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. Ethical Challenges in Estate Administration
6. Common Issues To Be Prepared for in Litigation and Probate

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1. FOUNDATIONS OF ESTATE ADMINISTRATION DEFINED
   8:30 - 9:35, Written and presented by Janet Shafer Boyanton in Fort Worth and Dallas.
   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
   9:35 - 10:15 and 10:30 - 11:05, Written and presented by Janet Shafer Boyanton in Fort Worth and Dallas.
   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
   11:05 - 12:00 and 1:00 - 1:15, Written and presented by G. Ward Beaudry in Fort Worth and Dallas.
   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
   1:15 - 2:25, Written and presented by G. Ward Beaudry in Fort Worth and Dallas.
   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. ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
   2:40 - 3:40, Written and presented by Lee Craig in Fort Worth and Dallas.
   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
6. COMMON ISSUES TO BE PREPARED FOR IN LITIGATION AND PROBATE
   3:40 - 4:40, Written and presented by Lee Craig in Fort Worth and Dallas.
   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?

G. WARD BEAUDRY is the president and corporate partner in the Dallas law firm of Winn, Beaudry & Winn. Mr. Beaudry is an accredited estate planner by the National Association of Estate Planning Councils and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is the former chair of the Dallas Bar Association (Probate and Trusts Section), and a member of the Dallas Estate Planning Council and the North Texas Estate Planning Council (founding member, Board of Governors). Mr. Beaudry also is a certified Guardian Ad Litem. Since 1969, he has concentrated his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust law, trust and estate litigation, corporate litigation, elder law, and mediation. He is a trained arbitrator and mediator by the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Beaudry is a frequent speaker on estate planning, probate administration, elder law and legal ethics topics, and has written numerous articles on limited liability corporations, ethical implications of estate planning and guardianship, and trust and estate administration. He earned his B.A. degree, with honors, from Austin College and his J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Mr. Beaudry is a life fellow of the American, Texas and Dallas bar associations, and a member of the State Bar of Texas and the College of the State Bar of Texas.

JANET SHAFER BOYANTON is a sole practitioner in DeSoto, where she practices in the areas of elder law, probate, wills and nursing home neglect. She has written an article, "Nursing Home Litigation," published in The Elder Law Report and has lectured to various professional groups on aging and nursing home residents' rights issues. Ms. Boyanton earned her B.A. degree from Austin College, her M.B.A. degree from Amber University and her J.D. degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. She received mediation training from Settlement Consultants International Inc. Ms. Boyanton is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, the Texas Chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Past Board of Directors, By-laws Committee), the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and was the founding treasurer of the organization Best Southwest Bar Association.

LEE CRAIG is a sole practitioner in Richardson, Texas, where she concentrates in trusts and estates, elder law, Medicaid planning, contracts, wills, probate, business law, estate planning, and guardianship. Ms. Craig has lectured to professionals and civic organizations on elder law, Medicaid eligibility, asset protection and estate planning for elders. She was on the District I State Bar Grievance Committee for five years. Ms. Craig earned her B.F.A. degree from North Texas State University and her J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Real Property, Wills, Trusts and Probate Section) and the College of the State Bar of Texas.

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