Summer Series  Session II: ‘Til Divorce Do Us Part: Essentials for the Intersection of Estate Planning and Family Law

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Each summer, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) partners with the Southern Arizona Estate Planning Council (SAEPC) to host a special learning series for Professional Advisors. This includes attorneys, accountants, trust and investment advisors, insurance brokers, and financial planners who want to deepen their knowledge and stay current on issues that matter to their clients. It’s a chance to connect with peers, expand your expertise, and gain practical strategies to help clients in meaningful ways.

Session II will explore the critical connections between family law and estate planning, equipping estate planners in all fields with essential knowledge to advise clients effectively. In presentations from a family law practitioner, an estate planner, and a CPA, we will cover key considerations and recent developments that influence comprehensive estate and family law strategies. We’ll save time at the end for a panel discussion addressing questions from the audience. This session will highlight:

  • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: Beyond the Basics: This section will delve into the nuances of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, including their enforceability and impact on estate plans, with a specific focus on insights from the Austin case.
  • Estate Planning in the Shadow of Divorce: We will examine the unique challenges and opportunities in estate planning for clients who are either contemplating divorce, actively divorcing, or have recently finalized a divorce, including the crucial steps of retitling assets. An examination of ethical considerations when representing both spouses in estate planning will also be included.
  • Valuing Retirement Plan Assets in Divorce: This segment will provide practical guidance on understanding and valuing various retirement plan assets for division in a divorce, and how these valuations can affect a client’s overall estate plan.

Enjoy yogurt, fruit, muffins, orange juice, and locally roasted coffee from Beyond Bread. Plus, breakfast burritos from Tucson favorite Nico’s Mexican Food. Come hungry!

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Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Location: Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Campus 5049 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711
Speakers: Kaytlyn Yrun-Duffy, Julia Miessner, and Shannon M. Derksen 

This is a free event for SAEPC members. Guests are welcome to attend for $75. Breakfast and coffee will be provided.

Whether you attend one session or the full series, we invite you to join us in exploring the tools and knowledge that strengthen both our community and your advisory practice.

About the Speakers

Kaytlyn Yrun-Duffy 

Kayt Yrun-Duffy was born and raised in Tucson. Kayt attended the University of Arizona for her undergraduate degree and law school. Kayt has been practicing family law since 2013. Her emphasis is business valuation and other complex financial matters related to family law cases, including tracings, commercial property valuation, stock option and restricted stock unit valuations, and retirement valuations. She loves financial puzzles and helping clients handle complicated matters with knowledge and expertise. You’ll always see a smile on Kayt’s face. Her outgoing aspect and warmth are part of her ability to de-escalate conflict and support her clients during these difficult times. She has a passion and real skill for helping people reach a reasonable resolution with minimal antagonism and maximum results.

Julia Miessner 

Julia Miessner is a Principal for BeachFleischman and leads the Financial Forensics & Valuation Services practice. She has over 25 years of public accounting experience with a diverse background in audit, accounting, tax, forensic accounting, valuation, and expert witness services.

Since 2002, Julia has specialized in forensic accounting and litigation consulting services. She has authored numerous reports and provided testimony as an expert witness in connection with various civil litigation cases involving marital dissolution, probate and trust accounting issues, lost profits and economic damages, and business valuation. She has served as a court-appointed expert and performed work as a private mediator in marital dissolution matters.

Shannon M. Derksen, Esq.

Shannon M. Derksen is a partner in the Tucson, Arizona law firm of Fletcher Struse Wagner & Derksen PLC.  She practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, guardianships/conservatorships, and related litigation.  She is passionate about protecting the rights and supporting the dignity of vulnerable people and serves as a Court-Appointed Attorney for the Pima County Superior Court in guardianship and conservatorship matters.

Shannon M. Derksen also serves on the Executive Council of the Arizona State Bar Probate and Trust Section and is a member of the Southern Arizona Estate Planning Council, Arizona Women Lawyers Association, Pima County Bar Association, and the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southern Arizona. She is also a member of the Professional Advisory Committee for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Imago Dei Middle School in Tucson, a tuition-free private school for low-income students seeking to break cycles of poverty through quality education.

Ms. Derksen received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to her move to Arizona in 2016, Ms. Derksen practiced law in Louisiana and focused on litigation matters there, including successions (La. Bar license currently inactive). Originally from New Mexico, she now calls Tucson, Arizona, home and enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family.