Estate Planning Foundations: Probate and Federal Transfer Taxes [2026]

Jennifer L. Campbell, Counsel | Venable LLP

Jennifer L. Campbell is Counsel at Venable LLP in the firm’s Los Angeles office, where she advises high-net-worth individuals, fiduciaries, and business owners on complex estate planning, trust and probate administration, and related tax matters. Jennifer is certified as a specialist in estate planning and trust and probate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She draws on decades of experience across legal, banking, and wealth management sectors to help clients practically navigate sensitive personal and financial matters with clarity and confidence.

• Education & Credentials

Jennifer earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif, and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Whittier College. She is admitted to practice in California.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jennifer has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates: Tax Law (2023–2024) and is rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. She serves on the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Trusts & Estates Section.

• Professional Involvement

Jennifer is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Professionals (STEP), the Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council, and the California Lawyers Association Trusts and Estates Section. She authored “Courts Do Not Agree on the History and Meaning of California Probate Code Section 15402” in the California Trusts & Estates Quarterly and has spoken at the Annual Institute on Tax, Estate Planning and the World Economy and the South Bay Bar Association Probate Section.

• Experience

Jennifer advises clients on sophisticated estate plans, including revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and customized gifting strategies. Her tax practice includes preparing estate and gift tax returns, resolving IRS matters, and advising on generation-skipping transfer and property tax issues. Prior to joining Venable, she held positions with international, regional, and boutique law firms and served as trust and managing counsel for leading financial institutions.

Jennifer Van Duzen, Partner | Buchalter LLP

Jennifer Van Duzer is a Partner in Buchalter LLP’s Los Angeles and Orange County offices and a member of the firm’s Tax, Benefits and Estate Planning practice group. Jennifer provides clients with advanced and conventional techniques for transferring and preserving wealth, plus planning for their closely held businesses, real estate holdings, entertainment industry issues, copyright and royalty interests, and charitable intentions. She places an emphasis on developing a trusted advisor relationship with clients and crafting specifically tailored plans based on clients’ goals.

• Education & Credentials

Jennifer is admitted to practice in California.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jennifer joined Buchalter as a Shareholder in December 2025.

• Professional Involvement

Jennifer is a member of the State Bar of California and the Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council.

• Experience

Jennifer has charitable interests ranging from local to global and has served on boards for P.A.T.H. (People Assisting the Homeless) and the Global First Ladies Alliance. Her practice focuses on wealth transfer and preservation for clients with closely held businesses, real estate holdings, entertainment industry interests, copyright and royalty interests, and charitable goals.

SESSION 1 – Probate Alternatives | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

Cover pre-death transfer planning alternatives to probate, including trusts, wills, and other methods used to transfer assets outside the probate process.

SESSION 2 – The Probate Process Overview | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Walk through the probate process for testate and intestate estates, including the procedural framework, key steps, and the role of the personal representative.

BREAK | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

SESSION 3 – Unique Probate Procedures | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

Cover unique probate procedures including sale of real property and distributions during administration, with practical attention to how each procedure operates within the broader probate framework.

SESSION 4 – Traps for the Wary and Unwary | 2:30pm – 2:50pm

Identify common traps for the wary and unwary in the probate process, with practical guidance on how to recognize and avoid each in estate administration.

SESSION 5 – Transfer Tax Basics | 2:50pm – 3:10pm

Cover transfer tax basics, including the federal gift tax, estate tax, generation-skipping transfer tax, and the fundamentals of preparing the federal estate tax return.