Trusts, Estates & Probate

WI Specific

Wisconsin Estate Administration Tasks and Disputes

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 56 minutes
Sarah Barnes
Dean Dietrich
Trevor Lippman
With Sarah J. Barnes from National Benefits Services, LLC + 2 others
Recorded September 22, 2025
Product ID 100552

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Overview

How the Process Is Supposed to Work and the Many Ways It Can Go Wrong

Do you know what to do when estates go off the rails? Putting a decedent's affairs to rest is an intricate process, often complicated by grief and conflict. Are you prepared to spot danger zones at the outset and prevent them from derailing the administration? This comprehensive legal guide will walk you through the essential tasks of the estate administration, help identify and neutralize top sources of conflict, and arm you with the tools to resolve common disputes as they arise. Learn from the experience of professionals - register today!

  • Choose the right form of administration and qualify borderline cases for small estate procedures.
  • Prevent estate inventory mistakes that can easily snowball into distributions disputes.
  • Never miss a tax deadline with a quick guide to tax returns rules, forms, and timelines.
  • Get to the root causes of estate disputes and discover ways to prevent and resolve them.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Estate Administration Tasks and Procedures in Practice
  2. Tax Reporting for the Decedent and the Estate
  3. Common Estate Disputes: Root Causes and Lessons From Case Law
  4. Fiduciary Misconduct Disputes in Detail
  5. Legal Ethics in Estate Administration

Related Topics

Product ID 100552

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Estate Administration Tasks and Procedures in Practice

    1. Locating the Will and Other Immediate Tasks
    2. Forms of Administration, Qualifying for Small Estate Procedure
    3. Assets Marshalling, Inventory, and Appraisal
    4. Paying Debts: Public Notices and Creditor Claims
    5. Estate Management: Sale of Property, Tracking Expenses, etc.
    6. Distributing Assets and Closing the Estate

  2. Tax Reporting for the Decedent and the Estate

    1. Tax Rules Update for Individuals, Trusts, and Estates
    2. Requesting Extensions
    3. Past Taxes Due
    4. Determining the Value and Tax Basis of Assets
    5. Filing Tax Returns: Forms and Schedules

  3. Common Estate Disputes: Root Causes and Lessons From Case Law

    1. Identifying Potential Sources of Conflict
    2. Will Validity: Capacity, Undue Influence, Improper Execution
    3. Disputes Over Distributions From a "Pot" Trust
    4. Year's Support Claims
    5. Contested Creditor Claims
    6. Disputes Over Family Business
    7. Trust Disputes

  4. Fiduciary Misconduct Disputes in Detail

    1. Interpreting Testamentary Intent
    2. Objections to Accounts and Petitions
    3. Using Mediation to Prevent Escalation
    4. Notices of Proposed Action
    5. Document Requests and Depositions
    6. Financial Experts in Trusts and Estates Disputes

  5. Legal Ethics in Estate Administration

    1. Client Capacity Questions
    2. The Ever-Expanding Duty of Competence: Hitting the Moving Target
    3. Confidentiality and Deceased Clients
    4. Communicating With Third Parties
    5. Conflicts of Interest

Who Should Attend

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

  • Attorneys
  • CPAs and Accountants
  • Paralegals
  • Wealth Managers
  • Tax Professionals
  • Trust Officers
  • Personal Representatives

Speakers

Sarah J Barnes
Sarah J.
Barnes
National Benefits Services, LLC
Dean R Dietrich
Dean R.
Dietrich
Weld Riley, S.C.
Trevor C Lippman
Trevor C.
Lippman
O'Neil Cannon Hollman DeJong & Laing SC
Speaker bio
Sarah J Barnes

Sarah J. Barnes

National Benefits Services, LLC
Sarah Barnes

is an attorney and legal counsel with National Benefits Services LLC, where she handles all levels of trust and estate administration matters. She was previously in private practice for many years, where she practiced in the areas of estate planning and elder law. Ms. Barnes earned her B.A. degree from Edgewood College and her J.D. degree from Marquette University Law School. Her professional memberships include the State Bar of Wisconsin, Dane County Bar Association, Legal Association of Women, and the Madison Estate Planning Council. Ms. Barnes serves on a number of non-profit boards, is a frequent speaker at various continuing legal education seminars, and has served as guest faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is admitted to practice in the state of Wisconsin.

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Speaker bio
Dean R Dietrich

Dean R. Dietrich

Weld Riley, S.C.
Dean Dietrich

, a shareholder with Weld Riley, S.C., has represented clients in the areas of lawyer ethics and professional responsibility for more than 35 years. He has represented attorneys in matters before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of Lawyer Regulation, and consults with law firms and lawyers regularly regarding compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct. Mr. Dietrich has served as chair of the State Bar Committee on Professional Ethics, in addition to past service on the committee appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review changes to the Wisconsin Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. He is a member of the ABA's Center for Professional Responsibility and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers. Mr. Dietrich currently serves as past president of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Marquette University Law School.

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Speaker bio
Trevor C Lippman

Trevor C. Lippman

O'Neil Cannon Hollman DeJong & Laing SC
Trevor Lippman

is a shareholder at O'Neil Cannon in Milwaukee who primarily focuses his practice on fiduciary and inheritance litigation. He has helped clients navigate sensitive matters involving estates ranging from family homes to multi-million-dollar holdings, approaching each case with empathy and clear communication. Trevor earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, magna cum laude, and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He has been recognized on The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list and named a Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Star for the past several years. Originally from rural Wisconsin and now living in Milwaukee with his wife and two young sons, he brings a relatable and grounded perspective to every client relationship.

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