To ensure a successful outcome in settling an estate for your clients, you need to have a thorough understanding of the probate process. How does your knowledge stack up? Get the solid foundation you need to thrive in the probate arena with this complete guide. Examine the nuts and bolts of the probate process so you'll be better prepared to handle decedents' estates. Order today!

1. Initiating the Probate Process
2. Spouse's Rights and Family Maintenance
3. Basic Tax Matters
4. Closing the Estate
5. Ethics in Probate Practice
6. Common Probate Problems and How to Solve Them

1. INITIATING THE PROBATE PROCESS
   8:30 - 9:30, Thomas G. Hamill
   1. Interviewing and Determining the Personal Representative
   2. Evaluating the Estate to Minimize Costs and Expenses -- The High Cost of Dying
   3. Locating, Collecting and Taking Inventory of the Decedent's Assets -- Probate vs. Nonprobate
   4. Determining Which Types of Administration are Right for You -- Informal or Formal
   5. Elections and Filings
   6. Handling Claims Against the Estate
   7. Using Renunciation and Disclaimers as a Post-Mortem Planning Device
2. SPOUSE'S RIGHTS AND FAMILY MAINTENANCE
   9:30 - 10:45, Donald A. LoBue
   1. Determining the Existence or Nonexistence of a Will
   2. Duties of the Personal Representative
   3. Homestead and Exempt Property -- What is Legally Your Client's, Regardless of Value
   4. Effect of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
   5. The Surviving Spouse's Elective Share
   6. What are the Family Allowances That Can be Taken?
3. BASIC TAX MATTERS
   11:00 - 12:00, Thomas G. Hamill
   1. Overview of Tax Compliance and Post-Mortem Planning
   2. Coordinating and Filing the Estate Tax and Fiduciary Income Tax Return
   3. Planning for an Estate Tax Audit
   4. Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
   5. Disclaimers
   6. Reverse QTIP Elections
4. CLOSING THE ESTATE
   1:00 - 2:15, Donald A. LoBue
   1. Timing of Distributions
   2. Transfer of Probate and Nonprobate Assets
   3. Distributions to Minors and Trusts
   4. Preparing the Final Account
   5. Petition for Complete Settlement
   6. Obtaining Discharge of the Personal Representative
5. ETHICS IN PROBATE PRACTICE
   2:30 - 3:30, Jeremy H. Heiple
   1. Performing Competent Legal Services
   2. Identifying the Client
   3. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   4. Distinguishing Privileged and Non-Privileged Communication
   5. Keeping the Client Informed
   6. Establishing Attorneys' Fees
6. COMMON PROBATE PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM
   3:30 - 4:40, Gregory P. Sgro
   1. What to do When the Decedent Has Property in More Than One State -- Multiple Domiciles
   2. Inter Vivos and Testamentary Trusts
   3. Intestate Administration
   4. Lost/Withheld Wills

THOMAS G. HAMILL is a partner in the law firm of Bellatti, Barton, Hamill & Cochran, LLC, Springfield, Illinois. He counsels clients on estate and business succession planning, including the preparation and administration of wills and trusts, federal estate and gift taxes, the formation of closely held corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies and the succession of family-owned businesses. Mr. Hamill is a frequent lecturer at professional education seminars, including those presented by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education ("IICLE"), for whom he has authored "Initial Steps in Advising the Family" a chapter in Illinois Estate Administration; "Closely Held Business Interests," a chapter in Advanced Issues in Estate Administration; "First Steps Post-Mortem," a chapter in Illinois Estate Administration - Preventing Problems in Probate; "Illinois Estate Tax and Generation Skipping - Converting Real Property in More than One State," a chapter in Illinois Estate Administration; "2032A- Dealing with Increasing Costs/Value" a chapter in the 52nd Annual Estate Planning Short Course; "Trust Protectors and Special Fiduciaries," a chapter in the 49th Annual Estate Planning Short Course; "Planning Issues for Closely Held Businesses", a chapter in the 48th Annual Estate Planning Short Course; "Special Use Valuation Update" a chapter in the 46th Annual Estate Planning Short Course; and "Addressing Unbalanced Wealth Issues: Creative Solutions for Inflexible Clients," a chapter in Advising Farmers and Agribusinesses. He co-authored "Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step Is Important," National Business Institute. Mr. Hamill also authored and presented "Estate Planning Techniques for Farmers" to the Indiana Bankers Association. He has authored materials and given presentations on estate planning to various groups including presentations on "Recent Developments in Federal Estate and Income Taxation," "Death Bed Planning" and "Protecting Family Assets." Mr. Hamill earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and has earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

JEREMY H. HEIPLE is a member with the Heiple Law Offices in Peoria, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, workers' compensation, real estate, guardianship and advanced directives, and general civil litigation. He wrote and was a lecturer on "Workers' Compensation in Illinois," "Advanced Workers' Compensation in Illinois," and "Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important" for National Business Institute. Mr. Heiple lectured for the Institute for Paralegal Education on matters related to trial preparation. He earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Albion College and his J.D. degree from the University of Illinois. Mr. Heiple is a member of the Peoria County, Tazewell County and the Illinois State bar associations, and the National Lawyers Association.

DONALD A. LoBUE is a sole practitioner with a general practice in Springfield, Illinois, focusing on wills, probate, estate planning, corporate planning and the representation of small to medium size businesses. He is an active participant in continuing legal education programs and a frequent contributor to ISBA newsletters and the Illinois Bar Journal. Mr. LoBue is a former chairman of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section Committee. He also has served on the Elder Law Committee, Local Government Law, Fee Arbitration and Unauthorized Practice of Law committees. Mr. LoBue is a current member of the Elder Committee. He also is a member of AARP and NEA-IEA Legal Services Network. Mr. LoBue earned his B.A. degree from the University of Illinois and his J.D. degree from Chicago Kent College of Law.

GREGORY P. SGRO is the managing partner of Sgro, Hanrahan and Durr, LLP.  He is engaged in the general practice of civil law concentrating in probate estates, wills, trusts, all aspects of real estate development, auto and work accidents and mechanic's lien enforcement.  Mr Sgro is a member of the Illinois State, Sangamon County and American bar associations.  He also is a member of the American Association for Justice and admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Sgro earned his B.S. degree from Northwestern University and his J.D. degree from Washington University.

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