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

Continuing Education Credits:   

Continuing Legal Education

Credit Hrs    State    Credit Approval Expiration

* denotes specialty credits

1. FOUNDATIONS OF ESTATE ADMINISTRATION DEFINED
   8:30 - 9:10, Christopher D. Castellanos
   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
   9:10 - 10:00, Christopher D. Castellanos
   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. Examining the Safe Deposit Box: Identifying Important Documents
   5. Locating the Will and Knowing What to Do Next
   6. Considerations in Appointing and Counseling the Personal Representative
   7. Practical Tips for Obtaining Information Concerning Assets
   8. Renunciations and Election of Statutory Share
   9. Using Disclaimers Correctly
   10. Notice Requirements
3. CONSIDERATIONS FOR COLLECTING THE ASSETS, PREPARING THE INVENTORY AND HANDLING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE
   10:15 - 11:00, Christopher D. Castellanos
   1. Practical Procedures for Opening Estate Accounts
   2. Obtaining Tax Identification Number and Title to Assets
   3. Canceling Utilities and Credit Cards
   4. Best Strategies for Preparing the Inventory
   5. Medicare, Insurance Claims and Public Assistance: Understanding the Paperwork Involved
   6. Priority of Concern: Following the Chain of Command in Allowances, Claims and Taxes
4. BEING THOROUGH TO CLOSE THE ESTATE WITHOUT A HITCH
   11:00 - 12:15, Tabitha L. Atwell
   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 Other Probate and Non-Probate Assets
   5. Considerations for Handling Distributions to Minors and Trusts
   6. Ensuring Thorough Accounting and Settlement of the Estate
   7. Compensation and Discharge of the Personal Representative
5. UNDERSTANDING TAX PROCEDURES TO AVOID PROBLEMS LATER
   1:15 - 2:15, Dawn T. Christoffersen
   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, Rights and Options
6. ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
   2:30 - 3:30, Mike W. Bartolacci
   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
7. COMMON ISSUES TO BE PREPARED FOR IN LITIGATION AND PROBATE
   3:30 - 4:40, Mike W. Bartolacci
   1. Title and Discovery of Assets
   2. Contested Claims and Contingent Liabilities
   3. Marital Agreement Concerns
   4. Contested Wills and Alternatives: Is it Valid to Disagree?

TABITHA L. ATWELL is an attorney at Affinity Law Group, LLC, where she practices in probate, estate and tax planning, asset protection, wealth preservation planning, estate and trust administration, and business planning. Ms. Atwell is a member of The Missouri Bar (Probate and Trust Committee, Elder Law Committee, and Solo and Small Firm Committee). She earned her B.A. degree from Carthage College and her J.D. degree from St. Louis University School of Law.  Currently, Ms. Atwell is serving on the St. Louis area Board of Directors for the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

MIKE W. BARTOLACCI is a partner with the law firm of Thompson Coburn, LLP, where he practices in the areas of debtor and creditor law, litigation and trusts and estates. He has spoken on judgment collection and creditors' rights and probate, trusts and estate topics for The Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Mr. Bartolacci is a member of the American (member, Litigation, Real Estate, Probate and Trusts and Business Law sections) and the Illinois State (member, Litigation and Trusts and Estate sections) bar associations, The Missouri Bar (member, Litigation, Commercial Law and Probate and Trusts sections) and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (member, Probate and Trusts and Litigation sections). He earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

CHRISTOPHER D. CASTELLANOS is an attorney with the law firm of Rosenblum, Goldenhersh, Silverstein & Zafft, P.C., where his main areas of practice are estate planning and taxation. He has experience assisting clients with wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, living wills, probate and estate administration, gift and estate tax, and business entity formation. In addition, Mr. Castellanos has assisted clients in a wide variety of legal matters, including health care, real estate, and litigation. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Mr. Castellanos earned his J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Washington University School of Law.

DAWN T. CHRISTOFFERSEN founded DTC Advisors, LLC in 2011. Ms. Christoffersen concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and probate and trust administration; federal and state income tax planning and controversy; and business legal matters, including general corporate counsel advice, mergers and acquisitions, and business succession planning. She is also a certified mediator with focused expertise in these areas. Prior to founding DTC Advisors, LLC, Ms. Christoffersen was an equity shareholder and practice group leader for the Business Law Practice Group at another area law firm. She is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois. Ms. Christoffersen is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court and the Internal Revenue Service. She is an adjunct faculty member in the L.L.M. in taxation program at Washington University's School of Law. Ms. Christoffersen is teaching a class titled "Practical Issues in Wealth Planning and Drafting". She received her L.L.M. in Taxation degree from Washington University in 2002 and received the Gary I. Boren Memorial Award for the highest GPA. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Northwestern University in 1997 with a business associations concentration and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Washington University in 1994 with a concentration in accounting and minors in music and political science. She passed the Missouri Certified Public Accountancy Exam in 1996. Ms. Christoffersen is also a Masters in Sustainability candidate at Saint Louis University, degree expected 2013. She is a member of the American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section), The Missouri Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the BAMSL Probate and Trust Steering Committee, the Estate Planning Council of St. Louis, Saint Louis University Gift and Bequest Council (vice chair and chair elect, 2011-12) and the Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Planned Giving Council and is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of several area banks.

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