Are you confident that you can carry out the wishes of your client after they have passed? Do you have the skills you need to smoothly and efficiently handle the details of probate administration? Gain the knowledge and skills you need to fulfill your clients' directives and avoid unnecessary obstacles. Order today!

1. Getting Started: Initiating the Probate Process
2. The Spouse's Rights and Family Maintenance Concerns
3. Closing the Estate
4. Ethical Issues in Probate Practice
5. Roadblocks in Probate: How to Deal with Common Challenges

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. GETTING STARTED: INITIATING THE PROBATE PROCESS
   8:30 - 10:00, Michael L. Tinney
   1. Determining the Existence or Nonexistence of a Will
   2. Interviewing and Determining the Personal Representative
   3. Duties of the Personal Representative
   4. Evaluating the Estate to Minimize Costs and Expenses – The High Cost of Dying
   5. Locating, Collecting and Taking Inventory of the Decedent's Assets - Probate vs. Nonprobate
   6. Determining Which Types of Administration are Right for You – Informal or Formal
   7. Elections and Filings – Getting Deadlines for the Client
   8. Handling Claims Against the Estate
   9. Using Renunciation and Disclaimers as a Post-Mortem Planning Device
   10. Sample Forms to be Familiar With
   11. Using Checklists to Navigate Your Way Through the Process
   12. Understanding Basic Tax Issues and Concerns in Probate
   13. Hypothetical Case Evaluation – Getting Started in Probate
2. THE SPOUSE'S RIGHTS AND FAMILY MAINTENANCE CONCERNS
   10:15 - 11:30, James W. Carlton
   1. Effect of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
   2. The Surviving Spouse's Elective Share
   3. Homestead and Exempt Property – What is Legally Your Client's, Regardless of Value
   4. What are the Family Allowances That Can Be Taken
   5. Hypothetical Case Evaluation – Evaluating Spouse and Family Maintenance Concerns
3. CLOSING THE ESTATE
   12:30 - 2:00, James W. Carlton
   1. Timing and Methods of Distributions
   2. Transfer of Probate and Nonprobate Assets
   3. Distributions to Minors and Trusts
   4. Preparing a Final Accounting
   5. Petition for Complete Settlement
   6. Obtaining Discharge of the Personal Representative
   7. Using Checklists to Guide You Through the Process
   8. Hypothetical Case Evaluation – Navigating the Closing Process
4. ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROBATE PRACTICE
   2:15 - 3:15, Michael L. Tinney
   1. Identifying the Client
   2. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   3. Distinguishing Privileged and Non-Privileged Communication
   4. Keeping the Client Informed
   5. Establishing Attorney's Fees – Engagement Letters and Local Rules
5. ROADBLOCKS IN PROBATE: HOW TO DEAL WITH COMMON CHALLENGES
   3:15 - 4:40, James W. Carlton
   1. What to Do When the Decedent Has Property in More Than One State – Multiple Domiciles
   2. Dealing With Insolvent Estates
   3. Intestate Administration
   4. Lost/Withheld Wills
   5. Gifts Made By or on Behalf of Someone Who Shortly Thereafter Dies

JAMES W. CARLTON is a partner in the law firm of Garvin, Agee, Carlton & Mashburn, P.C., where he has been practicing law since 1988 in the areas of real estate, probate, estate administration, taxation, municipal and elder law. He is a certified public accountant in Oklahoma and has served as municipal counsel for the cities of Pauls Valley, Davis and Paoli. Mr. Carlton has spoken for various professional groups on estate planning, probate and elder law issues. He earned his B.A.C. and J.D. degrees from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Carlton is a member of the Oklahoma County (Real Estate Section), Garvin County, Oklahoma, and American bar associations, and the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants.

MICHAEL L. TINNEY is a sole practitioner in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he has been practicing law since 1983 and currently his areas of practice are title examination, especially oil and gas title examination, real estate law, probate, wills, mortgage and lien law, Indian law, constitutional law and mediation. He has lectured at numerous legal seminars on areas relating to his practice. Mr. Tinney graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he earned his B.A. and M.Ed. degrees and the University of Oklahoma where he earned his J.D. degree. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association (member, real property, mineral law, and estate planning and probate sections), the Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers Association and president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of Christian Legal Society.

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