So your client wants you to handle a probate case – do you know where to start? Do you know the proper procedures to use, as well as the law? Get detailed, step-by-step information to confidently and ably navigate the system, and gain the confidence you need to reach a favorable outcome for your client when litigating in probate court. Order today!

1. Taking the First Step: Filing an Estate in Probate Court
2. Uncovering the Laws of Intestacy and How They May Apply
3. Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative in Probate
4. Managing the Inventory
5. Administering the Estate Effectively
6. Maintaining an Ethical Balance in Probate Practice
7. Determining if Spouse's Elective Share is a Reasonable Option
8. Litigating the Case in Probate Court
9. Putting the Case to Rest: Closing the Estate

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. TAKING THE FIRST STEP: FILING AN ESTATE IN PROBATE COURT
   8:30 - 9:15, Written by Harley S. Herman.
   Presented by Dana P. Bowie in Fort Myers and Harley S. Herman in Daytona Beach and Tampa.
   1. Small Estate - What it is and How to File
   2. Regular Estate
   3. The Estate Timetable - What You Need to Do
   4. Proving the Will
   5. Challenging the Will
2. UNCOVERING THE LAWS OF INTESTACY AND HOW THEY MAY APPLY
   9:15 - 9:45, Written by Harley S. Herman.
   Presented by Dana P. Bowie in Fort Myers and Harley S. Herman in Daytona Beach and Tampa.
3. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN PROBATE
   9:45 - 10:30, Written and presented by Taso M. Milonas in Fort Myers, Daytona Beach and Tampa.
   1. Duties of the Personal Representative
   2. Misconduct and/or Removal
   3. Compensation Guidelines
   4. Special Administration Issues
4. MANAGING THE INVENTORY
   10:45 - 11:15, Written and presented by Taso M. Milonas in Fort Myers, Daytona Beach and Tampa.
   1. Statutory Requirements and How They Affect Your Case
   2. Notice to Creditors, Beneficiaries and State Agencies - What is Required
   3. Collecting, Maintaining and Managing Assets
   4. Inventory Problems
5. ADMINISTERING THE ESTATE EFFECTIVELY
   11:15 - 12:00, Written and presented by Taso M. Milonas in Fort Myers, Daytona Beach and Tampa.
   1. How to Respond to Creditors' Claims
   2. Insolvency
   3. Managing the Estate Cash Responsibly
   4. Disclaimers
   5. Partial Distributions
6. MAINTAINING AN ETHICAL BALANCE IN PROBATE PRACTICE
   1:00 - 2:00, Written by Harley S. Herman.
   Presented by Dana P. Bowie in Fort Myers and Harley S. Herman in Daytona Beach and Tampa.
   1. Performing Competent Legal Services
   2. Identifying the Client
   3. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   4. Distinguishing Between Privileged and Non-Privileged Communication
   5. Establishing Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees
7. DETERMINING IF SPOUSE'S ELECTIVE SHARE IS A REASONABLE OPTION
   2:00 - 2:45, Written by Jeffrey S. Goethe.
   Presented by Cynthia Carlson in Fort Myers and Daytona Beach and Jeffrey S. Goethe in Tampa.
   1. Homestead Allowance
   2. How to Determine the Elective Share Estate
   3. What are Spousal Rights and Personalty?
   4. Rights of Election
   5. Step-by-Step Procedure
   6. How to Satisfy the Elective Share
8. LITIGATING THE CASE IN PROBATE COURT
   3:00 - 4:00, Written by Jeffrey S. Goethe.
   Presented by Cynthia Carlson in Fort Myers and Daytona Beach and Jeffrey S. Goethe in Tampa.
   1. Explanation of Rules of Probate Procedure
   2. Declaratory Judgment
   3. How to Conduct Discovery
   4. What to Do on Appeal
9. PUTTING THE CASE TO REST: CLOSING THE ESTATE
   4:00 - 4:40, Written by Jeffrey S. Goethe.
   Presented by Cynthia Carlson in Fort Myers and Daytona Beach and Jeffrey S. Goethe in Tampa.
   1. Final Accounting
   2. Distribution of Estate to Beneficiaries
   3. Discharge of Fiduciary
   4. Tax Returns - What Needs to be Filed and When

