The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) is dedicated to establishing and ensuring standards for professionals, including attorneys, who assist people with arranging the disposal of their estate after death. The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils also serves as a national network for many local councils, which serve as affiliates of the NAEPC. The local councils provide education and networking for estate planning professionals. In addition, the NAEPC encourages members to become accredited through their programs, creating a standard for a knowledgeable estate planning professional.
In 1930, the Boston Estate Planning Council was formed as an organization of local estate planners. By the end of the 1930s, there were 10 additional local councils across the country.
The local councils continued to spring up all over the United States, and by the 1960's, many estate planning lawyers began to see the need for a national organization, both to connect the many local councils and to promote cities without a council to form their own. In 1962, the NAEPC was founded. It was incorporated in 1963.
The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils is dedicated to establishing and ensuring standards for professionals, including attorneys, who assist people with arranging the disposal of their estate after death. NAEPC also serves as an accreditation agency for attorneys as Estate Planning Law Specialists (EPLS). Furthermore, the NAEPC encourages members to become accredited through their programs, creating a standard for a knowledgeable estate planning professional. Estate planning professionals, including certified estate and probate lawyers, assist the living with ensuring their estate is properly distributed and their loved ones are taken care of after death.
Estate planning is a complicated legal process, requiring careful attention to detail. The NAEPC, in addition to certifying professionals, also seeks to continually educate them on law and policy.
The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils also serves as a national network for many local councils, which serve as affiliates of the NAEPC. The local councils provide education and networking for estate planning professionals.
Lawyer Legion maintains a nationwide directory of NAEPC Board Certified Estate Planning Law Specialists. The public is able to browse the directory and narrow their search by specialty area, county or city to and connect with board certified lawyers to help with their case. Lawyer Legion is the only commercial lawyer directory to properly acknowledge all ABA-accredited specialization programs for both national and state-level board certifications, including those granted by the National Association of Estate Planners & Counsels.
Use this directory to find board certified lawyers who are specialized in their respective areas of law. Start by choosing your state from the list below.
Attorneys who are involved in estate planning can become certified by the NAEPC as an Estate Planning Law Specialists. To qualify as an EPLS, an attorney must have:
The legal definition of "Estate Law" refers to the representation of individuals and their families in matters related to the planning, administration, and distribution of an individual’s estate, both during life and after death. Estate law often involves ensuring that an individual’s wishes are carried out regarding the management and transfer of assets, as well as addressing related tax and legal considerations.
Estate law attorneys assist with the creation of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and provide guidance on strategies to minimize estate taxes and avoid probate. They often help clients plan for incapacity, ensuring that a designated person can manage financial or health-related decisions if the client becomes unable to do so.
The practice of estate law includes, but is not limited to, the following key areas:
Estate law attorneys often collaborate with financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals to develop comprehensive estate plans tailored to their clients’ needs. They also provide guidance on legal issues related to family dynamics, such as disputes among heirs or beneficiaries.
In many cases, estate law overlaps with other legal specialties, including tax law, elder law, family law, and real estate law. Attorneys specializing in estate law must remain current on federal and state laws governing wills, trusts, probate, and estate taxes to provide effective and ethical representation.
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