This course will focus on the day to day life of the estate planning lawyer, from the initial client interview and analysis of financial data to the implementation of appropriate planning techniques based upon a client's situation and assets. Subjects addressed will include: ethical considerations; probate and methods for avoiding it; use of trusts; gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; planning with life insurance; planning with retirement assets; planning for charitable gifts and bequests; planning for lifetime gifting to individuals; post-mortem planning and premarital agreements.