To ensure a successful outcome in settling an estate for your clients, you need to have a thorough understanding of the probate process. How does your knowledge stack up? Get the solid foundation you need to thrive in the probate arena with this complete guide. Examine the nuts and bolts of the probate process so you'll be better prepared to handle decedents' estates. Order today!

1. Initiating the Probate Process
2. Spouse's Rights and Family Maintenance
3. Basic Tax Matters
4. Closing the Estate
5. Ethics in Probate Practice
6. Common Probate Problems and How to Solve Them

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. INITIATING THE PROBATE PROCESS
   8:30 - 9:45, Andree R. Chicha
   1. Interviewing and Determining the Personal Representative
   2. Evaluating the Estate to Minimize Costs and Expenses -- The High Cost of Dying
   3. Locating, Collecting and Taking Inventory of the Decedent's Assets -- Probate vs. Nonprobate
   4. Determining Which Types of Administration are Right for You -- Informal or Formal
   5. Elections and Filings
   6. Handling Claims Against the Estate
   7. Using Renunciation and Disclaimers as a Post-Mortem Planning Device
2. SPOUSE'S RIGHTS AND FAMILY MAINTENANCE
   9:45 - 10:45, Andree R. Chicha
   1. Determining the Existence or Nonexistence of a Will
   2. Duties of the Personal Representative
   3. Homestead and Exempt Property -- What is Legally Your Client's, Regardless of Value
   4. Effect of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
   5. The Surviving Spouse's Elective Share
   6. What are the Family Allowances That Can be Taken?
3. ETHICS IN PROBATE PRACTICE
   11:00 - 12:00, M. Geoffrey G. Jones
   1. Performing Competent Legal Services
   2. Identifying the Client
   3. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   4. Distinguishing Privileged and Non-Privileged Communication
   5. Keeping the Client Informed
   6. Establishing Attorneys' Fees
4. COMMON PROBATE PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM
   1:00 - 2:10, M. Geoffrey G. Jones
   1. What to do When the Decedent Has Property in More Than One State -- Multiple Domiciles
   2. Inter Vivos and Testamentary Trusts
   3. Intestate Administration
   4. Lost/Withheld Wills
5. BASIC TAX MATTERS
   2:10 - 3:10, Jeffrey M. Grieff
   1. Overview of Tax Compliance and Post-Mortem Planning
   2. Coordinating and Filing the Estate Tax and Fiduciary Income Tax Return
   3. Planning for an Estate Tax Audit
   4. Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
   5. Disclaimers
   6. Reverse QTIP Elections
6. CLOSING THE ESTATE
   3:25 - 4:40, Karen L. Cobb
   1. Timing of Distributions
   2. Transfer of Probate and Nonprobate Assets
   3. Distributions to Minors and Trusts
   4. Preparing the Final Account
   5. Petition for Complete Settlement
   6. Obtaining Discharge of the Personal Representative

ANDREE R. CHICHA is a partner in the Bellevue law offices of Hanson Baker Ludlow Drumheller P.S., where her practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning, probate administration and real estate. She previously has lectured on estate planning and probate issues. Ms. Chicha earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, and J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Gonzaga University. She is a member of the King County, East King County and Washington State (member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Sections) bar associations, the Seattle Estate Planning Council and the East King County Estate Planning Council.

KAREN L. COBB is a senior associate at Stafford Frey Cooper, in Seattle, Washington. Her practice includes estate planning, probate administration and litigation, municipal liability defense and general litigation. Ms. Cobb is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Washington Women Lawyers, the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association and the Christian Legal Society. She earned her B.A. degree, in criminology, from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and her J.D. degree from Seattle University.

JEFFREY M. GRIEFF is a shareholder in Jeffrey M. Grieff, P.S., and of counsel to the Seattle law firm, Stafford Frey Cooper Professional Corporation. His areas of practice include the formation, maintenance of and tax planning for closely held businesses, closely held business transfers and estate planning. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the American Bar Association, Section of Business Law. Mr. Grieff works with the Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP), counseling lawyers regarding choice of entity, formation and taxation issues. In recent years, he has been a presenter in several programs for lawyers and CPAs regarding tax planning, choice of entity, individual and corporate taxation and limited liability company formation. Mr. Grieff earned his B.A. degree from the University of Washington and his J.D. degree from University of Puget Sound.

M. GEOFFREY G. JONES is a partner in the Everett firm of Newton Kight L.L.P. He has a general practice, concentrating primarily in the area of elder law and guardianships. His practice also includes collection work, real estate and construction contract litigation. Mr. Jones previously worked as an assistant attorney general for the Washington State Attorney General's Office in Olympia where he represented several state agencies in civil matters including the Department of Employment Security, the Department of General Administration and the Department of Information Systems. He earned his B.A. degree from The Evergreen State College and his J.D. degree from the University of Oregon. Mr. Jones is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

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