Portland Trust Co.

Directed Trusts Revisited
2025-10-02 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | 2 Monument Square, Suite 703, Portland, ME 04101
This session will review the laws on the use of directed trusts, with a particular focus on corporate trustees serving primarily as an administrative trustee with investment authority assigned elsewhere.

Discussion Highlights

Identify best practices and guidelines for serving as a directed trustee, including do’s and don’ts to ensure compliance and effective trust management.

Learn about the variations in state laws governing directed trusts and how these differences affect the roles and responsibilities of trustees.

Review recent legal cases to understand the liability issues faced by directed trustees and the implications for trust administration.

Explore effective drafting strategies for clearly defining and dividing trustee responsibilities in directed trusts.

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00, CISP 2.00, CRSP 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com

Post-Mortem Publicity Rights
2025-06-05 13:00 - 14:30 | 2 Monument Square, Suite 703, Portland, ME 04101
The right of publicity is the right of an individual to control the use of their name, image or likeness and how it is commercialized. Many states extend the right to control the use of one’s name and likeness to last beyond the individual’s life, making it an asset that must be dealt with at death. It can be a very significant asset for musicians, entertainers, athletes, authors and others whose livelihood depends in part on commercialization of their name and likeness.

Discussion Highlights

Identify effective strategies for planning with the right of publicity, ensuring that this asset is properly managed and protected in estate planning.

Gain a clear understanding of what the right of publicity entails and its significance for individuals whose livelihoods depend on the commercialization of their name, image or likeness.

Explore the state laws that govern the right of publicity, including how these laws extend beyond an individual’s life and the implications for estate planning.

Learn about the methods used to value the right of publicity.

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00, CISP 2.00, CRSP 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com

Fiduciary Litigation Annual Review for 2025
2025-05-01 13:00 - 14:30 | 2 Monument Square, Suite 703, Portland, ME 04101
A panel of trust litigation attorneys will conduct their annual review of key fiduciary issues currently being addressed by the courts and provide advice on avoiding associated risks.

Discussion Highlights

Explore effective strategies for managing fiduciary litigation, including dispute resolution techniques and proactive planning measures.

Examine key fiduciary litigation cases and rulings from 2025 to understand their implications for trust and estate administration.

Identify emerging trends and common issues in fiduciary litigation to better anticipate and address potential challenges.

Learn best practices for fiduciary conduct to minimize the risk of litigation and ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00, CISP 2.00, CRSP 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com

Impact of the Election on Future Tax Legislation
2025-04-03 13:00 - 14:30 | 2 Monument Square, Suite 703, Portland, ME 04101
This session will review the prospects for new tax legislation that could affect wealth planning in the aftermath of the 2024 elections.

Discussion Highlights

Review tax-related legislative initiatives that align with the winning party’s agenda and their implications.

Assess the tax policy proposals put forth by the newly elected president and their potential impact.

Examine the makeup of the new Congress and the likelihood that it would pass major tax legislation.

The higher estate tax exclusion and other provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expire at the end of 2025 — explore the potential effects for wealth planning.

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00, CISP 2.00, CRSP 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com

Recent Developments (2024)
2024-12-05 13:00 - 14:30
This presentation will update attendees on 2024 legislative and regulatory developments, rulings and cases in estate planning and gifts, generation-skipping transfers and fiduciary income tax. We’ll also discuss how the changes can affect clients and customers.

Discussion Highlights:

Legislative developments

Regulatory developments

Gifts

Valuation

Estate inclusion

Marital and charitable deductions

GST issues

Fiduciary income tax

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00, CISP 2.00, CRSP 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Managing Conflicts in a Trust
2024-11-07 13:00 - 14:30
There is no such thing as a trust that can avoid all conflict among beneficiaries or between beneficiaries and trustees. But much can be done during drafting and administration to minimize the conflicts. This session will discuss various options and good trust administration processes.

