Listen to ACTEC Fellows express what they value about being a Fellow of the College and how it has impacted their careers.

Private Practice T&E Attorneys and Fiduciary Counsel Membership

Fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel are leading members of the Trust and Estate profession who have made a substantial contribution to the T&E field. To become a Fellow of the College, one must be nominated by an active Fellow in good standing and elected by the Board of Regents.

To be elected into the College, nominees must:

1. Have been predominantly in the active practice of Trust and Estate law for at least 10 years or have served primarily as fiduciary counsel with a fiduciary services company for at least 10 years, or a combination thereof;
2. Have contributed substantially to the field of Trust and Estate law by lecturing, writing, teaching, being involved in bar activities or in the enactment of significant state or federal Trust and Estate legislation, or outreach, education, and mentoring to communities that have been historically underrepresented in estate planning (“diverse communities”) on topics and issues connected to estate planning, probate, and trust;
3. Have a well-deserved outstanding reputation in the field of Trusts and Estates;
4. Be a lawyer to whom the other Fellows in one’s jurisdiction would readily refer a matter within one’s field of expertise without reservation;
5. Be licensed to practice in the highest court of any state or jurisdiction of the United States;
6. Demonstrated exceptional skill in Trust and Estate law.

Need more trust and estate knowledge? Check out the ACTEC Institutes.

ACTEC Fellows Institutes offer a six-day program of intensive trust and estate education over a one-year period for third through sixth-year law associates. Programs are designed to develop the trust and estate profession’s future leaders through a series of in-depth educational presentations.

The Florida Fellows Institute (FFI) was formed in March 2015 to educate attorneys in Florida. ACTEC Fellows coordinate and manage FFI.e this institute.

The Heart of America Fellows Institute (HOAFI) began in 2018 to educate attorneys in the middle of the United States. ACTEC Fellows from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska coordinate and manage the HOAFI. 

The Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute (MAFI) began in 2018 to educate attorneys from the Mid-atlantic region. ACTEC Fellows from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. coordinate and manage MAFI.

The New England Fellows Institute (NEFI) began in 2020 to educate attorneys from the Northeast region. ACTEC Fellows from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont manage NEFI. 

The Rocky Mountain Fellows Institute (RMFI) was formed in 2023, with its first programs slated to begin in 2024. ACTEC Fellows from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming manage RMFI.

The Southeast Fellows Institute (SEFI) began in 2020 to educate attorneys in the Southeast region. ACTEC Fellows from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia manage SEFI.

Free Resources for T&E Professionals

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, ACTEC, is committed to improving the trust and estate profession through lifelong learning. Our trust and estate resources and educational materials provide lawyers, financial services professionals, and clients valuable information at no charge.