Whether you're new to estate administration or need a basic refresher, you'll receive a comprehensive overview of estate administration, including proper asset valuation and distribution, taxation and procedures for correctly closing the estate. You'll also learn how to correctly deal with thorny estate administration debt issues including jointly held assets, business ownership and complex tax issues. Equip yourself with real-life, practical knowledge to ensure you are fully prepared to handle the entire estate administration process from start to finish - Order today!

1. Commencement of Proceedings and Information Gathering
2. Initial Steps to the Estate Administration Process
3. Marshalling Assets
4. Handling Claims and Debt
5. Complex Issues in Estate Administration
6. Distribution and Closing of the Estate
7. Ethics and Estate Administration

Continuing Education Credits:   

Continuing Legal Education

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1. COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS AND INFORMATION GATHERING
   8:30 - 9:30, Written by Denis A. Kitchen. Presented by George H. Gray in Rochester, Denis A. Kitchen in Buffalo, and Jennifer Alfieri in Syracuse.
   1. Appointment of Estate Administration
      1. Formal vs. Informal Proceedings
      2. Sample Letters of Authority
   2. First Meeting With Family or Designated Personal Representative and Determination of Heirs
   3. Written Fee Agreements
   4. Tips to Locate Information Quickly Using Online and Government Resources
   5. Dealing with Multiple States
2. INITIAL STEPS TO THE ESTATE ADMINISTRATION PROCESS
   9:30 - 10:15, Written by George H. Gray. Presented by George H. Gray in Rochester, Susan B. Florek-Birney in Buffalo, and Jennifer Alfieri in Syracuse.
   1. Understanding the Laws of Intestacy
   2. Sample Estate Administration Checklists, Forms and Required Notices Needed
   3. Interpreting Provisions and Terms of Art Found in Wills
   4. Using Disclaimers Correctly
3. MARSHALLING ASSETS
   10:30 - 11:30, Written by Susan B. Florek-Birney. Presented by Edward C. Kenyon in Rochester, Susan B. Florek-Birney in Buffalo, and Mary Anne Cody in Syracuse.
   1. Procedures to Locating and Marshalling Probate and Non-Probate Assets
      1. Safe Deposit Boxes and Bank Accounts
      2. Real Estate
      3. Brokerage Accounts, 401Ks, IRAs, Pensions and Life Insurance Policies
   2. Sample Forms and Documents Needed
   3. Appraisers and Valuing the Property of Probate Estates
4. HANDLING CLAIMS AND DEBT
   11:30 - 12:30, Written by Edward C. Kenyon. Presented by Edward C. Kenyon in Rochester, Denis A. Kitchen in Buffalo, and Mary Anne Cody in Syracuse.
   1. Sample Forms and Required Notices Needed
   2. Priority and Payment of Claims
   3. Late Claims and Contested Claims
   4. Steps to Ensure all Debt is Located and Handled Correctly
      1. What if the Assets Don't Cover the Bills?
      2. Bankruptcy and Foreclosure
   5. Selling of Assets and Properly Dealing with Creditors
5. COMPLEX ISSUES IN ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
   1:30 - 2:30, Written by William R. Kenyon. Presented by William R. Kenyon in Rochester, Wesley M. Brown in Buffalo, and Frederick P. Davies in Syracuse.
   1. Jointly Held Assets
   2. Spousal Claims
      1. Allowances and Elections Against the Will
   3. Handling Unmarried Couples and Stepchildren
   4. Will Contests, Trust and Estate Disputes
   5. Business Ownership
   6. Agency Problems Involving Guardianships, Conservatorships, Powers of Attorney or Other Agency Relationships
6. DISTRIBUTION AND CLOSING OF THE ESTATE
   2:45 - 3:40, Written by Wesley M. Brown. Presented by William R. Kenyon in Rochester, Wesley M. Brown in Buffalo, and Frederick P. Davies in Syracuse.
   1. Sample Forms, Agreements and Documents Needed
   2. Proper Transferring and Distribution of Probate and Non-Probate Assets and Timing of Distributions
      1. Real Estate
      2. 401Ks, IRAs, Pensions and Life Insurance Policies
      3. Distribution of Miscellaneous Assets (Automobiles, Jewelry, Etc.)
   3. Distributions in Kind
   4. Distribution to Minors, Surviving Spouse and Trusts
   5. Disposition of Unclaimed Assets
   6. Proper Settlement of the Estate
      1. Formal and Informal Estate Accountings
      2. Choosing the Appropriate Closing Procedure
      3. Compensation and Discharge of the Personal Representative
7. ETHICS AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
   3:40 - 4:40, Panel Discussion
   1. Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility
   2. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   3. Attorney-Client Privilege
   4. Fee Agreements

GEORGE H. GRAY is a partner in the law firm of Gray & Feldman LLP in Rochester, New York, whose practice includes estate planning and administration, business law, tax planning, and commercial transactions. He has a strong background in federal and New York State tax law, which he uses to assist clients to prepare wills and trusts and to structure business succession planning. Mr. Gray has developed an expertise in meeting the legal needs of individuals with disabilities and their families, including the preparation and operation of special needs trusts and appointment of Article 17-A Guardians. He also is certified to serve by appointment from the Surrogate's Court as guardian ad litem to infants, unknowns and adults who have a disability. Mr. Gray is a member of the Monroe County and New York State bar associations, and is active in the Tax, Estate Planning and Elder Law sections of each association. He also is an active member of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Gray has lectured on a variety of tax and estate planning topics throughout Western New York and has recently authored a book entitled ESTATE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION: A Simple Guide for New Yorkers. He is currently researching topics for a second book on special need planning for persons with a disability. Mr. Gray earned his B.A. degree from Hamilton College and his J. D. degree from Albany Law School.

