Events Information

NCEPC- SD Webinar Announcement: The NCEPC-SD is pleased to present a Webinar with our three “Hot Topic Ladies, Katie Swafford of Withers Bergman, Kristan Shepard of Goodwin Brown, and Roberta Robinson of Robinson & Wilson. They will cover:

“Stay Ahead of the Curve: Hot Topics in Trust and Estate Law”

The Hot Topic Attorneys challenge you with these questions:

• Taxable gifts: When is a “loan” a taxable gift?
• Tax me now or lose me forever: In light of the 99.5% Act, should estate tax related to recent deaths be incurred now or deferred until surviving spouse’s death/
• Call me crazy: The impact of mental delusions on testamentary capacity
• Dad always said I was his favorite child: Evidence of lifetime gifts used to force post-death equalization of estate.
• Conservatorships: Can the Probate Court order conservatees to visit with persons against their will?
• Reformation: When can the Probate Court order reformation of a Will under Estate of Duke?
• Attorneys’ Fees Awards: When are they statutorily mandated?
• Is it too late baby? Making late Federal Estate Tax portability and Qtip elections.
• Tax my capital gains when I make a gift or die? What is the proposed Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion (STEP) Act.
• Well at least my property taxes won’t go up…or will they? Proposition 19 and the new rules.

Join Attorneys Catherine Swafford, Kristan Shepard, and Roberta J. Robinson for a review of recent developments and the road ahead.

NCEPC-SD Webinar Sponsor
May 4, 2021

Valerie Medina of Trust Properties USA

Valerie Medina is the San Diego Broker Associate for Trust Properties USA, the #1 Probate and Trust Brokerage in Southern California. With over 30 years of experience and 600+ Probate and Trust properties sold; we understand what it takes to get the family home sold. Unlike other realtors who sell the family home for a "fire-sale" price, we work with the best interest of the seller in mind.

Trust Properties USA maximizes your equity at no upfront cost to your family's estate. With our unique "Fix and Sell" strategy, we front the cost for all property renovations so that you gain top dollar for your estate. Instead of an investor making a profit, you can preserve the equity your family worked a lifetime for. On average, our clients gain an additional $50,000-$100,000 from the sale of their home with our Fix and Sell strategy.

Contact Information: VALERIE MEDINA, Trust Properties USA, Mobile: (619) 997-9356; Direct: (619) 450-2973, [email protected], 501 W. Broadway, Ste 800, San Diego, CA 92101, TrustPropertiesUSA.com

North County Estate Planning Council- San Diego ALERT: The San Diego Chapter of the Advisors in Philanthropy is organizing The International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy (AiP) is proud to announce the formation of its San Diego Chapter that will formally launch in May 2021.

 We appreciate the opportunity to share the AiP story with the NCEPC audience. Our intention is to elevate philanthropic conversations with trusted advisors and their clients. We are creating a community that wants to learn, sharpen philanthropic skills and share their specific professional expertise collaborating to execute philanthropic gifts.

For more information and to be placed on the San Diego AiP Chapter email distribution, please email Claudia Ehrlich, President of AiP San Diego, at [email protected] or Marty Dutch, President of AiP National at [email protected] The Council has many Members with a passion for philanthropy who are already involved. Please join us.

To learn more about AiP please visit www.advisorsinphilanthropy.org.

We would like to recognize our Friends at the Jewish Community Foundation for all of their Support and Help in making this Zoom Webinar so Successful; In particular Sharleen Wollach and Ollie Benn.

See more about the Jewish Community Foundation below.

NCEPC-SD Networking Opportunities with “Trifectas”

The Council is continuing our “Trifectas” with our “virtual Trifectas”.  With our “Trifectas”, we will “build” small groups that will meet virtually after the monthly meeting to deepen their relationships and to better facilitate referrals. (IF YOU ARE INTERESTED).

 Please Reply to the Emails that were sent to you or send a separate email to Bill Super at [email protected] or Pete Tentler, below, to let us know of your interest.

