2026 Basics Session 3: Estate Planning During Lifetime Part 1: Incapacity Planning
Vanessa L. Kanaga, Esq., and Mary E. Vandenack, CAP®
April 26, 2026
Description:
Planning for incapacity can be more important than planning for death, but the two often overlap. In this session, we will discuss documents commonly used for incapacity planning, one of which is a Revocable Trust, which is also used to transfer property at death. The speakers will cover how Revocable Trusts operate, and other options for naming someone to handle a client’s affairs in the event of incapacity, such as using a Power of Attorney or Guardianship. We will also focus on health care directives, which allow a designated person to make health care decisions if the client is unable to do so.
Planning for Incapacity:
- Use of Revocable Trusts during incapacity
- Delegation of authority through Powers of Attorney and guardianship
- Health Care Directives and medical decision-making
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Continuing Education Credits
InterActive Legal is not an approved Continuing Education (CE) Sponsor. However, several states and
regulatory agencies for a variety of professionals that participate on our teleconferences may still receive
continuing education credit for their participation. If a participant wishes to receive CE credit for their
participation in these teleconferences, they must apply to receive credit on their own and through their
individual states and regulatory authorities. It is the responsibility of the participant to file for CE
credit and is not guaranteed by the webinar sponsors.
Vanessa L. Kanaga, Esq.
Vanessa Kanaga currently serves as InterActive Legal’s Special Advisor on Estate Planning and Legal Strategy. She is the former CEO of InterActive Legal. Vanessa received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Wichita State University, as well as an Advanced Professional Certificate from New York University School of Law. She is licensed in New York, Kansas, and Arizona, and currently lives in Arizona.
Prior to joining InterActive Legal in 2013, Vanessa practiced in New York, at Milbank LLP and Moses & Singer LLP, and in Kansas, at Hinkle Law Firm, LLC. She has experience in a range of estate planning matters, including high net worth tax planning and asset protection planning.
In 2024, Vanessa returned to the practice of law. She is Of Counsel at Becker and House, PLLC in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mary E. Vandenack, CAP®
InterActive Legal Advisor
Mary Vandenack, ACTEC, COLPM®, CAP®, and Accredited Estate Planner® (Distinguished), brings a wealth of experience from diverse fields to offer comprehensive counsel on tax, business, real estate, financial assets, asset protection, philanthropy, and trust and estate matters. She is deeply committed to understanding her clients’ unique objectives and challenges, providing tailored advice for business owners on starting, growing, and selling their businesses, as well as on personal tax, estate, and legacy planning.
Mary’s expertise and dedication have earned her a place in the NAEPC Estate Planning Hall of Fame, recognizing her outstanding service to clients and her profession. She also serves as the Nebraska State Chair for ACTEC and is a Professor of Law at Creighton University School of Law.
As the founder of the podcast “Legal Visionaries,” Mary explores topics ranging from tax, estate planning, and business to law firm leadership, technology, and wellness. She is a pioneer in integrating technology into legal practice, a commitment that earned her the American Bar Association’s James I. Keane Award, and an induction into the Women of Legal Tech.
A prolific writer and speaker, Mary frequently shares her insights on family wealth transfer planning, business succession and exit planning, asset protection planning, estate and gift taxes, and philanthropy. She is a respected commentator for Leimberg Services, a leading publication in tax, trusts, estates, benefits, and asset protection planning. Mary is a sought-after speaker at national conferences, where she occasionally leads yoga or mindfulness sessions, blending her professional expertise with her passion for wellness.
Purchase Course
$99
$99
or get it as part of the following subscription:
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