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, James J. McGrath IV
   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, James S. Adray
   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, Adrian C. Ribovich
   1. Overview of Tax Compliance and Post-Mortem Planning
   2. Coordinating and Filing the Estate Tax and Fiduciary Income Tax Return
   3. Ohio State Tax Return
   4. Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
   5. Disclaimers
   6. Reverse QTIP Elections
4. CLOSING THE ESTATE
   1:15 - 2:25, James J. McGrath IV
   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, James S. Adray
   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, James S. Adray
   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

JAMES S. ADRAY is a partner in the Toledo law firm of Adray & Grna, where he practices in the areas of business law, probate, estate planning, divorce and medical malpractice. He is a mediator/arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and is a mediator trainer throughout Ohio. Mr. Adray has taught at the University of Toledo Law School and College of Education. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (member, Alternate Dispute Resolution, and Probate and Trust Law committees), and the Ohio State (member, Family Law Committee and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee) and Toledo bar associations. Mr. Adray earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Toledo.

JAMES J. McGRATH IV has been an attorney for more than 20 years and maintains a general practice of law, of which one quarter includes probate. Mr. McGrath has previously served as an adjunct instructor in the paralegal studies programs of two Cleveland-area colleges. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and a former member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Bar Association. Mr. McGrath earned his B.A. degree from Marquette University and his J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1989.

ADRIAN C. RIBOVICH is an attorney at Mockensturm Limited in Toledo, where he focuses his practice in tax, small business, and transactional work. Mr. Ribovich received his B.A. degree from the College of Wooster. He received his J.D. degree, cum laude, and his M.B.A. degree in business administration, with honors, from the University of Toledo. He also holds an L.L.M. degree in taxation from Wayne State University. Mr. Ribovich is a member of the Toledo Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association.

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