***Our Board Member, Pete Tentler of Independence Reverse Mortgage Solutions, who is a Master Networker, is Managing the Trifectas process. You can find Pete here; [email protected]  ***

Our Speakers:
Katie Swafford of Withers Bergman, Kristan Shepard of Goodwin Brown, and Roberta Robinson of Robinson and Wilson

Roberta J. Robinson, attorney-at-law, of Robinson and Wilson, is a California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Now in her 44th year of practice, Roberta’s works with her son and partner, Attorney Daniel J. Wilson.

Ms. Robinson helps clients:

• To establish living trusts, wills, financial powers of attorney and advance health care directives.
• Avoid conservatorships and probate, minimize estate/income/and property taxes, and transfer assets to their heirs.

Ms. Robinson has taught the course entitled "Family Estate Planning" for San Diego State University, Extension since 1982. Ms. Robinson has served on the California State Bar Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Advisory Commission. Roberta is the past Chairwoman of the Probate, Trust and Estate Planning Section of the San Diego North County Bar Association. Ms. Robinson is a member of the California Bar Association Section on Estates and Trusts and has been a speaker for the State Bar's Continuing Education of the Bar program for attorneys. Roberta is also a Member of the North County Estate Planning Council- San Diego where she has been an active member and part of the “Hot Topics” team.

Ms. Robinson received her Bachelor of Arts from University of California at Irvine, in 1974, and her Juris Doctor from University of San Diego School of Law in 1977. Ms. Robinson has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest national rating as evaluated by attorneys in her field.

Contact Information: Roberta J. Robinson, Robinson & Wilson 11665 Avena Place, Suite 108 Voice: 858.485-1990 P.O. Box 270099 Fax: 858.487-8240 ; [email protected], web:  www.TrustLaw.us

Kristan Shepard is a partner with Goodwin Brown Gross & Lovelace LLP

Kristan is a partner with Goodwin Brown Gross & Lovelace LLP. Her practice is devoted to probate and trust administration, conservatorships, and estate planning. She enjoys representing fiduciaries, professional, institutional, and non-professional.

Kristan has led or contributed to presentations on fiduciary liability and estate planning. She has also published in California Trusts and Estates Quarterly, a scholarly journal. While attending law school, Kristan served on the California Western Law Review, received multiple American Jurisprudence Awards and worked as an extern for the California Court of Appeal.

Kristan served as co-chair for the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate section of the San Diego County Bar, is a member of the Bench Bar Committee, and serves as a member of the Scripps Health Foundation Gift Planning Advisory Board.

Kristan is certified by the California State Bar as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law.  Kristan has received numerous professional honors including being nominated as "Woman of the Year" by San Diego Magazine and designated a "Top Attorney" by the San Diego Daily Transcript, "Best of the Bar" by the San Diego Business Journal, and San Diego Super Lawyers.

Licenses: State Bar of California 2005

Education:

• Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, in 2005 from California Western School of Law
• Member of the California Western Law Review
• Received American Jurisprudence Awards in Business Organizations/Corporations, Federal Income Taxation and Internship Seminar
• Extern for the California State Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One.
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a pre-law concentration, cum laude, in 2002 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Professional Memberships and Affiliations:

• Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, State Bar of California
• State Bar of California, Member of the Trust and Estates Section
• Co-Chair of the Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Section of the San Diego County Bar Association (2011 - 2012)
• Chair, Bench-Bar Committee for the Trusts and Estates Section of the San Diego County Bar Association (2013 - 2014)
• Bench-Bar Committee for the Trusts and Estates Section of the San Diego County Bar Association (2011 - present)
• North County Estate Planning Council- San Diego

Recognitions and Speaking:

• Super Lawyers Rising Star 2016
• San Diego Super Lawyers, 2017-Present
• "Best of the Bar" – San Diego Business Journal, 2014
• "Top Attorney" – Estate Planning, Probate and Trust, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2011 and 2012
• "Woman of the Year" nominee, San Diego Magazine, 2018
• Regular Speaker, "Hot Topics in Estate Planning," North County Estate Planning Council- San Diego
• Scripps Health Foundation Gift Planning Advisory Board, Member

Contact Information: Kristan Shepard, Esq., Goodwin Brown Gross & Lovelace LLP, 4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Ste. 350, San Diego, CA 92122, (858) 750-3580, [email protected]

Catherine M. Swafford is a partner in the trust, estate and inheritance disputes team at the international law firm, Withersworldwide. She practices exclusively in trust, estate, conservatorship, elder abuse and fiduciary litigation. Her practice includes representing clients in will and trust contests, elder abuse actions, breach of fiduciary duty and accounting cases, conservatorships, intestacy and heirship disputes, contract to make a will disputes, creditor claim disputes and related litigation and administration matters brought under the California Probate Code.