DANA P. BOWIE is an attorney in Longwood. He practices in the areas of probate, trusts, family law, elder law and guardianship. Mr. Bowie earned his B.A. degree from Tufts University and his J.D. degree from Suffolk University. He is a member of The Florida Bar, the American Bar Association and the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys. (Fort Myers location)

CYNTHIA CARLSON is of counsel with Akerman Senterfitt LLP, where her main area of practice is taxation. She is a regular author and lecturer in her areas of expertise. Ms. Carlson is a member of The Florida Bar, New York State Bar Association, Collier County Bar Association, Collier County Women's Bar Association, Community Foundation of Collier County, Association of the Bar of the City of New York and American Bar Association. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern districts of New York, and U.S. Tax Court. Ms. Carlson earned her B.A. degree from the University of New Orleans; her M.S. degree from The New School University; her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from New York Law School; and her LL.M. degree from New York University School of Law. (Fort Myers and Daytona Beach locations)

JEFFREY S. GOETHE is a partner with the Bradenton law firm of Barnes Walker, Goethe, & Hoonhout, Chartered, where he practices in the areas of wills, trusts and estates; real estate; and guardianship. He is board certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in the area of wills, trusts and estates. Mr. Goethe earned his B.A. degree from Maryville College and his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has served as an adjunct professor at Manatee Community College; has contributed continuing education materials for the Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc.; and has served as an instructor in the fund's paralegal certification and placement program. Mr. Goethe has presented continuing education seminars for National Business Institute in the areas of wills, trusts and estates since 2005. As a member of The Florida Bar, he has served in many capacities: The Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee (member, 2005-2011; chair, 2010-2011); the Special Needs of Children Committee (past member); the Elder Law Section and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (co-vice chair, Probate Law and Procedure Committee, 2009-2011; Ad Hoc Study Committee on Homestead Life Estate Issues, 2008-2009; and the Ad Hoc Committee on Estate Planning Attorney Conflicts of Interest, 2010-2011). Mr. Goethe's other professional memberships include the American (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section) and the Manatee County bar associations; the Estate Planning Council of Manatee County; the Sarasota-Bradenton Attorneys Real Estate Council; and the American Inns of Court for Manatee County (past member). He also has served in the United States Army Reserves and the Florida National Guard from 1986 through 1992. (Tampa location)

HARLEY S. HERMAN practices probate and civil trial law at the Orlando offices of deBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP. He has taught estates and trust law at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law, and business law and criminal justice at Savannah State University. Mr. Herman continues to mentor young attorneys through The Florida Bar's SCOPE (Seek Counsel of Professional Experience) program. Known for his 1988 petition to the Florida Supreme Court to posthumously reinstate The Florida Bar membership of civil rights pioneer Virgil Darnell Hawkins, he was awarded the National Bar Association's Heman Sweat Award, the 1995 Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Award for the 5th Judicial Circuit, and was a 1993 finalist for the Florida Supreme Court's Tobias Simon Award. Mr. Herman has served as chair of The Florida Bar's Equal Opportunities in Law Section and Student Education and Admission to Bar Committee, and vice-chair of The Florida Bar's Prepaid Legal Services Committee. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of Florida and his LL.M. degree from Stetson University. (Daytona Beach and Tampa locations)

TASO M. MILONAS is a board certified tax lawyer by The Florida Bar. Currently less than 1% of all attorneys admitted to practice in Florida are board certified. He earned his LL.M. degree from the University of Florida College of Law and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law. Mr. Milonas has received an AV ® Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating (highest possible), a distinction achieved by less than 5% of attorneys in the country. He is listed in Florida Super Lawyers and Who's Who in American Law. Mr. Milonas practices principally in the areas of tax and estate planning for high net worth individuals and their businesses. He currently serves on the Directors Committee of The Florida Bar Tax Section and as assistant director of its Federal Tax Division. Mr. Milonas has served on the Tax Section for more than a decade in various capacities, including as vice chair of its Gratuitous Transfers (Estate and Gift Tax) Committee for many years. He also is active in the American Bar Association Tax Section and a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association. Mr. Milonas has published numerous articles, and is a frequent lecturer before professional and non-professional groups on taxes, estate planning, business succession planning and insurance. (Fort Myers and Daytona Beach and Tampa locations)

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

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