Probate Process From Start to Finish: Part II

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Wrapping Up - Closing the Estate
   11:00 — 12:00, Cherish De La Cruz
   1. Formal Closing
   2. Informal Closing by Statement of Personal Representative
   3. Final Distributions to Beneficiaries and Liability of Distributees
   4. Tax Returns - Estate and Income, State and Federal
   5. Final Accounting and Discharge of Fiduciary
   6. Inconsistencies Between Inventory and Final Accounting
2. Probate Litigation Process
   12:00 — 1:00, Michael Zapson
   1. The Ability of the Estate to Sue or be Sued
   2. Causes of Action
   3. Procedural Rules and Evidentiary Provisions
   4. Lost and Contested Wills
   5. Deed Contests
   6. Fiduciary Misconduct, Liability, Disputes with Beneficiaries
3. Ethics
   1:15 — 2:15, Michael Zapson
   1. Whom do You Represent? Conflicts of Interest
   2. Protecting Client Confidentiality
   3. Attorney Fees
   4. Practicing Law in More Than One State

Accreditation Details:

Cherish De La Cruz helps families and small businesses create life and estate plans that save money, create peace of mind, and prevent unnecessary stress during life's unexpected events. Ms. De La Cruz was initially inspired to pursue estate planning in 2013 after losing her aunt to appendix cancer. While taking care of her aunt's affairs, she realized first-hand the stress and hardship that is created when a loved one passes away and they do not have a comprehensive and customized plan. It is even more complicated when they are a small business owner. Today, this personal perspective and her extensive background in investments and life insurance guides her firm's estate planning process. Leadership in the community is also a key value of De la Cruz Law, LLC. That is why Ms. De La Cruz is actively involved in several non-profit organizations; recently graduating from the Catholic Charities Atlanta Leadership class, serving as past president of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association, founding board member of the Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta (2019-2020), Leadership Gwinnett Class of  2019, chair of Elder Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association (2019-2020), and Mosaic Georgia. She dedicates her time to serving and educating small businesses, families, and the larger community about the estate and business planning process so that her wonderful clients can truly take charge of their life and legacy, knowing that they have done everything in their power to protect their loved ones.

Michael G Zapson is a partner at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and estate litigation, real estate and zoning. Mr. Zapson represents real property owners, national companies, developers, purchasers, REITs, lenders and brokers. He is a member of the Long Beach Lawyer’s Association, the Nassau County Bar Association, and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Mr. Zapson is admitted to practice in New York; Washington, D.C.; and the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Eastern and Northern districts of New York. He earned his B.A. degree from Cornell University and J.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.