EDWARD C. KENYON is a partner at the law firm of Kenyon & Kenyon, where he practices in the areas of elder law; trust and estate planning and administration; residential and commercial real estate transactions; and finance, business and corporate law, and landlord/tenant law. He is a member of the New York State Office for the Aging (Aging Services Advisory Board), the Ontario County Office of the Aging Advisory Committee, and the Board of Directors for Canandaigua Foundation, Inc. (Eighty Parrish Street Senior Apartments; Wilcox Lane Senior Apartments). Mr. Kenyon also is a member of the New York State Bar Association (Elder Law, Real Estate, and Estate & Trust sections), the Ontario County Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Rochester and his J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

WILLIAM R. KENYON is a member of Kenyon & Kenyon in Canandaigua, New York, where his main areas of practice are estate planning, probate, trust law, asset based finance, corporate organization and real estate. He has been practicing law for 40 years. Mr. Kenyon is a frequent lecturer on E-Planning and business topics, and has written an article for the Canandaigua National Bank and Trust Company called "Planning In These Uncoupled Times." He earned his B.S. degree from University of Rochester and his LL.B. degree from Syracuse University. Mr. Kenyon is chairman of the Board of Trustees for the F.F. Thompson Health System, Inc., F.F. Thompson Hospital (past chairman), the Ontario County (past president) and New York State (member; Elder Law, and Trust and Estate sections) bar associations, and the Board of Literacy Volunteers of Ontario Yates County.

WESLEY M. BROWN is a sole practitioner in Buffalo, New York, where his main areas of practice are real estate services, simple and complex wills and trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, Medicaid exemption and long term care planning, business services, and adoption and guardianship services. He is a member of the Ohio State, New York State and Erie County bar associations. Mr. Brown is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court (Western District of New York) and U.S. Bankruptcy Court (Western District of New York). He earned his B.A. degree from Niagara University and his J.D. degree from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.

SUSAN B. FLOREK-BIRNEY is a sole practitioner in Amherst, New York, with more than 30 years of legal experience. Her practice areas include probate and estate planning, wills and appeals, family law, child advocacy, and general civil trial preparation. Ms. Florek-Birney is admitted to practice before the New York and U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. She is a member of the Erie County and New York State bar associations, as well as the Florida Bar. Ms. Florek-Birney earned her B.S. degree, magna cum laude, and her J.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

DENIS A. KITCHEN has been an attorney at law since 1976. His main areas of practice are estate planning, personal injury, bankruptcy, family law and real estate. Mr. Kitchen is admitted to practice before all courts of the state of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, and the 2nd and 3rd U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. He is a member of the New York State and Erie County bar associations, Christian Legal Society, and National Lawyers Association. Mr. Kitchen earned his B.S. degree from Rochester Institute of Technology; his MSEd degree from Indiana University; and his J.D. degree from State University of New York, Buffalo.

JENNIFER ALFIERI is an attorney with Scolaro, Shulman, Cohen, Fetter & Burstein, P.C., where she is a member of the firm's trust and estate administration practice group. She is involved in probate and administration services. Ms. Alfieri is admitted to practice in the state of New York and is a member of the New York State and Onondaga County bar associations. She earned her B.A. degree from St. Bonaventure University, her J.D. degree from Syracuse University School of Law and her LL.M. degree from the University of Miami School of Law.

MARY ANNE CODY joined MacKenzie Hughes LLP in 2000 and became a partner in 2006. She concentrates on financial planning issues for businesses and individuals. Ms. Cody's areas of emphasis include estate planning, wealth management consulting and executive employment agreements. She also consults with businesses on tax matters, including pension and ERISA issues, and counsels individuals and businesses on tax matters concerning immigration. In addition, Ms. Cody has been active in the area of formation and consulting for not-for-profit entities. She is a member of the Onondaga County, New York State and American bar associations. Ms. Cody is also on the Vera House Board of Directors and the Board of Aurora. Prior to joining MacKenzie Hughes LLP, she worked as a certified public accountant with both national and regional accounting firms. Ms. Cody's experiences range from tax compliance to the review of audited financial statement tax footnotes for public companies, to estate and financial planning for high net worth individuals. She earned her B.S. degree from Le Moyne College and her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law.

FREDERICK P. DAVIES is the founder and senior attorney of the Davies Law Firm, P.C., where he focuses his civil practice on estate planning and elder law. He is a noted speaker on living trusts, long-term care and estate planning. Mr. Davies is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Central New York, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the American (Wills and Estates Section) and New York State bar associations, and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Vermont and his J.D. degree from Syracuse University.

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