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, Elyse M. Tyrell
   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
   9:45 - 10:45, Elizabeth Brickfield
   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, Elizabeth Brickfield
   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, Elyse Tyrell
   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, Elyse Tyrell
   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, Elizabeth Brickfield
   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

ELIZABETH BRICKFIELD is an attorney with the law firm of Lionel Sawyer & Collins, where she practices in the areas of trust and estates, estate planning, guardianships and family practice. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Nevada and the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys. Ms. Brickfield earned her B.A. degree from Manhattanville College, her J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School and her LL.M. degree, in taxation from New York University School of Law.

ELYSE M. TYRELL is a partner in the Las Vegas law firm of Trent, Tyrell & Phillips, where her practice is devoted to elder law, estate planning, tax law, probate and guardianship law. She is a member of the Clark County Bar Association, the Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Nevada and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Ms. Tyrell is a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a frequent speaker for National Business Institute, and has lectured on estate planning and elder law for the Housing Authority of the City of Las Vegas, the Community College of Southern Nevada and various seminar groups. Ms. Tyrell earned her B.A. degree from the University of Nevada at Reno and her J.D. degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. She also earned an LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law.

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