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. Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative in Probate
3. Managing the Inventory
4. Administering the Estate Effectively
5. Maintaining an Ethical Balance in Probate Practice
6. Determining if Spouse's Elective Share is a Reasonable Option
7. Litigating the Case in Probate Court
8. 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 - 9:30, Michael R. Fricke
   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
   6. Uncovering the Laws of Intestacy and How They May Apply
2. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN PROBATE
   9:30 - 10:15, Roger E. Holzgrafe
   1. Duties of the Personal Representative
   2. Misconduct and/or Removal
   3. Compensation Guidelines
   4. Special Administration Issues
3. MANAGING THE INVENTORY
   10:15 - 10:30, Russell DePew
   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
4. ADMINISTERING THE ESTATE EFFECTIVELY
   10:45 - 11:45, Roger E. Holzgrafe
   1. How to Respond to Creditors' Claims
   2. Insolvency
   3. Managing the Estate Cash Responsibly
   4. Disclaimers
   5. Partial Distributions
5. MAINTAINING AN ETHICAL BALANCE IN PROBATE PRACTICE
   12:45 - 1:45, Michael R. Fricke
   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
6. DETERMINING IF SPOUSE'S ELECTIVE SHARE IS A REASONABLE OPTION
   1:45 - 2:30, Russell DePew
   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
7. LITIGATING THE CASE IN PROBATE COURT
   2:45 - 3:45, Russell DePew
   1. Explanation of Rules of Probate Procedure
   2. Declaratory Judgment
   3. How to Conduct Discovery
   4. What to Do on Appeal
8. PUTTING THE CASE TO REST: CLOSING THE ESTATE
   3:45 - 4:40, Michael R. Fricke
   1. Final Accounting
   2. Distribution of Estate to Beneficiaries
   3. Discharge of Fiduciary
   4. Tax Returns - What Needs to be Filed and When

RUSSELL DePEW is an attorney with the Bloomington law firm of DePew & Dehn. His main areas of practice are real estate, probate and guardianships. Mr. DePew practices mainly in McLean, DeWitt and Woodford Counties. He is an active Kiwanis member and serves on the church board of Wesleyan United Methodist Church. Mr. Depew is a member of the American, Illinois and McLean County bar associations. He earned his B.S. degree from Illinois State University and his J.D. degree from Gonzaga University.

MICHAEL R. FRICKE is a partner at Cover, Shay & Evans, LLP. He represents small and medium sized businesses in various business transactions, including commercial real estate, M&A, corporate finance, technology licensing, stock transactions and the formation of business entities for both for-profit and NFP organizations. Mr. Fricke has successfully represented clients in all aspects of business and civil litigation. He is the author of "The Ethics of Contingent Fees in Legal Service Businesses" from The Journal of the Legal Profession, "What's a TIF District, and Why Should I Care?" from InterBusiness Issues, "Can I Patent It?" from InterBusiness Issues and "To Lead, Follow" from InterBusiness Issues. Mr. Fricke has been an instructor at the University of Illinois, teaching MS Excel and spreadsheet modeling to graduate students in the MBA, MS Finance and MS accounting programs. He has been named Volunteer Lawyer of the Year by the Peoria County Bar Association, the only first-year attorney to ever win the award. Mr. Fricke is a member of the Peoria County, Illinois State and American bar associations, as well as the University of Illinois Alumni association. He is on the Prairie State Legal Services Campaign Steering Committee, is a Junior Achievement of Central Illinois Classroom consultant and a Dream Center Peoria volunteer. Mr. Fricke earned his BA and BS degrees from the University of Illinois, his MBA degree from the University of Illinois, College of Business and his JD degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois, College of Law.

ROGER E. HOLZGRAFE is a member of the Peoria, Illinois law firm of Westervelt, Johnson, Nicoll & Keller, LLC. His primary areas of practice include probate and estate administration, real estate law, corporate law and financial institution law. Mr. Holzgrafe earned his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the Peoria County, Illinois State and American bar associations. Mr. Holzgrafe has been and remains active in many Peoria-area charitable organizations.

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

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com