Probate Process, Procedures, and Documents: All the Forms and Checklists in One Place

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Eastern time.

1. Probate Process and Executor Duties: The Master Checklist with Deadlines
   10:00 - 10:30, Paul F. Wright
2. Wills: Key Provisions, Validity, Interpreting Unique Instructions
   10:30 - 11:00, Kay M. Sowa
3. Initial Petition and Letters of Authority: Content and Procedure
   11:00 - 11:30, Kay M. Sowa
4. Estate Inventory: Valuing and Recording Assets
   11:45 - 12:15, Sandra J. Alexander
5. Creditor Notices and Responses
   12:15 - 12:45, Sandra J. Alexander
6. Trusts: Key Provisions, Trustee Duties, and the Trust's Impact on Probate
   12:45 - 1:15, Elyse M. Tyrell
7. Final Accounting: What Must and Should Be Included
   1:45 - 2:15, Kay M. Sowa
8. TAX Returns and Schedules for the Estate and the Decedent: Forms, Deadlines, Extensions (With Sample Returns)
   2:15 - 3:15, Paul F. Wright
9. Estate Closing and Distributions: Notices of Proposed Action, Petition to Discharge the Fiduciary, and Other Key Documents
   3:30 - 4:00, Elyse M. Tyrell
10. Ethical Practice Considerations and Concerns in Probate
    4:00 - 5:00, Kay M. Sowa
    1. Defining Who You Represent
    2. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
    3. Client Communications
    4. Client Confidentiality
    5. Attorney's Fees
    6. Practicing Law in More Than One State

Accreditation Details:

SANDRA J. ALEXANDER is a sole practitioner in Tulsa, where her practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate, small and medium businesses, wills, estates, trusts, probate and legal services for the elderly. She was an instructor in business law and legal implications of the insurance industry for Tulsa Community College and an adjunct professor of law teaching real estate transactions at the University of Tulsa College of Law. Ms. Alexander is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. She earned her B.A. degree from Swarthmore College, her J.D. degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law, and completed a graduate study in regional and city planning at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

KAY M. SOWA is a paralegal with Capehart & Scatchard, P.A., in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. She concentrates in the areas of trust, estate, and taxation. She is designated by the Internal Revenue Service as an enrolled agent, by the National Association of Estate Planning Councils as an accredited estate planner and as a certified trust and financial advisor through the Institute of Certified Bankers. While the majority of her career has been focused on trust and estate administration, as well as taxation, Ms. Sowa also worked for a software company, where she gained experience in the use and development of various trust, estate and tax software applications as a software trainer. She has also been involved in estate litigation. Ms. Sowa is a frequent lecturer with the Institute for Paralegal Education and National Business Institute. She has also presented for the Federal Bar Association and was an adjunct professor at the Erie Business Institute, where she taught paralegal/legal secretarial classes. She is a member of Burlington County New Jersey Bar Association. Ms. Sowa has also presented workshops in budgeting, credit reports, and personal finances. She is a member of the Estate and Financial Planning Council of Southern New Jersey, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Estate Planning Councils, the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, and the Institute of Certified Bankers. She is a member of the District Ethics Committee for Burlington County, New Jersey as appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court. Ms. Sowa earned her associate's degree from Bryan & Stratton Business Institute and her paralegal certificate at Penn State.

ELYSE M. TYRELL is the founding member of Tyrell Law, PLLC, where her practice is devoted to elder law, estate planning, tax law, probate and guardianship law. She is a member of the Clark County Bar Association, the Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Nevada and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Ms. Tyrell is a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a frequent speaker for National Business Institute and has lectured on estate planning and elder law for the Housing Authority of the City of Las Vegas, the Community College of Southern Nevada and various seminar groups. Ms. Tyrell earned her B.A. degree from the University of Nevada at Reno, her J.D. degree from Gonzaga University School of Law and her LL.M. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

PAUL F. WRIGHT is a senior partner with The Wright Firm LLP, and the managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office. His practice concerns fiduciary and business litigation, contested and uncontested probate and guardianship matters as well as estate and business planning. His litigation practice focuses on resolving estate and trust disputes as well as representing closely-held and middle-market businesses. Mr. Wright’s transaction practice involves counseling individuals, families, widows, business owners and professionals (primarily physicians) in estate and tax planning, wealth preservation, post-divorce planning and asset rehabilitation and advising business owners regarding on-going legal matters that affect businesses. Mr. Wright is a licensed attorney and a certified public accountant and is board certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Texas Society of CPA’s, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the National College of Probate Judges. Mr. Wright earned his B.S. degree in accounting from the University of North Texas, his M.S. degree in taxation from the University of North Texas, and his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law.