Catherine has extensive experience litigating cases from the initial stage of filing a petition through discovery, including depositions, and finally through mediations, trial, and post-judgment.

Catherine represents beneficiaries, heirs, fiduciaries, charities, creditors and related clients in Probate and Civil Court. While based in San Diego, Catherine’s practice is state wide throughout California. She has appeared in many Probate and Civil Courts throughout the state.

Catherine has also developed special expertise in probate disputes involving issues of foreign law and international beneficiaries. She has experience representing clients in cross-border probate matters involving other jurisdictions such as Mexico, Switzerland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands and Hungary. She also regularly advises clients who have bene􀀣cial interests in California but reside in foreign jurisdictions.

Catherine is actively involved in the legal community. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Probate Attorneys of San Diego ( PASD), where she is the incoming chair of the Education Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of San Diego, where she is Secretary. She also serves as court-appointed counsel for the San Diego Probate Court. Catherine is a frequent speaker in the community on a wide range of topics. She also is a contributing author of numerous publications, including CEB Practitioner™ attorney-drafted templates, the Litigation Alert in the California Trusts & Estates Quarterly, the California Decedent Estate Practice Guide, the California Civil Practice – Probate & Trust Proceedings Practice Guide and the California Code of Probate Forms book.

While devoted to her law practice, Catherine is the proud mother of 4 young children. She takes great pride in being able to contribute to the community both as an attorney and as a mother.

Catherine holds a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and a B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles.

ADMISSIONS: State of California, 2005

PUBLICATIONS:

• ‘Tom Petty’s Daughters File $5 Million Civil Lawsuit Against His Widow,’ Digital Music News - May 16, 2019, quoted
• ‘A Brief Overview of the California Uniform Trust Decanting Act,’ The Daily Journal, May 1, 2019, co-author
• ‘MCLE Article: Wine Not? The New California Trust Decanting Act,’ California Trusts and Estates Quarterly, Vol. 25 Issue 1 - 2019, co-author
• ‘Litigation Alert,’ California Trusts & Estates Quarterly, co-author (2011-present)
• ‘Amending Nontaxable Crowdfunding Reporting Requirements,’ Tax Notes - October 30, 2017, P.675, co-author
• ‘New Case Alerts,’ State Bar of California, Trusts & Estates Section, co-author (2016-2017)
• ‘Actions By and Against Personal Representative,’ California Decedent Estate Practice, Chapter 29, annual updates
• California Civil Practice, Probate & Trust Proceedings, bi-annual updates
• West’s California Code Forms, Probate, annual updates

MEMBERSHIPS:

• Estate Planning Council of San Diego, Board of Directors, Secretary
• North County Estate Planning Council- San Diego
• San Diego County Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Section
• California State Bar, Trusts & Estates Section
• Probate Attorneys of San Diego (PASD)
• San Diego Probate Court Appointed Attorney
• La Jolla Bar Association
• UCLA Alumni Group of San Diego
• UCLA Bruin Professionals
• Lawyers Club of San Diego
• La Jolla Youth Soccer Coach

TALKS:

