So your client wants you to handle a probate case – do you know where to start? Do you know the proper procedures to use, as well as the law? Get detailed, step-by-step information to confidently and ably navigate the system, and gain the confidence you need to reach a favorable outcome for your client when litigating in probate court. Order today!

1. Taking the First Step: Filing an Estate in Probate Court
2. Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative in Probate
3. Managing the Inventory
4. Administering the Estate Effectively
5. Maintaining an Ethical Balance in Probate Practice
6. Determining if Spouse's Elective Share is a Reasonable Option
7. Uncovering the Laws of Intestacy and How They May Apply
8. Litigating the Case in Probate Court
9. Putting the Case to Rest: Closing the Estate

1. TAKING THE FIRST STEP: FILING AN ESTATE IN PROBATE COURT
   8:30 - 9:10, Mary-Noelle Rasi
   1. Small Estate - What it is and How to File
   2. Regular Estate
   3. The Estate Timetable - What You Need to Do
   4. Proving the Will
   5. Challenging the Will
2. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVEIN PROBATE
   9:10 - 9:50, William C. Hussey II
   1. Duties of the Personal Representative
   2. Misconduct and/or Removal
   3. Compensation Guidelines
   4. Special Administration Issues
3. MANAGING THE INVENTORY
   10:05 - 10:50, Mary-Noelle Rasi
   1. Statutory Requirements and How They Affect Your Case
   2. Notice to Creditors, Beneficiaries and State Agencies - What is Required
   3. Collecting, Maintaining and Managing Assets
   4. Inventory Problems
4. ADMINISTERING THE ESTATEEFFECTIVELY
   10:50 - 11:30, William C. Hussey II, Bernard J. McLafferty Jr. and Mary-Noelle Rasi
   1. How to Respond to Creditors' Claims
   2. Insolvency
   3. Managing the Estate Cash Responsibly
   4. Disclaimers
   5. Partial Distributions
5. MAINTAINING AN ETHICAL BALANCE IN PROBATE PRACTICE
   11:30 - 12:30, William C. Hussey II
   1. Performing Competent Legal Services
   2. Identifying the Client
   3. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   4. Distinguishing Between Privileged and Non-Privileged Communication
   5. Establishing Reasonable Attorneys’ Fees
6. DETERMINING IF SPOUSE'S ELECTIVE SHARE IS A REASONABLE OPTION
   1:30 - 2:15, Bernard J. McLafferty Jr.
   1. Homestead Allowance
   2. How to Determine the Elective Share Estate
   3. What are Spousal Rights and Personalty?
   4. Rights of Election
   5. Step-by-Step Procedure
   6. How to Satisfy the Elective Share
7. UNCOVERING THE LAWS OF INTESTACY AND HOW THEY MAY APPLY
   2:30 - 3:10, Bernard J. McLafferty Jr.
8. LITIGATING THE CASE IN PROBATE COURT
   3:10 - 3:55, William C. Hussey II, Bernard J. McLafferty Jr. and Mary-Noelle Rasi
   1. Explanation of Rules of Probate Procedure
   2. Declaratory Judgment
   3. How to Conduct Discovery
   4. What to Do on Appeal
9. PUTTING THE CASE TO REST: CLOSING THE ESTATE
   3:55 - 4:40, William C. Hussey II
   1. Final Accounting
   2. Distribution of Estate to Beneficiaries
   3. Discharge of Fiduciary
   4. Tax Returns - What Needs to be Filed and When

WILLIAM C. HUSSEY II is a partner in the Tax and Estates Practice Group of the Business Department of White and Williams LLP.  He focuses his practice on matters of federal, state, local and international taxation. As part of a multi-disciplinary team, Mr. Hussey counsels clients in structuring their business and investment affairs in a tax-efficient manner, including the formation and operation of business entities, and structuring taxable and non-taxable acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures. He assists clients with all phases of estate and wealth transfer planning and administration. Mr. Hussey also consults with clients regarding the establishment, operation and termination of qualified and non-qualified pension and welfare benefit plans. He advises non-profit clients on issues regarding the qualification and maintenance of tax-exempt status. Mr. Hussey earned his B.S. degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his J.D. and MBA degrees, cum laude, from Temple University; and his LL.M.degree from Temple University in 2001. Mr. Hussey is admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a member of the American and Philadelphia bar associations, and the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council.  Mr. Hussey has lectured frequently on estate planning and administration topics and publishes articles regularly in the tax and estate planning areas. In 2006 and 2007, Mr. Hussey was named in a survey of his peers as a Pennsylvania "Rising Star" attorney by Law & Politics magazine.  

BERNARD J. McLAFFERTY JR. is an attorney with McLafferty & Kroberger, P.C., where he practices in the areas of tax law, probate and estate planning, and personal injury. He has lectured previously on probate and estate planning issues. Mr. McLafferty earned his B.A. degree from Fairfield University and his J.D. and LL.M. degrees, and certificate in estate planning, from Villanova University. He is the secretary treasurer to the Board of Directors of Montgomery County Estate Planning Council. Mr. McLafferty is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association (former chair, Probate and Tax Section) and the Pennsylvania Bar Association (member, Probate and Tax Section).

MARY-NOELLE RASI is an attorney in the law firm of Blank Rome LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She concentrates her practice in income, estate and gift tax planning and advises upon federal, state and local tax issues that affect the preservation and transfer of wealth from one generation to another. Ms. Rasi earned her B.A. degree from Wilkes University, her J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law and her Master of Laws in taxation from Temple University Beasley School of Law. She is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey State bar associations and the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council.

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