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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. TAKING THE FIRST STEP: FILING AN ESTATE IN PROBATE COURT
   8:30 - 9:15, Spencer Bergstedt
   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
   9:15 - 10:00, Spencer Bergstedt
   1. Duties of the Personal Representative
   2. Misconduct and/or Removal
   3. Compensation Guidelines
   4. Special Administration Issues
3. MANAGING THE INVENTORY
   10:15 - 11:00, M. Geoffrey G. Jones
   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
   11:00 - 11:30, M. Geoffrey G. Jones
   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
   12:30 - 1:30, M. Geoffrey G. Jones
   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, Sandra Rovai
   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 - 3:15, Sandra Rovai
8. LITIGATING THE CASE IN PROBATE COURT
   3:15 - 4:00, Sandra Rovai
   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
   4:00 - 4:40, Spencer Bergstedt
   1. Final Accounting
   2. Distribution of Estate to Beneficiaries
   3. Discharge of Fiduciary
   4. Tax Returns - What Needs to be Filed and When

SPENCER BERGSTEDT is a shareholder in the North Sound Law Firm, where he practices in the areas of estate and business planning, probate, guardianship matters, business organization and succession, charitable planning and elder law. He is a nationally recognized expert in transgender related law. He is an Eagle Member of the Washington State Association of Justice; the King County and Snohomish County bar associations; Q-Law - The GBLT Bar Association of Washington; the National LGBT Lawyers Association; and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Bergstedt is actively involved in community service, and has served as a board member for a number of organizations - both locally and nationally - including The Pride Foundation and Totem Girl Scout Council, and he is a co-founder of the Transgender Law & Policy Institute. He is a nationally recognized speaker on a variety of issues, and is the author of numerous articles and books related to GLBT legal issues. Mr. Bergstedt earned both his B.A. and J.D. degrees at the University of Washington.

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.

SANDRA ROVAI is a partner in the law firm of Gordon Thomas Honeywell, where she practices in the areas of estate planning and litigation, business organizations and transactions and taxation. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington-Tacoma in their MBA program and at the University of Washington School of Law. Ms. Rovai has spoken for the Washington State Bar Association and for the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association on her areas of practice. She was a certified public accountant and is a member of the Washington State (Business Law Section and Real Property, Trust and Probate Section) and American (Business Law Section and Real Property, Trust and Probate Section) bar associations. Ms. Rovai earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, at Washington State University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, at the University of Puget Sound.

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