• ‘Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law: 2020 Year in Review,’ Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section San Diego Bar Association webinar - April 1, 2021, co-presenter
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law: 2020 Year in Review,’ Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section of the La Jolla Bar Association webinar - March 11, 2021, co-presenter
• ‘Wine Not? California’s New Decanting Act,’ San Luis Obispo County Bar Association webinar - February 24, 2021, co-presenter
• ‘Powers of Appointment: Everything You Need to Know from the Planning and Litigation Perspectives, Orange County Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Section webinar - August 12, 2020, co-presenter
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law: 2019 Year in Review,’ Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section of the San Diego County Bar
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law: 2020 Year in Review,’ Trust & Estate Section of the Association webinar - July 15, 2020, co-presenter
• ‘Pitfalls in Estate Planning: War Stories, Tips, and Strategies From the Litigation Perspective ,’ Withers PCT Training - January 30, 2020, speaker
• ‘Current Developments,’ North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California – November 5, 2019, speaker
• ‘Decanting in California,’ Orange County Estate Planning Council - September 24, 2019, co-presenter
• ‘Recent Developments in Probate & Trust Law,’ Provisors, San Diego Estate and Succession Planning Affinity Group - August 27, 2019
• ‘Decanting in California,’ North County Bar Association - August 14, 2019, speaker
• ‘Current Developments,’ North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California - August 6, 2019, speaker
• North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California - May 7, 2019, speaker (Topic: Current Developments)
• ‘California’s New Trust Decanting Laws,’ Long Beach Bar Association Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Section – May 1, 2019, speaker
• ‘New California Uniform Decanting Act,’ STEP San Diego - April 16, 2019, speaker
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law: 2018 Year in Review’, San Diego County Bar Association – March 14, 2019, speaker
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law: 2018 Year in Review,’ County Counsel Association Conference - March 7, 2019, speaker
• ‘Decanting in California,’ Probate Attorneys of San Diego - February 28, 2019, speaker
• ‘The New California Legislation on Decanting,’ North County Estate Planning Council - February 5, 2019, speaker
• ‘Wine Not? California’s New Decanting Act,’ First American Trust - February 5, 2019, speaker
• ‘Wine Not? California’s New Decanting Act,’ First American Trust - January 31, 2019, speaker
• ‘Decanting 101: The New California Trust Decanting Act,’ California Law Association, Webinar - January 30, 2019, speaker
• North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California – November 2018, speaker (Topic: Current Developments)
• ‘Decanting 101: The New California Trust Decanting Act,’ California Lawyers Association, Trusts & Estates Section, 42nd Annual Fall Program, San Francisco, California – October 2018, speaker
• North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California - September 2018, speaker (Topic: Current Developments)
• North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California - July 2018, speaker (Topic: Current Developments)
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law - 2017: A Year in Review,’ San Diego County Bar Association - March 2018, speaker
• North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California - November 2017, speaker (Topic: Current Developments)
• North County Estate Planning Council, San Diego, California - August 2017, speaker (Topic: Current Developments)
• ‘Traps for the Unwary: Issues to Consider in Cross-Border Fiduciary Litigation and Trust or Probate Administrations,’ San Francisco Estate Planning Council & Golden Gate University Law Morning Symposium, Topics in International Estate Planning - June 2017, speaker
• ‘Amending Reporting Requirements to Recent Social Changes,’ State Bar of California Taxation Section, Washington, D.C. Delegation - May 2017, speaker
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law - 2016: A Year in Review,’ San Diego County Bar Association - February 2017, speaker
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law - 2015: A Year in Review,’ San Diego County Bar Association - February 2016, speaker
• ‘Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law - 2014: A Year in Review,’ San Diego County Bar Association - February 2015, speaker

Education:

Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D., cum laude UCLA, B.A. in History and Political Science, cum laude, Departmental Honors (History)

Contact Information” San Diego Office: 101 WEST BROADWAY, SUITE 1000, CA 92101 San Francisco Office: 505 SANSOME STREET, 2ND FLOOR, CA 94111, 1-619-564-6170, [email protected], www.withersworldwide.com

Our friends at The Jewish Community Foundation:

JCF is the largest grantmaker in San Diego, having facilitated over $1.6bn in grants since 1967. We specialize in assisting financial advisors with complex asset and real estate contributions, impact investing, multi-generational philanthropy, and legacy planning. We provide services for Donor Advised Funds, supporting foundations, family foundations and private foundations for Jewish and secular individuals, families, and community organizations.

JCF's "Trusted Charitable Advisor" program has now opened enrollment. This popular program has many in its network of trusted San Diego attorneys, accountants, financial advisors and wealth managers dedicated to building relationships and integrating charitable planning as a strategy for achieving clients’ overall goals. Whether in-person or virtual as necessary, our first workshop kicks off May 13, 2021. More information can be found at JCF's website, www.jcfsandiego.org, or by emailing [email protected]

Contact: Sharleen Wollach, Chief Impact Officer, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, (858) 279-2740, [email protected]