Trusts and Estates Law Section Spring 2024 Meeting

Kinship Proceedings: Planning to Include or Avoid DNA Relatives

Case law around DNA testing in the world of trusts and estates continues to evolve. And the introduction of direct-to-consumer genetic kits (i.e. 23andMe, AncestryDNA) in recent years has expanded the playing field for “DNA relatives” to appear in estate proceedings. This presentation, featuring Sharon Wick and Amanda Lowe, will discuss estate planning considerations to avoid the issue of claims to inheritance by “DNA relatives”. There will also be a review of current case law, discussing applications for DNA testing and results, impact on kinship proceedings and other considerations for estate administration.