IN Specific

Trusts, Estates & Probate

Indiana Probate Process: In 7 Simple Steps

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 55 minutes
William Barkimer
Lora Williams
Joshua Burkhardt
Carla Pyle
Ellen Deeter
Nicholas Plopper
With William J. Barkimer from Krieg DeVault LLP + 5 others
Recorded June 24, 2025
Product ID 100139

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Overview

Learn How to Handle Assets, Taxes, Personal Representatives, and More!

This step-by-step practical instruction offers essential knowledge of probate processes and best practices for handling each unique case effectively. Learn how to tackle crucial first steps; handle the personal executive; gather, value, and distribute all assets; and successfully complete the final accounting and tax returns. Arm yourself with the foundational knowledge and best practices you need to ensure a smooth administration from start to finish. Register today!

  • Don't overlook anything important: confidently navigate critical first steps.
  • Understand executor powers, duties, responsibilities, and compensation guidelines.
  • Learn how to effectively marshal and inventory all assets.
  • Pick up tips for validating, prioritizing, and satisfying creditor claims.
  • Get practical guidance for post-mortem planning, trust administration, and tax hurdles.
  • Put the decedent's affairs to rest by making distributions, filing the final tax return, and completing the final accounting.
  • Discover how to litigate deed contests, lost or contested wills, fiduciary misconduct, and more.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Opening the Estate
  2. Preparing the Personal Representatives for the Job
  3. Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More
  4. Addressing Creditor Claims
  5. Post-Mortem Tax Planning, Distributions, and Trust Administration
  6. Handling Estate Closing, Final Accounting, and Tax Returns
  7. Maintaining an Ethical Practice
  8. Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation

Related Topics

Product ID 100139

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Opening the Estate

    1. What to Do in the First 48 Hours
    2. Obtaining the Will and Getting it Admitted
    3. Locating and Notifying the Beneficiaries
    4. Determining if the Estate Qualifies for a Small Estate Administration
    5. The Estate Timeline - What Must be Done When
    6. Filing the Initial Petition With the Probate Court: Forms and Procedures
    7. Sending Initial Notices to the Public and to State Agencies
    8. Closing the Decedent's Accounts
    9. Obtaining the Estate Tax ID
    10. Laws of Intestacy

  2. Preparing the Personal Representatives for the Job

    1. Educating PRs on Their Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities
    2. Compiling Personal Representative Guide/Instructions
    3. Clarifying Executor Compensation
    4. Advising PRs on Potential Problems and Liability

  3. Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More

    1. Marshalling and Valuing Decedent's Assets
    2. Initial Inventory
    3. Maintenance and Management
    4. Determining Elective Share and Homestead Allowance
    5. Spousal Rights: Electing vs. Disclaiming the Share
    6. Claiming Homestead Allowance
    7. Portability Rules; Claiming Unused Lifetime Exclusion
    8. Estate Expenses: Payment and Record-Keeping
    9. What to Do With the Income the Estate is Producing

  4. Addressing Creditor Claims

    1. Issuing Notices to Creditors: What Works Best
    2. Validating Claims
    3. Determining the Priority of Creditor Rights
    4. Selling Property to Satisfy Claims: What to Sell, How to Do it, and How to Properly Record it
    5. Satisfying Tax Claims and Liens

  5. Post-Mortem Tax Planning, Distributions, and Trust Administration

    1. Managing the Tax Consequences of Elections and Receipt of Non-Probate Assets (e.g. IRA Distributions)
    2. Tax Implications of Transfers
    3. Creating Trusts and Subtrusts for Multiple Beneficiaries to Receive Their Shares of the Estate
    4. What to Do With Bequests and Trust Distributions to Minors
    5. Post-Mortem Tax Planning Approaches: How Much Maneuver Room is Left?
    6. How to Calculate the Omitted Spouse Share or Omitted Child Share
    7. Guarding Disabled Adult Beneficiaries' Benefits Eligibility

  6. Handling Estate Closing, Final Accounting, and Tax Returns

    1. Tax Returns and Deadlines - Estate and Income, State and Federal, Decedent's and the Estate's
    2. Informal Closing by Statement of Personal Representative
    3. Compiling and Balancing the Final Account
    4. Final Distributions to Beneficiaries and Liability of Distributees
    5. Closing the Estate and Discharging the Fiduciary

  7. Maintaining an Ethical Practice

    1. Whom do You Represent? Conflicts of Interest
    2. Protecting Client Confidentiality
    3. Attorney Fees
    4. Practicing Law in More Than One State

