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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

• THE INITIAL FILING
  9:00 - 10:00, Lisa W. Gafkin
• 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?
  10:15 - 11:00, Lisa W. Gafkin
• 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
  11:00 - 12:00, Sarah L. Moen
• 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
  1:00 - 2:15, Steven B. Boyd
• Crucial Due Dates Timeline
• Obtaining Tax Identification Numbers
• Matching Estate Inventory and Tax Return in Probate
• Filing the Final Tax Return
• Estate Taxes
• Simple Tips for Minimizing Tax Burden
• Tax Treatment of Trusts
• ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
  2:30 - 3:30, John F. Sherwood Sr.
• 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, Sarah L. Moen
• 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 B. BOYD is senior vice president and wealth advisor at Northern Trust in Seattle. Mr. Boyd brings a strong tax background to the estate and individual planning services. He also advises clients on tax and business succession planning. Mr. Boyd has previously lectured for National Business Institute and was a regular lecturer at Deloitte Tax LLP's national tax conferences. Prior to joining Northern Trust, he was a shareholder with the Amicus Law Group, PC and a senior tax manager at Deloitte Tax LLP. Mr. Boyd earned his J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law and his LL.M. degree from the University of Washington School of Law.

LISA W. GAFKEN is a partner of Ridgway and Gafken, P.S. Ms. Gafken focuses her practice on litigating trust and estate matters under TEDRA; protecting vulnerable adults under chapter 74.34 RCW; and representing clients in both contested and uncontested probate and guardianship matters. In addition, she assists clients with probate and guardianship administration. Ms. Gafken is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the King County Bar Association and Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. She currently serves as the treasurer of MAMAS, Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle. Ms. Gafken has been invited to speak at seminars involving probate and fiduciary matters. She graduated, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law. Ms. Gafken served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Washington State Attorney General's office for four years until she went into private practice in 2005 as an associate. In 2008, she became a partner in her new firm.

SARAH L. MOEN is an attorney with the Moen Law Offices, P.S., where she focuses her practice on estate administration, trust administration and guardianships and related litigation. She receives appointments from the court to serve as the personal representative of estates, as well as Guardian ad litem in probate proceedings. Ms. Moen is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Washington, her J.D. degree from Whittier College School of Law and her LL.M. degree from Villanova University School of Law.

JOHN F. SHERWOOD SR. is of counsel with Peterson Russell Kelly PLLC, where his main areas of practice are estate planning and probate, real estate, and tax. Mr. Sherwood's practice is primarily related to estate planning, federal and state estate and gift tax planning, wills, trusts, and probate administration. While a significant part of his practice relates to tax issues and the transfer of wealth across generations, he represents persons from all walks of life in trusts, estate planning, and guardianships. Mr. Sherwood began his practice as a trial lawyer and continues to represent clients in disputed litigation relating to his field. He is a graduate of New York University. Mr. Sherwood has taught estate planning and fiduciary income tax at the University of Washington School of Law, is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and is admitted to the Tax Court and Ninth Circuit.

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