In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Estate Planning & Probate (“EP&P”) Section continues to offer its members valuable
continuing legal education opportunities through monthly CLE webinars focusing on topics ranging from probate law and estate
planning, to law firm operation, charitable giving, and related topics within the allied professions and fields of law. Here are some of our
recent past programs:

1 - On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, the EP&P Section welcomed Christy Butler Eckoff (Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta) and Lula Dawit (University of Florida College of the Arts), who discussed “Charitable Gift Agreements.” Eckoff and Dawit offered a broad overview of the charitable giving landscape in the wake of recent changes in tax laws. The featured Section Sponsor for this webinar was Bennett Thrasher, LLP.
2 - On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the EP&P Section welcomed Douglas Stein (Stein Law, LLC), who spoke to the Section about
“Qualified Opportunity Zones and Estate Planning. Doug discussed how clients can invest in qualified opportunity zones as a way to
defer capital gains tax burdens while helping to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities. The featured Section Sponsor for this webinar was the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
3 - On Thursday, April 22, 2021, the EP&P Section welcomed Trust Director Velena Berny (SunTrust Bank), Betsy Brown (Pendleton
Square Trust Company), and Dan Bryan (Regions Bank Private Wealth Management), for a panel discussion entitled, “How to Ascertain Ascertainable Standards.” Berny, Brown and Bryan tackled a couple of different factual scenarios to illustrate when, how, and why trust distributions should be made – and when they shouldn’t. The lively discussion was moderated by our Section Treasurer and upcoming Vice Chair, Kevin O’Sullivan (Cohen Pollock Merlin Turner, PC). The featured Section Sponsor for this webinar was Adams Capital, LLC. The EP&P Section Board invite Section members and other Atlanta Bar Association members to join us for these upcoming CLE virtual events. Registration can be done online at AtlantaBar.org:

• On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at noon, the EP&P Section will welcome Senior Associate General Counsel Samantha Johnson (Grady Health Systems), who will discuss “Advance Directives for Health Care.”
• One June 9, 2021, at noon, the EP&P Section will welcome Hon. Kenya Johnson (Fulton County Probate Court) to give us her perspective from the bench and an update on recent changes and developments in the Fulton County Probate Court. The Estate Planning & Probate Section is proud to be a supporter of many allied legal associations and community organizations in the Atlanta metro area.

This fiscal year, the Section has made charitable donations to:

• The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Association
• The DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Association
• The Georgia Heirs Property Law Center
• Pro Bono Partnership
• The Atlanta Bar’s Pro Bono March Madness Program
• The Atlanta Bar’s Summer Law Internship Program (“SLIP”)
• The Atlanta Community Food Bank
• North Fulton Community Charities
• The Atlanta Bar Association’s Secret Santa Program

Last but not least, we want to recognize and thank our loyal Sponsors for their continued support, and for making our Section programs
and activities possible:

• Adams Capital, LLC
• American Surety Bonds Agency, LLC
• Bennett Thrasher, LLP
• Brightworth, LLC
• Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
• Hindman, LLC
• Regions Bank - Private Wealth Management
• Sterling Foundation Management, LLC

As the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 continues to unfold, and greater numbers of Americans become vaccinated, we look forward to resuming some in-person meeting later in 2021. In the meantime, the EP&P Section stands ready to offer its members alternatives to in-person gatherings and opportunities for professional development and social interaction. The EP&P Section Board wishes to thank our wonderful speakers for their generosity in sharing their time and knowledge, our Section Sponsors for their valued support, the leadership and staff of the Atlanta Bar Association, and most of all, our Section Members, who continue to make the Estate Planning & Probate Section one of the most active and vibrant Sections of the Atlanta Bar Association. On behalf of the entire Board of the EP&P Section, thank you!