Ellen Dickerson is a board-certified estate planning and probate attorney, an expert in all things wills and trusts, and—brace yourself—an enthusiastic fan of estate and gift tax returns. Yes, you read that right. While most people would rather do just about anything else, Ellen actually enjoys untangling complex tax filings. We don’t ask too many questions about it—we just accept that she’s on another level.
She’s also fiercely protective of her form library. If you’re thinking about making an unauthorized edit, consider this your official warning. But Ellen isn’t all tax codes and templates—she’s also the reigning queen of legal analogies, somehow making the most complicated estate planning concepts click with an example so spot-on you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself.
And when it comes to trusts, Ellen is basically a human algorithm. Not sure whether you need a BDIT, SLAT, CLAT, or ILIT? She’ll not only pick the right one for you but will explain why in a way that makes you feel like you almost understand the tax code. (Almost.)
When she’s not drafting, filing, or explaining the nuances of tax law with unsettling enthusiasm, Ellen is out adventuring with her husband—whether that’s traveling somewhere new or chasing after their two corgis, who have zero appreciation for her meticulous planning. But no matter where she is, one thing is certain: if there’s an estate plan or tax return that needs tackling, Ellen is thrilled to take it on. Seriously. We don’t get it either.