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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. INITIATING THE PROBATE PROCESS
   8:30 - 9:40, Christopher D. Castellanos
   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
   9:40 - 10:50, Christopher D. Castellanos
   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
   11:05 - 12:15, Bianca L. Eden
   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 - 2:25, William T. Dowd
   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
   2:40 - 3:40, William T. Dowd
   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
   3:40 - 4:40, Bianca L. Eden
   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

CHRISTOPHER D. CASTELLANOS is an attorney in the law firm of Rosenblum, Goldenhersh, Silverstein & Zafft, P.C., where he focuses his practice primarily in the areas of 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 earned his J.D. degree and his LL.M. degree in taxation from Washington University School of Law. Mr. Castellanos is a member of The Missouri Bar, the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

WILLIAM T. DOWD is a partner in the St. Louis law firm of Dowd & Dowd PC. Mr. Dowd has been an attorney for more than 20 years and practices in the areas of litigation, estate planning and probate administration. He is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois and is a member of the American Association for Justice and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. Mr. Dowd earned his B.A. degree from St. Louis University and his J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law.

BIANCA L. EDEN is a partner in the Hillsboro law firm of Wegmann, Stewart, Tesreau, Sherman, Eden & Mikale, P.C. Ms. Eden's practice includes probate; estate planning and administration; real estate; juvenile law; business organizations; and municipal, tax and school law. She served as the Jefferson County Bar Association president for 2005-2006 and currently serves as a member of the Jefferson County Family Drug Court Team. She also serves as treasurer of the Jefferson County Women's Bar Association. Ms. Eden earned her B.S. degree, summa cum laude, her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, and her J.D. degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

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