American College of Trust and Estate Counsel


The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel was established in 1949. It is a professional organization of lawyers, judges and law professors. Members of ACTEC are also known as 'Fellows'. Fellows specialize in the fields of trust and estate law, tax law, estate planning and other related legal specialties by speaking, writing, teaching and participating in local, state and national bar association activities. ACTEC is a legal organization based in the United States.
ACTEC has more than 2,600 members or 'Fellows' who practice or teach in the United States, Canada and other foreign countries. ACTEC's national headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. This organization relates to Law in the United States.

History

ACTEC was established in 1949 as the Probate Attorney Association. After several name changes, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel was selected in 1990 as the new name for the not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Mission

The mission of the College is to maintain an association, international in scope, of lawyers skilled and experienced in the practice of trust and estate law and the related practice areas mentioned above, and to: serve as an educational source in those areas; study, improve and reform probate, trust, and tax laws, procedures, and professional responsibility; bring together qualified lawyers whose character and ability contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the College; and cooperate with bar associations and other organizations with similar purposes.

Membership

There are six classes of membership of the College: Fellow, International Fellow, Academic Fellow, Judicial Fellow, Honorary Fellow and Retired Fellow. Fellows are elected to membership by their peers.