Estate Planning Additional Resources
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Estate Planning: Additional Resources
July 7th, 2025SevenPonds recommends the following resources for our readers who need more information or assistance in estate planning.
National Organizations
The American Bar Association
The American Bar Association provides a detailed overview of the many facets of estate planning in its website section Estate Planning Info & FAQs. The ABA also offers the public a state-by-state directory of bar associations, which can assist you in finding an estate planning attorney in your area.
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
Established in Los Angeles in 1949, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel is a nonprofit association of lawyers and law professors with expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts; estate planning; and probate procedure and the administration of trusts and estates. Its website offers consumers free estate planning tools, including an extensive video library.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Established in 1987, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is a non-profit association dedicated to helping the elderly and their families plan for long-term needs, including incapacity and long-term care, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and healthcare decision-making. The organization has about 5,000 members in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and Canada, and provides an online directory where you can search for an elder law attorney in your area.
Education and Planning
ACTEC Estate Planning Essentials
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel provides a strong educational video library covering wills, trusts, tax planning, asset protection, retirement assets, and charitable giving.
Attorney Directories
Martindale Hubbell
Martindale Hubbell provides a directory of over 1 million attorneys throughout the United States and is the only national organization that provides peer and consumer reviews for most of the attorneys listed on the site. You can search by area of expertise and location to find an estate planning attorney near you.
Nolo
One of the most extensive and respected consumer resources for legal advice online, Nolo began as a publisher of do-it-yourself legal guides in 1971. In the 40 years since its inception, it has evolved into a robust online platform with articles on nearly every aspect of U.S. law, including wills, trusts and probate. It also offers an interactive guide to finding a lawyer that allows you to search by area of expertise and location to find an estate planning attorney near you.
FindLaw
Similar to Nolo, FindLaw is an extensive online resource that provides consumers with accurate and up-to-date information on most aspects of U.S. law, including estate planning, wills and trusts. It also offers a lawyer directory that allows you to search for an attorney by practice area and/or location and many DIY legal forms, which can be downloaded for a small fee.
State Bar Association
SevenPonds also recommends that you find your state bar association. Many state bar associations offer free or low-cost legal information, forms, or lawyer referral services for estate planning. Your local bar is often one of the best starting points for state-specific rules.
Notable Estate Planning Experts
Trusted Legal Experts (ACTEC Leadership)
Margaret G. Lodise
As the 2026–2027 President of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Lodise is at the top of her profession. ACTEC is a highly selective, peer-elected national organization of top trust attorneys, and her presidency cements her status as an industry-wide thought leader.
Peter S. Gordon
As the outgoing 2025–2026 ACTEC President, Peter S. Gordon has spent decades shaping national trust law. Based in Delaware and widely recognized as one of the most progressive and business-friendly trust jurisdictions in the United States, Gordon utilizes unique state statutes to shield generational wealth from external liabilities.
Carrie M. Leontitsis
Carrie Leontitsis represents the modern evolution of estate planning. Rather than operating in a traditional legal vacuum, her practice focuses heavily on the integration of legal document drafting (Wills and Trusts) with long-term, proactive wealth advisory and financial planning. She leverages her legal credentials alongside advanced wealth planning designations (like the Accredited Estate Planner® designation) to bridge the historical gap between an individual’s lawyer and their financial planner.
Nationally Recognized Firms
Jackson Walker
With 350+ attorneys recognized in its ranks, Jackson Walker is one of the largest and most historically deeply rooted law firms in Texas. Their massive footprint allows them to operate with the horsepower of a national firm while maintaining localized, hyper-specialized expertise in Southwestern wealth dynamics (e.g., handling substantial assets tied to oil and gas leases, ranches, farmlands, and complex real estate).
Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is widely recognized as a “tax-first” firm. Their estate planning practice doesn’t just draft standard documents; it acts as an architectural firm for minimizing financial erosion. Because the potential tax consequence at a wealthy individual’s death can often surpass 50%, their leaders like Brett T. Berly (Houston) and J. Scot Kirkpatrick (Atlanta) are brought in to aggressively navigate the most punitive areas of the tax code.
Keystone Law Group
Unlike firms that focus on front-end estate planning (writing wills and setting up trusts), California-based Keystone Law Group carved out an intentional, highly specific niche: probate administration and high-stakes litigation. They are the firm brought in after someone has passed away or become incapacitated, especially when things go sideways.
Financial & Strategic Experts
Vieng Bounnam
As an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®), Bounnam operates at the intersection of complex estate law, tax mitigation, and wealth preservation. Holding the AEP® designation signifies a highly specialized, cross-disciplinary approach to estate planning.
Beth Handwerker
Handwerker bridges the gap between legal theory and financial reality. Operating across Ohio and Washington D.C., her “rare combination” of a legal background paired with strict financial planning credentials makes her a formidable strategist at James Investment Research.
Kimberly Hillyard
Operating at the director level for Choreo (a major nationwide wealth advisory firm), Hillyard sits at a high-stakes crossroads for business owners and high-net-worth philanthropists.
How to Verify an Expert
If you are looking for a local expert with national standing, use these three directories:
ACTEC “Find a Fellow”
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is an invitation-only organization of lawyers recognized as preeminent in trusts and estates law. Becoming a Fellow is considered the most rigorous peer-reviewed credential in the field—candidates are vetted for exceptional skill, integrity, and substantial contributions to the area. Using the “Find a Fellow” directory connects you with attorneys who have met the highest bar of professional recognition, not just a basic license.
NAEPC (National Association of Estate Planners & Councils)
The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils awards the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) designation to professionals (often attorneys, CPAs, or financial advisors) who already hold a recognized estate planning credential and have completed advanced graduate-level coursework. Earning the AEP® signals a broad, multidisciplinary commitment to estate planning, demonstrating that the advisor meets rigorous experience and continuing education standards beyond their initial certification.
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers compiles its annual lists through a purely peer-review survey, meaning lawyers themselves vote on the top practitioners in their field. The “Trusts and Estates” category highlights attorneys who are highly regarded by their colleagues specifically for estate planning, probate, and trust work.