Probate is an intricate area of law requiring precision and great attention to detail. Do you have the skills to properly wrap up an estate and ensure the last bequests are interpreted correctly? This pragmatic briefing will walk you through the rules and provide practical advice for situations when the statutes or codes don't provide guidance. Review the timeline of the probate process and identify deadlines and key issues you must be aware of. Order today!

1. Local Probate Court Rules and Procedure Overview
2. The Initial Filing
3. Who is the Personal Representative?
4. Proper and Prudent Treatment of Assets
5. Tax Planning and Consequences of Probate
6. Ethical Considerations
7. Closing the Estate and Other Issues

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

• LOCAL PROBATE COURT RULES AND PROCEDURE
  9:00 - 9:30, Written by Steven W. Grant. Presented by Steven W. Grant in Chattanooga, and Angelia Morie Nystrom in Johnson City and Knoxville.
• THE INITIAL FILING
  9:30 - 10:15, Written by Steven W. Grant. Presented by Steven W. Grant in Chattanooga and Angelia Morie Nystrom in Johnson City and Knoxville.
• When is Probate Necessary? Formal vs. Informal?
• What Documents to Include?
• Who Must and Should be Notified?
• The Master Timeline – Don't Miss any Crucial Due Dates!
• Intra-Office Communication – Setting up the File so That Your Staff can Properly Act on It
• Dealing With Intestacy
• WHO IS THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE?
  10:30 - 11:15, Written by Angelia Morie Nystrom. Presented by Steven W. Grant in Chattanooga, and Angelia Morie Nystrom in Johnson City and Knoxville.
• Helping Clients Pick One
• Educating the PR on his/her Duties
• How Much is it in Your Interests and Within Ethical Bounds to Help the PR?
• Representing PRs in Probate Disputes/Litigation
• PROPER AND PRUDENT TREATMENT OF ASSETS
  11:15 - 12:15, Written and presented by R. Lance Pruitt in Chattanooga, Johnson City and Knoxville.
• Assess and Document Before or After the Initial Filing?
• Tips for Effective Marshaling of Assets
• Step-up Basis of Various Assets
• Exempted Property
• Requesting Decedent's Policy Information From the Insurance Companies and Insuring Remaining Property
• Spousal Rights to Property
• Treatment of Real Property in Probate – Tenants, Mortgages, Foreclosures, Sales, etc.
• Business Transfers
• Typical Creditors and How to Deal With Them
• Procedures for Probating an Insolvent Estate
• TAX PLANNING AND CONSEQUENCES OF PROBATE
  1:15 - 2:15, Written and presented by R. Lance Pruitt in Chattanooga, Johnson City and Knoxville.
• Crucial Due Dates Timeline
• Obtaining Tax Identification Numbers
• Matching Estate Inventory and Tax Return in Probate
• Filing the Final Tax Return
• Tax Issues Connected With Insolvency
• Simple Tips for Minimizing Tax Burden
• Tax Treatment of Trusts
• ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
  2:30 - 3:30, Written and presented by R. Lance Pruitt in Chattanooga, Johnson City and Knoxville.
• Who is the Client? Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
• Tips on Dealing With the Grieving Family
• Keeping Your Clients in the Know – Why it Pays off and How to do it Efficiently
• Getting Paid: Billable/Non-Billable Hour and Retainer Agreements
• Preventing Unauthorized Practice of Law by Legal Staff
• CLOSING THE ESTATE AND OTHER ISSUES
  3:30 - 4:30, Written by Angelia Morie Nystrom. Presented by Steven W. Grant in Chattanooga, and Angelia Morie Nystrom in Johnson City and Knoxville.
• The Impact of Medicaid and Other Government Programs on Probate
• Preparing the Final Estate Accounting
• Trust Administration and Termination in Probate
• Shopping for Probate Case Management Software
• Common Probate Mistakes to Avoid
• Property Disputes
• Current Legislative/Case Law Updates and Forecast

STEVEN W. GRANT is a director in the Chattanooga law firm of Grant Konvalinka & Harrison, P.C. He concentrates his practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, taxation and general business work. Mr. Grant has previously lectured before financial professionals on estate planning matters. He is a past member of the Chattanooga Bar Association's Board of Directors. Mr. Grant also is a member of the American and Tennessee bar associations. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, his J.D. degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and his LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law. (Chattanooga location)

ANGELIA MORIE NYSTROM is of counsel in the Knoxville and Nashville offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. Ms. Nystrom concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, trusts, tax and probate law. Her experience includes estate planning, estate and trust administration, real property transactions, conservatorships and guardianships, general corporate matters, probate litigation and use tax litigation. She is a frequent lecturer on estate planning, probate and elder care issues. Ms. Nystrom is actively involved in the Tennessee Bar Association and currently serves as the co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee and is on the Executive Committee of the Estate Planning and Probate Section. She earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Carson-Newman College and her J.D. degree from Mercer University. (Johnson City and Knoxville locations)

R. LANCE PRUITT is a member of the Venable Cantey Pruitt Wealth Management Team of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Mr. Pruitt provides consultation and solutions to clients in the areas of estate planning, asset protection and business succession planning. Prior to his employment with Morgan Stanely Smith Barney, he practiced law for several years, concentrating his practice in the areas of estate and tax planning, tax litigation, estate administration and corporate law. Mr. Pruitt earned his B.S. degree from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, his J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law, and his LL.M. degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also is an adjunct professor at Tusculum College. (Johnson City, Chattanooga and Knoxville locations)

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