IL Specific

Trusts, Estates & Probate

Illinois Probate and Trust Administration

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6.5 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
6 hours 26 minutes
Sandra Mertens
Elizabeth Fink
Aisha Cooks
George Hupp
With Sandra D. Mertens from Gensburg, Calandriello & Kanter, P.C. + 3 others
Recorded June 09, 2025
Product ID 100126

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Overview

Creditor Claims, Distributions, Tax Issues, and More!

Working through issues that arise through probate and trust administration can be daunting. Are you well-equipped with the tools you need to succeed? This insightful course will take you through steps in probate administration, including information on creditor and debt issues, tax and more. You will also get valuable insight on trust administration, including the handling of accounting, distributions and taxes. Don't miss this opportunity to hone your probate and trust administration skills - register today!

  • Take a closer look at the initial steps for filing the estate.
  • Discuss what needs to be done to handle creditor claims and debts.
  • Make sure everything is in order for the final distribution of the estate.
  • Review what issues need to be addressed concerning taxes in probate administration.
  • Get the latest information on taxation concerns associated with trusts.
  • Explore the different types of trusts and how they are used.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Probate Process and Overview
  2. Assets, Creditor Claims and Debt Considerations
  3. Distributions, Final Accounting and Closing the Estate
  4. Tax Issues in Probate Administration
  5. Trust Taxation Issues
  6. What You Need to Know About Trusts
  7. Ethics and Estate Administration

Related Topics

Product ID 100126

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6.5 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Probate Process and Overview

    1. Review of the Probate Timeline
    2. Forms of Administration
    3. Deadlines to be Aware of
    4. Documents Used in the Probate Process
    5. Information Gathering
    6. Laws of Intestacy
    7. Initial Petition and Notices
    8. Sample Forms, Letters and Documents

  2. Assets, Creditor Claims and Debt Considerations

    1. Marshalling Probate and Non-Probate Assets: Key Procedures
    2. Properly Ensure ALL Debt is Located and Handled
    3. Required Public Notices to Creditors
    4. Priority and Payment Determinations for Claims
    5. Contested Claims and Prescribed Claims
    6. Appropriately Dealing with Creditors
    7. Insolvent Estates
    8. Sale of Assets to Satisfy Creditors

  3. Distributions, Final Accounting and Closing the Estate

    1. Documents Needed to Close the Estate
    2. Proper Transfer and Timing of Distributions - Probate and Non-Probate Assets
    3. Distributions in Kind
    4. Distribution to Minors, Surviving Spouse and Trusts
    5. Disposition of Unclaimed Assets
    6. Fees for Personal Representatives and Attorneys
    7. Annual Accounting Requirements and Format
    8. Final Accounting Checklist
    9. Estate Closing Procedures

  4. Tax Issues in Probate Administration

    1. State and Federal Tax Considerations
    2. Tax Deadlines and Extensions
    3. Essential Tax Forms and Returns
    4. Deductions and Exemptions
    5. Income Tax and Basis Adjustment for Decedent's Assets
    6. Real Property Tax Considerations

  5. Trust Taxation Issues

    1. Tax Returns: Annual and Final
    2. Tax Consequences of Trustee's Actions
    3. Real Property Taxes
    4. Income Taxation
    5. Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
    6. Tax Consequences of Paying Retirement Benefits to Trusts
    7. Tax Basis in the Assets

  6. What You Need to Know About Trusts

    1. Types of Trusts and Their Purpose
    2. Jurisdiction
    3. Duties and Powers of the Trustee
    4. Valuation of Assets
    5. Funding a Trust
    6. Communication with Beneficiaries
    7. Amending and Modifying the Trust
    8. Trust Administration Checklist
    9. Sample Forms and Documents

  7. Ethics and Estate Administration

    1. Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility
    2. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
    3. Confidentiality
    4. Fee Agreements

Who Should Attend

This intermediate level online seminar is designed for professionals who want to be more effective in the probate and trust administration process, such as:

  • Attorneys
  • CPAs and Accountants
  • Tax Professionals
  • Financial Planners and Wealth Managers
  • Trust Officers
  • Paralegals

Speakers

Sandra D Mertens
Sandra D.
Mertens
Gensburg, Calandriello & Kanter, P.C.
Elizabeth M Fink
Elizabeth M.
Fink
WhiteheadFink Elder Law LLC
Aisha Cooks
Aisha
Cooks
The Law Office of Aisha S. Cooks
George C Hupp III
George C.
Hupp, III
Burton, Fuller & Associates, P.C.
Speaker bio
Sandra D Mertens

Sandra D. Mertens

Gensburg, Calandriello & Kanter, P.C.
Sandra Mertens

is a partner in the law firm of Gensburg, Calandriello & Kanter, P.C., where she is known for her diverse skill set, practicing in the areas of federal and state tax controversy and consulting, offshore account disclosures, estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, general business law, and commercial litigation. Ms. Mertens has negotiated many tax resolutions with the IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue, reducing her clients' overall tax liabilities and helping them lower their monthly payment. Since 2008, she has served as a monthly contributor to Debits and Credits, a newsletter published by the Independent Accountants Association of Illinois. Ms. Mertens is also a member of the CBA's State and Local Tax Committee, and has lectured and prepared seminar materials for accountant and attorney education on a variety of topics, including offers in compromise, trust fund recovery penalties, IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program for workers, foreign reporting requirements, and the IRS' Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and compliance procedures. In addition, she assists large and small businesses with all stages of their business, from formation of an entity to contracts to employee issues, and dissolution. Ms. Mertens earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Trinity International University and her J.D. degree, with honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. She is admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, United States Bankruptcy Court and United States Tax Court. Ms. Mertens has also been admitted pro hac vice in the District Court for the District of Columbia and New York State Court.

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Speaker bio
Elizabeth M Fink

Elizabeth M. Fink

WhiteheadFink Elder Law LLC
Elizabeth Fink

is a partner at WhiteheadFink Elder Law LLC, in Chicago, Illinois, where she practices in the areas of estate and trust administration, guardianship, Medicaid planning, estate planning and elder law. Ms. Fink is a member of the Chicago Bar Association (Elder Law Committee and Probate Practice Committee); a former mentor with the CBA group mentoring program in probate and estates; a board member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Illinois Chapter; and co-chair of the education committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Illinois Chapter. She earned her B.A. degree from Denison University and her J.D. degree from The John Marshall Law School.

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Speaker bio
Aisha Cooks

Aisha Cooks

The Law Office of Aisha S. Cooks
Aisha Cooks

is a solo practitioner at The Law Office of Aisha S. Cooks. She concentrates in the areas of family law, residential real estate law, probate law, and small business consulting. Ms. Cooks earned her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law, where she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Trial Advocacy and the American Association for Justice Partnership in Advocacy Scholars Award. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. Ms. Cooks is admitted to practice law in Illinois and the General Bar of the United States District Court (Northern District of Illinois).

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Speaker bio
George C Hupp III

George C. Hupp, III

Burton, Fuller & Associates, P.C.
George Hupp

is of counsel at Burton, Fuller & Associates, P.C. He earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and his J.D. degree from Drake University. Mr. Hupp is admitted to practice law in Illinois.

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