Discussion Highlights:

Disputes among family members and their sources

Drafting to minimize the chances of family disagreement

Creative no contest clauses

Trustee removal and replacement

The limits on waiving trustee liability

Trust modification

Alternate dispute resolution

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Sunset 2025? Planning with the Estate Tax Exclusion Given Future Uncertainty
2024-10-03 13:00 - 14:30
At the end of 2025, the increase in the estate tax applicable exclusion amount made in 2017 is scheduled to sunset, cutting the exclusion in half. This session will discuss planning in anticipation of this possible major change in the estate tax law.

Discussion Highlights:

Planning in anticipation of a possible sunset

Avoiding the step transaction and reciprocal trusts doctrines

Update on valuation adjustment clauses to reduce audit risk

Guidance on how much time wealth advisors need to implement new lifetime transfers

Other important tax considerations based on the position papers of the current presidential candidates

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.0 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Planning Challenges for Families with Multi-National Family Members or Assets
2024-09-05 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
Many U.S.- based families have one or more family members living outside the country for many years or even permanently. Other families acquire property in a foreign country. This session will review some of the more common issues to watch for when dealing with the legal and tax systems of different countries.

Discussion Highlights:

Most common legal and tax differences important to estate planning between the U.S. and other countries

Non-U.S. citizen spouses and the marital deduction

Owning real property in another country

Challenges with trusts that exist even in other common law jurisdictions

U.S. citizens who have a tax residency in a foreign country who own interests in a U.S. business entity

Basic challenges in opening accounts across jurisdictions

EU and U.K. ownership disclosure requirements

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.0 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Asset Rich, Cash Poor: Planning for the Illiquid Estate
2024-06-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
Explore the planning challenges for individuals with significant wealth but few liquid assets. The estate tax is due nine months after the date of death, and the federal government generally accepts cash only. The speakers in this session will discuss the techniques and election options to address this challenge.

Discussion Highlights:

Valuation rules and opportunities

Alternate valuation and special use valuation

Charitable planning with business interests

Buy-sell agreements and the use of life insurance

Section 303 redemptions

Deferral of estate tax payment under Section 6166

Loans to facilitate payment of estate tax, and rules on deductibility of interest

Lifetime steps for transferring property and structuring entities to facilitate use of special rules available at death

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.00 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

Tactics to reduce client resistance to discussing difficult topics such as intergenerational wealth transfers, health care wishes or a change in beneficiary

Speaker:

Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, Wealth Psychology Expert, Author & Coach, KBK Wealth Connection

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Fiduciary Litigation Annual Review (2024)
2024-05-02 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
A panel of trust litigation attorneys conducts an annual review of current key fiduciary issues being addressed by the courts and provides advice on how to avoid associated risks.

Discussion Highlights:

Tax issues for trusts

Trustee obligations to report and account

Alleged breaches of fiduciary duty

Attorney-client privilege

The duty of impartiality and conflicts

Trust modifications and challenges to them

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.0, CRSP 2.0 creditsApproved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Where Does Your Trust Live?
2024-04-04 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
The situs of a trust — where it is administered and the law that applies — can make a significant difference in trust administration and tax matters. This webinar will discuss the important ramifications of trust situs and how to use it for planning purposes.

Discussion Highlights:

Rules and limits for determining and selecting trust situs

The rule against perpetuities

“Silent trusts” and its impact on trustee obligations to disclose

and account

Other significant laws or concepts affected by situs, including asset protection, powers of appointment, trust modification, creation of a directed trust, no contest clauses and alternative dispute resolution

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.0 credits

Approved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email amelia.dow@portlandtrust.com.

Estate Planning for the Modern Family
2024-03-07 13:00 - 14:30
The traditional concept of families and descendants from the 1980s and earlier does not apply to many families today. This session will address planning for the modern family that may have unique attributes.

Discussion Highlights:

Family members who are highly mobile across state and countries

Descendants born through assisted reproductive technologies

Blended Families

Same-sex marriages and relationships

Speakers:

Thomas W. Abendroth, Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Stephen W. Murphy, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

Continuing Education Credits:

Live and Recording—CTFA 2.0 credits

Approved for 1.5 ME CLE

To register, please email mail@portlandtrust.com.
