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

Continuing Education Credits:   

Continuing Legal Education

Credit Hrs    State    Credit Approval Expiration

* denotes specialty credits

1. FOUNDATIONS OF ESTATE ADMINISTRATION DEFINED
   8:30 - 9:15, Harris J. Resnick
   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 - 10:15, Harris J. Resnick
   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
   10:30 - 11:15, Gary B. Freedman
   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
   11:15 - 12:15, Gary B. Freedman
   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
   1:15 - 2:15, Carole B. Sheffield
   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
   2:30 - 3:30, Gary A. Zlotnick
   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
   3:30 - 4:40, Carole B. Sheffield
   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?

GARY B. FREEDMAN is a sole practitioner in Philadelphia, where he practices in the areas of elder law, probate, estate planning, corporate law and real estate law. He is an advisor to many nonprofit agencies on charitable giving through estate planning. Mr. Freedman is the former solicitor for the Register of Wills office in Montgomery County, and has lectured for banks and insurance companies on trust and estate planning topics. He is a member of the Philadelphia (member, Estate Planning Section), Montgomery County (member, Estate Planning Section) and Pennsylvania (member, Estate Planning Section) bar associations. Mr. Freedman earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees, as well as his LL.M. degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law, and his M.A. degree from Boston University.

HARRIS J. RESNICK is a sole practitioner with Resnick Elder Law. He concentrates his practice in the areas of guardianships and disability planning, end of life legal issues, special needs trusts, Medicaid planning and estate administration. Mr. Resnick teaches Elder Law at Penn State, Abington Campus. He has lectured on elder law topics for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Drexel University School of Nurses, Neumann College, and the Montgomery Bar Elder Law Committee. Mr. Resnick is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Pennsylvania Bar Association (Elder Law Section, past member governing council) and the Delaware and Montgomery Bar Elder law committees. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of New York at New Paltz and his J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

CAROLE B. SHEFFIELD is a partner at the Philadelphia law firm of Reed Smith LLP, where she concentrates her practice in the planning, administration, taxation and litigation of trusts and estates. She enjoys the personal and business financial analysis when developing trust and estate plans as well as the unique taxation challenges which arise during trust and estate administrations. However, Ms. Sheffield finds the greatest rewards in working with the diverse range of clients who need trusts and estates legal services in litigation. Other areas of law she finds gratifying are forming and maintaining charitable (501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations and real estate transactions. Ms. Sheffield presented "Tax Tips" - WHYY Radio News Series for Personal Income Tax in spring 2008 and is an adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law: Integrated Transaction Program - 2006 to 2007 (active through present). She published and presented, "Calculating Federal & State Death, Estate & Inheritance Taxes," for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute continuing legal education program, "Taxes Affecting Decedent's Estates," January 2004. Ms. Sheffield was solo practitioner with the Law Office of Carole B. Sheffield from 1997 to 2003. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is admitted to the State Supreme Court of New Jersey, the U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Ms. Sheffield is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association (Probate and Trust Section - Legislative Committee; Tax Section), the Pennsylvania Bar Association (Real Property and Trust Section; Tax Section) and the American Bar Association (Probate and Real Property Section; Tax Section). She earned her LL.M. degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she was the first recipient of the annual Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Taxation by the Temple Law School Faculty for Scholastic Excellence. Ms. Sheffield also earned her J.D. degree from Temple University and earned an M.B.A degree.

GARY A. ZLOTNICK is a shareholder in the law firm Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy, P.C. He practices in the estate planning and administration, business, real estate and taxation areas. Mr. Zlotnick is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, Haverford Township Library Board of Trustees, PhillyIsreal Board and the Education Committee of the Probate Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association. He also is a certified public accountant. Mr. Zlotnick serves on the Board of Directors of PhillyIsrealim, a non-profit organization, and as a volunteer attorney for Lawyers For The Arts. He also serves on the education committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Probate and Trust Law Division. Mr. Zlotnick earned his B.S. degree from Boston University and his J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Villanova University.

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