  8. Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation

    1. Will Contests, Deed Contests, Allegations of Undue Influence and Other Causes of Action
    2. Obtaining Court Guidance for Proposed Actions Regarding the Estate Administration
    3. Probate Litigation Rules, Procedures, and Evidentiary Provisions
    4. Fiduciary Misconduct, Liability, Disputes with Beneficiaries
    5. Effective Approaches to Resolving Disputes Without Going to Court

Who Should Attend

This basic level online seminar is designed for:

  • Attorneys
  • Accountants
  • Tax Professionals
  • Trust Officers
  • Executors and Other Fiduciaries
  • Paralegals

Speakers

William J Barkimer
William J.
Barkimer
Krieg DeVault LLP
Lora N Williams
Lora N.
Williams
Williams Law Office, PC
Joshua Burkhardt
Joshua
Burkhardt
Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP
Carla K Pyle
Carla K.
Pyle
Rubino Ruman Crosmer & Polen
Ellen M Deeter
Ellen M.
Deeter
Deeter Law LLC
Nicholas E Plopper
Nicholas E.
Plopper
Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP
Speaker bio
William J Barkimer

William J. Barkimer

Krieg DeVault LLP
William Barkimer

is a partner in the law firm of Krieg DeVault LLP. He counsels clients and litigates disputes in a wide range of civil and commercial litigation matters. Particular areas of focus include contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, banking liability, probate litigation, tort law, real estate disputes, and intellectual property. Mr. Barkimer earned his B.S. degree from Ohio Northern University and his J.D. degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association and Indianapolis Bar Association.

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Speaker bio
Lora N Williams

Lora N. Williams

Williams Law Office, PC
Lora Williams

is sole owner of Williams Law Office, PC near Greensburg, Indiana, where her primary focus is estate and business planning. She also maintains a creditor collections practice in central Indiana. Ms. Williams is a frequent presenter for National Business Institute, and has previously taught business law courses at Indiana Wesleyan University and Butler University. She earned her B.A. degree from Purdue University, her J.D. degree from Syracuse University and her Master in Public Administration Degree from Syracuse University. Ms. Williams is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Decatur County Bar Association and the Kentucky State Bar Association, and she is admitted to practice law in both Indiana and Kentucky.

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Speaker bio
Joshua Burkhardt

Joshua Burkhardt

Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP
Joshua Burkhardt

is a partner at Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP in the firm's Fort Wayne office. He helps clients plan, build and protect their businesses. Mr. Burkhardt advises individuals and businesses on several areas of law, including acquisitions, asset purchase agreements, contracts, corporate formalities, dissolution, due diligence matters, financial issues, formation, management issues, and work out negotiations. He also handles appellate, bankruptcy, financial, tax, estate planning and municipal legal issues. Mr. Burkhardt earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Northern Kentucky University and his J.D. degree, with high distinction, from Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law. He is a member of the Allen County (chair, Appellate Section; vice chair, Bankruptcy Section) and Indiana State bar associations.

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Speaker bio
Carla K Pyle

Carla K. Pyle

Rubino Ruman Crosmer & Polen
Carla Pyle

is an attorney with the law firm of Rubino Ruman Crosmer & Polen. She concentrates her practice in business law, representing business clients in employment matters, contracts, and the ins and outs of business operations. She also devotes a significant part of her practice to probate and estate planning. Ms. Pyle earned her B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from East Texas Baptist University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law.

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Speaker bio
Ellen M Deeter

Ellen M. Deeter

Deeter Law LLC
Ellen Deeter

is an attorney in Indianapolis. Her practice is focused on estate planning and administration; estate, trust, and elder law mediation; expert witness services in trust and estate litigation matters; and consulting services for fiduciaries. Prior to going into the private practice of law, Ms. Deeter spent 35 years working for bank trust departments, where she worked in a variety of roles, including trust and estate administration, fiduciary income taxation, estate and gift taxation, and as in-house trust counsel. The last 18 years of her trust department career were spent with The National Bank of Indianapolis, from which she retired in 2013. Ms. Deeter is admitted to practice in the state of Indiana and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana. She earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame; and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis (now known as the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law). In addition to being an attorney and a registered civil mediator, Ms. Deeter obtained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 1984 and her CERTIFIED TRUST and FINANCIAL ADVISOR™ designation in 1992, both of which she maintained until 2022.

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Speaker bio
Nicholas E Plopper

Nicholas E. Plopper

Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP
Nicholas Plopper

is an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor and partner in the Carmel office of Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP. He concentrates his practice in business law, civil litigation, real estate, estate planning and probate. Mr. Plopper earned his B.A. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree from California Western School of Law. He is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and Indiana State Bar Association.

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Yes, the more people you bring from your organization, the more you save. After the first registration, each additional attendee receives a special discount off of their total tuition.
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