Bringing an estate smoothly through probate is one of the best ways to help families deal with the death of a loved one. Although some estates are contentious and nasty, most of them can be efficiently and effectively handled so families can tie up legal loose ends and gain a sense of closure. Do you know the proper procedural steps for getting an estate through probate? Your role is vital – and knowing what to do can be easy with our authoritative reference materials.

From the convenience of your desk, you can gain all the tips and pointers you need to help get an estate through probate in a smooth and timely fashion. You'll have - at your fingertips - useful techniques for filing an estate in probate court, building solid working relationships with personal representatives, preparing and filing the inventory and helping to administer the estate. You'll also know how to determine immediate spousal support, deal with estates where there isn't a will, and properly close the estate. Enhance your effectiveness when encountering common probate challenges – order these materials today!

1. How to File an Estate in Probate Court
2. Working With Personal Representatives
3. How to Prepare and File the Inventory
4. Administration of the Estate
5. Dealing With Spouse's Elective Shares
6. Understanding the Laws of Intestacy
7. Ethical Perils in the Probate Process
8. Closing the Estate

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1. HOW TO FILE AN ESTATE IN PROBATE COURT
   9:00 - 9:45, Nicklaus Curley
   1. Distinctions Between the Modest and Larger Estate
   2. The Estate Timetable and What Needs to Be Done
   3. Steps for Proving the Will
   4. Steps for Challenging the Will
2. WORKING WITH PERSONAL REPRESNTATIVES
   9:45 - 10:45, Cristina Papanikos
   1. Duties of Executors or Administrators During the Probate Process
   2. Duties of the Attorney for the Personal Representative - Who is the Client?
   3. Paralegal Contact With the Personal Representative
   4. How Misconduct and/or Removal of the Personal Representative is Handled
   5. Compensation of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative's Attorneys and Agents
3. HOW TO PREPARE AND FILE THE INVENTORY
   11:00 - 11:45, Lesley S. Hogan
   1. Preparing the Inventory - What Every Paralegal Needs to Know
   2. Statutory Requirements
   3. Notice
   4. Working With the Attorney to Collect, Maintain and Manage Assets
   5. How to Successfully Solve Common Inventory Problems
4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTATE
   12:45 - 1:45, Lesley S. Hogan
   1. Dealing With Creditors' Claims
   2. Disclaimers
   3. Assisting With the Estate Cash Management
   4. Insolvency
   5. Preparing Partial Distributions
5. DEALING WITH SPOUSE'S ELECTIVE SHARES
   1:45 - 2:15, Adele Small Harris
   1. Homestead Allowance
   2. Dower and Curtesy
   3. Spousal Rights and Personalty
   4. Rights of Election
   5. Procedures
6. UNDERSTANDING THE LAWS OF INTESTACY
   2:15 - 2:35, Cristina Papanikos
   1. The Personal Representative of an Intestate Estate
   2. The Beneficiaries of an Intestate Estate
   3. Issues Related to Determining the Beneficiaries of an Interstate Estate
7. ETHICAL PERILS IN THE PROBATE PROCESS
   2:35 - 3:35, Holly M. O'Neill
   1. Distinguishing Between Privileged and Non-Privileged Communications
   2. When the Client Asks for Legal Advice - Knowing How to Say "No"
   3. Protecting Your Firm From Malpractice Actions - Tools You Can Use to Meet Deadlines
8. CLOSING THE ESTATE
   3:50 - 4:30, Holly M. O'Neill
   1. Tips for Assisting With Final Accounting
   2. Preparing the Distribution of the Estate to Beneficiaries
   3. Discharge of the Fiduciary

NICKLAUS CURLEY is an attorney with the law firm of Gunster, where his main areas of practice are probate and trust litigation. Mr. Curley has previously written on his main areas of practice. He is a member of The Florida Bar (Real Property Probate and Trust Litigation Section). Mr. Curley earned his B.A. degree from Florida Atlantic University and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law.

LESLEY S. HOGAN is of counsel with Akerman Senterfitt LLP, where her practice is focused on the areas of estate and business succession planning, trust and estate administration, probate and trust litigation, and tax controversies. Ms. Hogan is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Tax Court. She is a member of The Florida Bar, Palm Beach County Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Executive Women of Palm Beaches, East Coast Planning Council, Palm Beach County Cultural Council and Palm Beach Estate Planning Council. Ms. Hogan earned her B.A. degree from Bishop's University, her M.A. degree from the University of Victoria, her Ed.S. degree from the University of Florida, her J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law and her LL.M. degree from the University of Florida College of Law.

HOLLY M. O'NEILL is a partner in the Boca Raton law firm of Miller & O'Neill PL, where she practices in the areas of estate and trust planning, probate, probate litigation, taxation, elder law, guardianship, charitable foundations and public charities. She has been in the field for 15 years and has been practicing law for a decade in these areas. Ms. O'Neill is licensed in Florida, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and is a member of the South Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County and the American bar associations (member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section), the Maryland State Bar Association (member, sections on Estate and Trust Law, Taxation, Elder Law), The Florida Bar (member, sections on Elder Law, Real Property, Probate, Trust Law, Tax Law), the District of Columbia Bar (member, sections on Estate, Trust and Probate Law, Taxation) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She received dual board certifications by The Florida Bar in both wills, trusts and estates and in elder law. Ms. O'Neill earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Maryland, her J.D. degree from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and her LL.M. degree from Georgetown University.

CRISTINA PAPANIKOS is an associate at the West Palm Beach office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A., where she concentrates her practice on probate, trust, guardianship and fiduciary litigation. Ms. Papanikos has been named a "Rising Star 2010" by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine. She is the co-author of "Elective Share" in Practice Under Florida Probate Code (6th Ed.), published by The Florida Bar. Ms. Papanikos is a member of the Probate & Trust Litigation and Trust Law Committees of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Litigation Section of The Florida Bar. She earned her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

ADELE SMALL HARRIS is an elder law attorney with The Karp Law Firm, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, wills and trusts, estate administration, elder law and estate planning for people with disabilities. She earned her B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Florida. Ms. Harris is a member of The Florida Bar, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and the North County Young Lawyers Section, Palm Beach County University of Florida Alumni Association. She is a board member for the Young Adult Division Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and a member of Temple Beth David.

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