National Association of Estate Planners and Councils

Estate Planning Law Specialist Exam Study Materials

In response to questions from applicants regarding what materials might be reviewed or studied in preparation for sitting for the EPLS examination, the Estate Law Specialist Board has assembled the following list for your review and information:

I. Code and Regulations

It is strongly recommended that an applicant carefully review the current Internal Revenue Code and Regulations applicable to estate planning.

II. Text Materials

An applicant might consider securing a copy of the text materials utilized to teach Federal Estate and Gift Tax and Estate Planning in the law school nearest the applicant. 

In addition, The Board has reviewed the following text materials and is agreement that any one of the publications noted below would be sufficient to prepare for the exam.

  1. Apolinsky and Welch; New Rules for Estate Tax Planning, Revised Edition, 2005, Wiley Publishing (www.wiley.com);
  2. Beyer, Gerry W.; Wills, Trusts, and Estates, Eighth Edition, 2022, ISBN 9781543846829. Aspen Publishing (https://aspenpublishing.com/products/beyer-ee-wte8)
  3. Bloom; Federal Taxation of Estates, Trusts and Gifts: Cases, Problems and Materials, Revised Third Edition, 2003, ISBN 0820561118, Matthew Bender; 
  4. Campbell and Kess; CCH Financial and Estate Planning Guide, ISBN 0808006401, CCH, Inc. (www.cch.com);
  5. Dodge; Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning, ISBN 0314370382, Thomson West, St. Paul, Minnesota (www.thomsonwest.com);
  6. Fontaine; Fundamentals of Estate Planning, Ninth Edition, 2005, American College Press (www.americancollege.edu);
  7. Madoff, Tenney and Hall; The Practical Guide to Estate Planning: 2003 Supplement, ISBN 0735532168, Aspen Publishing (www.aspenpublishers.com);
  8. Pennell; Pennell's Federal Wealth Transfer Taxation, 4th, Thomson West, St. Paul, Minnesota (www.thomsonwest.com);
  9. Sitkoff, Dukeminier; Wills, Trusts and Estates, Eleventh Edition, ISBN 9781543824469, Aspen Publishing (www.aspenpublishers.com); 
  10. Weinstock and Neumann; Planning an Estate, A Guidebook of Principles and Techniques, Fourth Edition, ISBN 0314104178, Thomson West (www.thomsonwest.com).

The above list is not all-inclusive. It is suggested that before acquiring the books, the applicant might visit the local law library and review such texts as are available. Some law school texts contain substantial case law. Extensive examination of case law is unnecessary to prepare for this examination.