Do you have a solid understanding of proper procedures surrounding estate administration? Do you feel confident that you can overcome the wide array of challenges you may face while working with each estate's unique requirements? Gain a comprehensive understanding of the estate planning process with this invaluable instruction so you can easily organize and manage your responsibilities. Order today!

1. Foundations of Estate Administration Defined
2. Preparing to Begin the Administration Process
3. Considerations for Collecting the Assets, Preparing the Inventory and Handling Claims Against the Estate
4. Being Thorough to Close the Estate Without a Hitch
5. Understanding Tax Procedures to Avoid Problems Later
6. Ethical Challenges in Estate Administration
7. Common Issues To Be Prepared for in Litigation and Probate

1. FOUNDATIONS OF ESTATE ADMINISTRATION DEFINED
   8:30 - 9:30, Charles J. Pentis Jr.
   1. Identifying Probate and Non-Probate Assets
   2. Understanding the Various Forms of Administration
   3. Considerations for the Small Estate
   4. Knowing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Informal Administration and Complying With the Procedures
2. PREPARING TO BEGIN THE ADMINISTRATION PROCESS
   9:45 - 11:00, Charles J. Pentis Jr.
   1. Understanding the Laws of Intestacy and How They Affect the Estate
   2. Knowing What to Get Out of the Client Interview
   3. Determining the Survivors' Immediate Needs
   4. Locating the Will and Knowing What to Do Next
   5. Considerations in Appointing and Counseling the Personal Representative
   6. Practical Tips for Obtaining Information Concerning Assets
   7. Using Disclaimers Correctly
3. CONSIDERATIONS FOR COLLECTING THE ASSETS, PREPARING THE INVENTORY AND HANDLING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE
   11:00 - 12:00, Thanda Fields Brassard
   1. Opening Estate Accounts
   2. Obtaining Tax Identification Number and Title to Assets
   3. Canceling Utilities and Credit Cards
   4. Medicare, Insurance Claims and Public Assistance
   5. Priority of Concern: Following the Chain of Command in Allowances, Claims and Taxes
4. BEING THOROUGH TO CLOSE THE ESTATE WITHOUT A HITCH
   1:00 - 2:00, Thanda Fields Brassard
   1. Alternative Methods: Knowing Your Options
   2. Timing of Distributions: How Long Do Beneficiaries Have to Wait Until They Get Their Money?
   3. Steps Involved in Transferring Jointly-Held Assets
   4. Transferring Probate and Non-Probate Assets
   5. Considerations for Handling Distributions to Minors and Trusts
   6. Accountings and Obtaining Assents and Releases
   7. Compensation and Discharge of the Personal Representative
5. UNDERSTANDING TAX PROCEDURES TO AVOID PROBLEMS LATER
   2:00 - 2:55, Kevin J. Willis
   1. Overview of Tax Compliance and Post-Mortem Planning: What You Need to Know
   2. What You Need to Know to Prepare the Decedent's Final Income Tax Return
   3. Filing Requirements for Federal and State Estate Tax Returns
   4. How the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Affects Your Clients
   5. Handling Distribution to Minors and Trusts
   6. Accurate and Inclusive Valuation of Assets
   7. Determining Alternatives for the Surviving Spouse: Disclaimers, Elective Share and Other Options
6. ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
   3:10 - 4:10, Kevin J. Willis
   1. Determining Who the Client Is
   2. Representing An Estate: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   3. Informing the Client of the Status of the Estate
   4. Filing Claims: Why it is Imperative to Meet the Deadlines
   5. Legal Fees and Executor's Commissions
7. COMMON ISSUES TO BE PREPARED FOR IN LITIGATION AND PROBATE
   4:10 - 4:40, Kevin J. Willis
   1. Title and Discovery of Assets
   2. Contested Claims and Contingent Liabilities
   3. Marital Agreement Concerns
   4. Will Contests and Other Probate Litigation

THANDA FIELDS BRASSARD is vice president and trust counsel with Fiduciary Trust Company in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Brassard was an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP in the Private Client Group from 2003 to 2006, an associate at Hill & Barlow, P.C., in the Trust and Estates Department from 1998 to 2003. Ms. Brassard earned her B.A. degree from Boston College and her J.D. degree from Boston College Law School. Ms. Brassard is the author of "Chapter 15 (Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples)" of A Practical Guide to Estate Planning in Massachusetts, published by MCLE, Jon E. Steffensen and Charles E. Rounds, editors. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Frederick E. Weber Charities Corporation, and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Boston Bar Association.

CHARLES J. PENTIS JR. is an estate administrator in the Boston office of Holland & Knight LLP, where he focuses his areas of practice on estate and trust administration and tax. He has lectured to various professional groups on estate administration and probate issues. Mr. Pentis earned his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. degree from Detroit College of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Paralegals Association.

KEVIN J. WILLIS is an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, where he practices in the Private Client Group of the firm which focuses on estate planning and settlement, gift planning, trust services, investment management, fiduciary services, and supporting services. Mr. Willis is admitted to practice in the state of Massachusetts. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association (Trust & Estates Section), Massachusetts Bar Association (Probate Law Section), and is a contributor to "Drafting Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts", published by MCLE. Mr. Willis was a 2008 recipient of the Deborah Levi Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service. He received his BA degree, magna cum laude, from Northeastern University and his JD degree from Suffolk University Law School.

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