20th Annual Estate Planning Conference eBook

Estate planning has never been more complex, or more critical. As Australia enters its largest generational wealth transfer in history, practitioners are being challenged by shifting tax laws, trust disputes, intergenerational conflict, and the rapidly evolving superannuation landscape. This two-day conference brings together some of the country’s leading estate planning specialists to cut through the noise and tackle the issues that truly matter.

Across two focused days, you’ll explore why wills so often fail to deal with trust succession, how recent cases are shifting control dynamics within family trusts, and what advisers must do to avoid distribution disasters and fiduciary missteps. You’ll also examine the tax pressures influencing succession structures, including the ATO’s renewed focus on family wealth transfers and the traps that commonly arise in trust reorganisations, UPE management and asset timing decisions. The program also turns to the human side of estate planning—blended family arrangements, mutual wills, financial assistance to adult children, and the challenges of supporting clients with special needs. Each session delivers clear, practical strategies you can apply immediately in your practice.

Day 1 - Thursday 19th March 2026

Morning Theme:  Trusts in Transition – Control, Compliance and Catastrophe

• Ruling From the Grave: Why Wills Fail, And Deeds Succeed in Trust Succession Planning
• Who's Really in Control? How Trustees Can Turn the Tables on Appointors Under Broad Variation Powers
• When Family Trusts Turn Toxic: Trustee Duties, Distribution Disasters, And Removal Remedies
• Trusts Under the Microscope: Section 100A, Division 7A and the New Tax Scrutiny

Afternoon Theme:  Tax, Super and the Great Wealth Transfer

• What Keeps You Awake at Night? Navigating Tax Landmines in Australia's Great Wealth Transfer
• Integrating Super in the Estate Plan: Tax, Trusts and Tactical Alignment
• Death and Taxes: Timing the Realisation of Assets in the Estate Plan

Day 2 - Friday 20th March 2026

Morning Theme: Family Dynamics and the Modern Estate

• `Till Death Do Us Part: Mastering Mutual Wills for Blended Families and Asset Protection
• Family Business, Family Feuds: Legal Frameworks for Keeping Blood and Business Separate
• Helping Hand or Legal Hazard: Structuring Family Financial Assistance

Afternoon Theme: Ageing, Vulnerability and Social Security

• Special Needs Beneficiaries and the Estate Plan: Balancing Care, Control and Compliance
• Beyond The Backyard Flat: Structuring Granny Flat 'Interests' As Legal Investments, Not Gifts