Overview:
This course provides a comprehensive examination of the probate process, exploring how a decedent’s estate is administered from the moment of death through the final distribution of assets. Attendees will gain both a theoretical foundation and practical skills in the administration of estates under state probate law, with emphasis on procedures, forms, fiduciary responsibilities, and ethical considerations.
Course Objective:
- Explain the complete probate process in clear, structured terms
- Advise clients on how to navigate or avoid probate through planning
- Perform essential estate administration tasks under supervision
- Identify ethical and procedural issues in real-world probate cases
- Integrate probate knowledge with broader estate planning principles
Target Audience:
- Law Students
- Paralegals
- Practicing Attorneys
- Fiduciary
- Heir or Grantor
Basic Knowledge:
no prior knowledge required
Curriculum
Total Duration: 4 Hours
Purpose and scope of probate
Jurisdiction and authority of probate courts
Testate vs. intestate estates
Appointment and duties of executors/administrators
Notice to heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors
Inventory and appraisal of assets
Payment of debts, taxes, and expenses
Accounting and recordkeeping requirements
Distribution of estate assets
Closing the estate and discharge
Contested wills and probate litigation
Non-probate transfers and trusts
Ethical and fiduciary obligations
Strategies to simplify or avoid probate