, 5.5, 1.8(c), 1.7, 1.14
- Drafting supplemental forms for asset transfers and trust funding, Rules 1.6, 1.15, 1.1
- Trust maintenance considerations that are suitable for any client, Rules 1.3, 1.4
This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.
Date / Time: September 17, 2025
- 1:00 pm – 4:20 pm Eastern
- 12:00 pm – 3:20 pm Central
- 11:00 am – 2:20 pm Mountain
- 10:00 am – 1:20 pm Pacific
Closed-captioning available
Speakers
Ronald Fatoullah | Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP
Ronald Fatoullah Chairs the firm’s Elder Law Practice Group and is a Partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group.
Prior to joining the firm, Ron was the founder and principal of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates for over 35 years. The firm was perennially recognized as one of New York’s top Elder Law and Estate Planning firms. Ron has been devoted to advising New Yorkers about the legal and financial challenges of aging. He is highly regarded for his contributions and expertise in estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, wills and trusts, probate, guardianships, and estate and guardianship litigation.
A certified elder law attorney, Ron Chaired the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association’s financial planning and Investments committee; Chaired the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Long Island Chapter for over 10 years; and served on the Executive Council of AARP New York.
He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Ron lectures frequently on elder law, estate planning and aging; have appeared on numerous radio and television programs; and have been quoted in The New York Times, Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, and Kiplinger’s. He has been honored by many organizations for his achievements and contributions to the senior community.
Debby Rosenfeld | Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP
Debby Rosenfeld is Counsel to the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Elder aw Practice Groups. Prior to joining the firm, Debby worked at Ronald Fatoullah & Associates for 20 years practicing in the areas of elder law, estate planning and real estate. Prior to her time at Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, Debby was a tax attorney. Debby lectures publicly and privately and has published articles on various elder law issues for both attorneys and laypeople. She is admitted to the New York State Bar and is a member of the New York State and Nassau County Bar Associations.
Paloma Holloman | PHM Law, LLC
Paloma Holloman is an estate planning and probate attorney at her firm, PHM Law, LLC, located in Warrenville, Illinois. Paloma attended John Marshall Law School for her Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Estate Planning. Paloma engages a diverse clientele, representing estates of all sizes and complexities. Paloma serves on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Assembly, Trusts & Estates Section Council, Diversity Leadership Council, and Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law. She is the past chair of the DuPage County Bar Association’s Elder Law Section and currently serves on the Judicial Evaluations Committee. Paloma has taught college courses on estate planning and administration and legal ethics. She is a member of the Fox Valley Estate Planning Council. In 2025, she was the recipient of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Young Lawyer of the Year Award outside of Cook County.
Agenda
Session I – Foundational Skills in Trust Planning | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- Conducting effective client consultations: Identifying goals and intent
- Gathering information and preparing a comprehensive asset inventory
- Evaluating suitability for revocable trust
Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm
Session II – Drafting Essentials and Customization | 2:10pm – 3:10pm
- Core provisions of a trust document
- Including special clauses and considerations
- Reviewing and refining trust language for clarity and precision
Break | 3:10pm – 3:20pm
Session III – Ethical Considerations for Drafting, Executing, and
Maintaining Trusts | 3:20pm – 4:20pm
- Avoiding ethical traps, Rules 1.1, 1.3, 5.5, 1.8(c), 1.7, 1.14
- Drafting supplemental forms for asset transfers and trust funding, Rules 1.6, 1.15, 1.1
- Trust maintenance considerations that are suitable for any client, Rules 1.3, 1.4
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