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 - 9:45, David G. Harris
   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
   10:00 - 11:00, John E. Hegeman
   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 - 12:15, David G. Harris
   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
   1:15 - 2:30, John E. Hegeman
   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, Paul C. Rudolph
   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
   3:45 - 4:40, Paul C. Rudolph
   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

DAVID G. HARRIS is a partner in the firm of Frick Powell LLP. Mr. Harris is a graduate of Indiana State University and Indiana University School of Law. His primary practice areas include estate planning and administration, business and corporate law, and real estate. Mr. Harris also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Indiana where he teaches a course in business law. He is a member of the Evansville and Indiana State bar associations.

JOHN E. HEGEMAN is a partner in the Evansville law firm of Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP. Mr. Hegeman has been practicing law for more than 20 years in the areas of estate planning, probate and trusts, business, taxation, independent adoption, general civil practice and healthcare law. He has spoken to various professional groups, including the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, and the Evansville Bar Association, as well as for St. Mary's Hospital and Deaconess Hospital on issues such as estate planning issues, medical ethics and health care and advanced directive matters. He also has written for many publications on topics related to his areas of study. Mr. Hegeman received his A.B. degree from St. Louis University and his J.D. degree from Indiana University. He is a member of the Evansville Estate and Financial Planning Council (past board member and past president), the Evansville State (past director; past chair, Probate Committee and 6th Annual Estate and Business Planning Institute), Indiana State and American bar associations.

PAUL C. RUDOLPH is an attorney in the corporate department of Rudolph, Fine, Porter & Johnson, LLP. Mr. Rudolph's areas of practice include corporate and business law, elder law, estate planning, tax law and bankruptcy. He earned his B.S. degree from Illinois State University and his J.D. degree from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington. Mr. Rudolph is also a certified public accountant. He is a member of the Evansville State, Indiana State and Kentucky State bar associations and the Evansville Estate & Financial Planning Council.

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