History of ACTEC

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel was founded in 1949. In anticipation of its 50th Anniversary in 1999, then-President Rodney Houghton in 1992 established the Historical Commission to bring together the College's history during its first 50 years. The history is not chronological but rather reflects the evolution of various aspects of the College, including its meeting structure, publications, work with the Uniform Probate Code and with tax legislation, the Foundation, its committee structure and other areas.

In 2009-10 during the leadership of then-ACTEC President Dennis I. Belcher, the College moved the national office from Los Angeles to Washington DC. ACTEC’s headquarters in downtown DC is blocks from the US Department of Treasury and lawmakers. The DC location has enabled the College to have a more interactive relationship with associations, governmental agencies and trust and estate professionals.

Additional information provided by the ACTEC Historical Commission is available at The History of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.   

In 2019 The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel updated its trademark. Below is the previously used logo.