Virginia AAML Spring Retreat: Fellowship and Learning in Williamsburg, VA

This Spring Retreat, held in beautiful Williamsburg Virginia, offers a great weekend opportunity for learning from experts in family law on complex issues related to post-divorce estate planning issues and the separation of business interests among family members including spouses and extended family.  In addition, it provides ample time to enjoy history, wine, networking and socializing with colleagues.

Location: Kingsmill Resort
Dates: April 26-28, 2024

How to Register:

Please send us your full registration as soon as possible, but no later than April 17, 2024.

Please complete this registration form and send along with your check made payable to Virginia AAML by mail to Susan Butler, Esquire at ShounBach, 4000 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, Virginia 22033. You can also email or fax this form to: [email protected] or (703) 222-3340. We also accept payment via Zelle at [email protected]. Please note VA AAML Spring Retreat

Registration fees shall not be refundable for any cancellations made after April 18, 2024.

Housing:

Hotel reservations may be made by calling Resort Reservations at 757-253-1703 or 1-800-832-5665. Please identify yourself as being with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Room rates start at $249.00 per night plus taxes and fees.  The room block rate will expire at 5:00 p.m. on April 5, 2024 or when all rooms are booked.  Cancellations of rooms may be made without penalty up to midnight on the 7^th day prior to arrival.  Cancellations after that time shall be charged the full stay plus taxes.  Cancellation requests must go directly to Kingsmill Resort.  Cancellations for rooms after April 18 and/or within seven days prior to arrival may also be subject to a charge from VA AAML.

Schedule and Activities:

Friday Evening:

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Join us for a reception at Kingsmill Resort.  Following the reception, you are encouraged to have dinner with other Fellows and their guests.

Saturday Morning:

8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast will be provided in the Taslow Room of Kingsmill Resort.  The program will begin in the Taslow Room at 9:00 a.m.  Dress is business casual.

8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
‘Til Death Do We Part (Again):  Addressing post-divorce estate planning issues in Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements, Property Settlement Agreements, and Divorce Decrees

Too often, in pre- and post-marital agreements, counsel address the treatment of assets at the termination of a marriage without fully considering or even understanding the scope of a spouse’s legal rights (let alone how those rights might be implicated by the future claims of a future spouse).  Similarly, in a divorce context, family law attorneys tend to focus narrowly and/or over-emphasize a perceived significance of the immediate division of assets, allocation of debt, and support amounts. A savvy attorney in this situation necessarily considers and takes into account future “what if” scenarios, including the potential implications of a former spouse’s untimely death.

Thomas W. Repczynski, Esq. with Offit Kurman, will lead us in a discussion of the potential significance and impact of drafting provisions in agreements/orders with potential death-related consequences, e.g., life insurance, real estate, retirement and bank account beneficiary designations, and a potential host of related issues. We will cover topics including designation of beneficiaries, assignments, transfers upon death, survivorship, and the procedural steps necessary to effectuate the terms of agreements. In our never-ending quest to better protect our clients leading up to, during, and after the divorce process, Tom will have us re-examining our own efforts at documenting our clients’ pre- and post-marital agreements, equitable distributions, and marital dissolutions through hypothetical post-divorce realities implicated and/or occasioned by the death of one (or both!) of the parties to the marriage, and, potentially avoidable harsh and costly post-divorce consequences to take into account when negotiating and drafting our agreements and orders.

9:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Coffee Break

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Tangled Webs Our Clients Weave

Business valuations and income issues are hard enough when one spouse is an owner/partner with third parties but add to mix the complexities that arise when a spouse owns a business with relatives including the family patriarch/matriarch and siblings, where that spouse may have future interests in that business based on succession planning and estate planning, and where the non-owning spouse has worked in the business throughout the marriage.

Our experts from Stout, Steve Purdy, Joe Estabrook and Brooks Anderson, will present us with a hypothetical couple involved not only in a divorce but also in a family owned business.  They’ll lead us through an informative discussion including hot topics and issue spotting unique to the facts and dynamics of this kind of asset and income source.   We will look at the important aspects of classification, tracing, dissipation, value, and income that arise; whether prenuptial agreements, trusts and business agreements may impact the analysis that has to be done; and tips for how to prepare for negotiations as well as litigation.

Saturday Afternoon:
Attendees may select to participate in a variety of activities.

Golf at River Course or Plantation Course
Resort rates at River Course (18 holes) is $220.00 person per round plus cart fee tax. Resort rates at Plantation Course (18 holes) are $140.00 per person per round plus cart fee tax.

Spa Services at Kingsmill Resort

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, Yorktown, and Jamestown
The Williamsburg area itself has many options for history buffs at Colonial Williamsburg.  In addition, it is just a short drive from Jamestown and Yorktown.  *We are working to organize an event at one of Williamsburg’s historic venues.  Details will be forthcoming.* Other on your own options are below:

• https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/visit
• https://historicjamestowne.org/
• https://www.visityorktown.org/214/Yorktown-History

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
This beautiful theme park is based on classic Europe  with nine villages centered around six countries with rides, shows, animals, food, and beverages.  It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Shopping
In addition to the shops at Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg, explore the many stores at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.

Wineries and Breweries
The area has a number of wineries, vineyards and breweries to explore including Williamsburg Winery and Silver Hand Meadery, Viriginia Beer Co., Aleworks Brewing Company, etc.  Click here to learn more.