CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas – November 13, 2025 — Several hundred individuals having a strong interest in planning for the distribution of their estate and securing their family’s legacy for generational wealth gathered, either in-person or virtually, for the 2025 Estate Planning Conference successfully hosted by the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority’s (VIEDA) Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC). This conference, held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 simultaneously between St. Thomas and St. Croix, brought community members, legal professionals and various organization representatives together for an event filled with information and engaging dialogue about estate planning and probate matters in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Held at Muse Meeting & Events on St. Thomas and at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, this conference was designed by the EZC team to help mprove the opportunity for families to address the issue of abandoned properties in the USVI while helping Virgin Islanders better understand how to manage, distribute, and protect their family’s assets. It also provided information on how to plan for future generations, and navigate the legal processes associated with property inheritance and ownership.
Wayne L. Biggs, Jr., VIEDA Chief Executive Officer, joined this sentiment on the purpose of the conference. “This conference represents an important opportunity for us as a community to learn, plan and take action to protect the legacies we have worked so hard to build.” “Estate planning is not just about documents – it is about ensuring that your family, your businesses, and your community are prepared for the future,” added VIEDA CEO Biggs, Jr.
Prior to and after breakout sessions covering topics on estate planning and probate, Nadine Marchena Kean, managing director of the EZC, led the general session by guiding participants through the evening’s topics, and highlighting the VIEDA programs along with a grant offering financial support to fund the Estate Planning Conferences throughout the years. Mrs. Marchena also spoke about the pilot probate/estate planning program the EZC team created to connect families with legal experts that can assist them with estate planning or resolving property issues. A member from one of the families also shared her family’s journey through the program. Mrs. Marchena also emphasized the need for our community to act when it comes to estate planning.
During the breakout sessions, legal experts offered valuable insights about estate planning and the legal resources available to help families maintain clear ownership of their assets. David Bornn, Esq., Renee M. André, Esq. (St. Thomas) and Karabo Molyneux-Molloy, Esq. (St. Croix) delivered presentations on estate planning and trusts, while Rosalie Simmonds-Ballantine, Esq. (St. Thomas) and Scott McChain, Esq. (St. Croix) led an engaging discussion on probate procedures in the USVI.
Conference attendees also had the opportunity to visit display tables with representatives from local organizations including AARP Virgin Islands, Freedom Financial Advisors, Banco Popular, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, all of which provided resources and information related to estate and financial planning.
“The Estate Planning Conference is part of our continued effort to help empower U.S. Virgin Islanders, granting them an avenue to protect and preserve their family’s assets and legacy,” said Nadine Marchena Kean, Managing Director of the Enterprise Zone Commission. “By providing our community critical access to estate planning information from legal experts in the USVI and granting access to other supporting organizations, we’re helping individuals and families take meaningful steps toward building generational wealth and stability,” added Mrs. Marchena Kean.
To mark the history and accomplishments of the Estate Planning Conference, the EZC developed a 2025 Estate Planning Conference Booklet highlighting the grant received from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular and International Affairs Technical Assistance Program (TAP) in 2020 that helped fund the estate planning conferences. It also highlighted eight true family scenarios illustrating common estate and probate issues, a family tree template, and a worksheet for listing personal assets and beneficiaries, encouraging attendees to begin their own estate planning process, along with the conference’s agenda and speaker biographies.
Recognizing the community’s ongoing need for information and access to expert resources, the Enterprise Zone Commission developed a new Estate Planning webpage, with an AI-powered search engine, on the VIEDA website, which is available at www.usvieda.org. The page includes materials from past conferences, information on probate and trusts, and additional tools to help residents take proactive steps in securing their family legacies.
The 2025 Estate Planning Conference was broadcast live on WLDV 107.9FM DaVybe and on VIEDA’s Facebook page and videotaped by the Virgin Islands Government Access Channel. Interested individuals also had the opportunity to participate virtually via Zoom. It is one of several initiatives led by the Enterprise Zone Commission to promote community revitalization and economic empowerment throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information, visit www.usvieda.org, or follow @USVIEDA on its social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X – formerly known as Twitter, and TikTok).
