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

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1. FOUNDATIONS OF ESTATE ADMINISTRATION DEFINED
   8:30 - 9:15, Written by Douglas A. Fendrick. Presented by Douglas A. Fendrick in Atlantic City and John L. Conroy Jr. in Princeton.
   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
   9:15 - 10:30, Written and presented by Charles C. Bratton II in Atlantic City and Princeton.
   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
   10:45 - 12:00, Written and presented by Charles C. Bratton II in Atlantic City and Princeton.
   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
   1:00 - 1:45, Written by James J. Curry Jr. Presented by James J. Curry Jr. in Atlantic City and Heather Eshelman McCusker in Princeton.
   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
   1:45 - 2:30, Written by Douglas A. Fendrick. Presented by Douglas A. Fendrick in Atlantic City and Heather Eshelman McCusker in Princeton.
   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
   2:45 - 3:45, Written by John L. Conroy Jr. Presented by James J. Curry Jr. in Atlantic City and John L. Conroy Jr. in Princeton.
   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
   3:45 - 4:40, Written by James J. Curry Jr. Presented by James J. Curry Jr. in Atlantic City and John L. Conroy Jr. in Princeton.
   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?

CHARLES C. BRATTON II is a founding member of Rothamel Bratton, LLC, where he practices estate planning and administration, elder law, and disability planning with the firm, which has locations in Haddonfield and West Trenton, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is chair of the trust, estate and elder law division of the firm and counsels clients with regard to estate planning, asset preservation and Medicaid qualification issues; as well as advising professionals in these matters. Mr. Bratton is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is also the past chair and a current trustee of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Camden County Bar Association. He was named by New Jersey Super Lawyer Magazine as a Rising Star for 2009 and 2010; by SJ Magazine as a Top Attorney in 2009, 2010 and 2011; and NJBIZ 40 Under 40 and Awesome Attorney for 2010. Mr. Bratton earned his B.S. degree, cum laude, from Southeastern Louisiana University and his J.D. degree from Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey. (Princeton and Atlantic City locations)

JOHN L. CONROY JR. is a sole practitioner in the law firm of John L. Conroy Jr., Attorney at Law in Cherry Hill. His primary areas of practice include estate planning, estate administration, probate litigation and elder law. Mr. Conroy is a frequent lecturer on matters related to estate planning, estate administration and elder law. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the New Jersey State (member, Elder Law Section), Camden County and American (member, Taxation, Real Property, Probate and Trust, Business Law and Law Practice Management sections) bar associations. Mr. Conroy earned his B.A. degree from Rutgers University; his J.D. degree, with honors, from Rutgers University Law School; and his LL.M. degree from Temple University. (Princeton location)

JAMES J. CURRY JR. is the principal of the Toms River law firm of James J. Curry, Jr. He is a certified civil trial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, Board on Trial Attorney Certification. Mr. Curry also has certification in elder law by New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. His main areas of practice include medical malpractice litigation, general litigation, estate planning, probate litigation, civil practice, elder law, wills, probate, trusts and estates, asset protection, and guardianship. Mr. Curry earned his B.S. degree from St. Peter's College, his J.D. degree from Fordham University and his LL.M. degree from New York University. Mr. Curry is a member of the New Jersey State and American bar associations, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and New York State Trial Lawyers Association. (Atlantic City location)

DOUGLAS A. FENDRICK maintains his law office in Voorhees, New Jersey. His practice concentrates in the areas of estate planning, elder law and estate administration. Mr. Fendrick is admitted to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and before the U.S. Tax Court. He is a certified elder law attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation, an accredited estate planning specialist through the American Bar Association, and a certified public accountant. Mr. Fendrick also is accredited by the Veterans Administration to counsel clients regarding Veterans' benefits. He was a former trial attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Fendrick earned his B.S. degree, cum laude, from Rider University, his J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law and his LL.M. degree from Temple University. He is a member of the Camden County and Burlington County bar associations, as well as the South Jersey Estate Planning Counsel. (Atlantic City location)

HEATHER ESHELMAN MCCUSKER is an attorney with Fox Rothschild LLP, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, estate litigation, guardianship, and federal and state tax controversies. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the U.S. District Court (District of New Jersey). Ms. McCusker is a member of the Mercer County Estate Planning Council, J.H. Cohn Executive Woman's Forum, and the New Jersey State and Mercer County bar associations. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Princeton Child Development Institute. Ms. McCusker earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Villanova University and her J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law, where she was an associate editor for the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce. (Princeton location)

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