Louisiana Probate Process: In 7 Simple Steps
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana CLE |
|
6 Total | 09-18-2026 |
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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
- Opening the Estate
- Preparing the Personal Representatives for the Job
- Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More
- Addressing Creditor Claims
- Post-Mortem Tax Planning, Distributions, and Trust Administration
- Handling Estate Closing, Final Accounting, and Tax Returns
- Maintaining an Ethical Practice
- Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation
Credit Details
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana CLE |
|
6 Total | 09-18-2026 |
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Agenda
-
Opening the Estate
- What to Do in the First 48 Hours
- Obtaining the Will and Getting it Admitted
- Locating and Notifying the Beneficiaries
- Determining if the Estate Qualifies for a Small Estate Administration
- The Estate Timeline - What Must be Done When
- Filing the Initial Petition With the Probate Court: Forms and Procedures
- Sending Initial Notices to the Public and to State Agencies
- Closing the Decedent's Accounts
- Obtaining the Estate Tax ID
- Laws of Intestacy
-
Preparing the Personal Representatives for the Job
- Educating PRs on Their Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities
- Compiling Personal Representative Guide/Instructions
- Clarifying Executor Compensation
- Advising PRs on Potential Problems and Liability
-
Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More
- Marshalling and Valuing Decedent's Assets
- Initial Inventory
- Maintenance and Management
- Determining Elective Share and Homestead Allowance
- Spousal Rights: Electing vs. Disclaiming the Share
- Claiming Homestead Allowance
- Portability Rules; Claiming Unused Lifetime Exclusion
- Estate Expenses: Payment and Record-Keeping
- What to Do With the Income the Estate is Producing
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Addressing Creditor Claims
- Issuing Notices to Creditors: What Works Best
- Validating Claims
- Determining the Priority of Creditor Rights
- Selling Property to Satisfy Claims: What to Sell, How to Do it, and How to Properly Record it
- Satisfying Tax Claims and Liens
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Post-Mortem Tax Planning, Distributions, and Trust Administration
- Managing the Tax Consequences of Elections and Receipt of Non-Probate Assets (e.g. IRA Distributions)
- Tax Implications of Transfers
- Creating Trusts and Subtrusts for Multiple Beneficiaries to Receive Their Shares of the Estate
- What to Do With Bequests and Trust Distributions to Minors
- Post-Mortem Tax Planning Approaches: How Much Maneuver Room is Left?
- How to Calculate the Omitted Spouse Share or Omitted Child Share
- Guarding Disabled Adult Beneficiaries' Benefits Eligibility
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Handling Estate Closing, Final Accounting, and Tax Returns
- Tax Returns and Deadlines - Estate and Income, State and Federal, Decedent's and the Estate's
- Informal Closing by Statement of Personal Representative
- Compiling and Balancing the Final Account
- Final Distributions to Beneficiaries and Liability of Distributees
- Closing the Estate and Discharging the Fiduciary
-
Maintaining an Ethical Practice
- Whom do You Represent? Conflicts of Interest
- Protecting Client Confidentiality
- Attorney Fees
- Practicing Law in More Than One State
-
Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation
- Will Contests, Deed Contests, Allegations of Undue Influence and Other Causes of Action
- Obtaining Court Guidance for Proposed Actions Regarding the Estate Administration
- Probate Litigation Rules, Procedures, and Evidentiary Provisions
- Fiduciary Misconduct, Liability, Disputes with Beneficiaries
- 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 and paralegals.
Speakers
Speaker bio
John R. Harris
is the principal of Estate Planning for Louisiana, where he focuses his practice on individuals needing estate planning, probate or elder law services. Mr. Harris speaks for a variety of industries on topics related to his areas of practice. He is admitted to practice law in Louisiana, Federal District Court, and all Louisiana courts. Mr. Harris earned his B.S. degree from Louisiana Tech University and his J.D. degree from Southern University Law Center.
Speaker bio
Christie L. Tournet
is a St. Tammany Parish estate planning/administration attorney. She provides counseling related to real estate and commercial issues. Ms. Tournet further assists families and businesses with proper planning, dealing with unexpected events, and conflict resolution. Her plans are comprehensive and personal. Prior to becoming a counselor, Ms. Tournet extensively worked in the Greater New Orleans and St. Tammany Parish real estate and construction industries for over a decade, assisting with the development and management of numerous residential and commercial properties. Also prior to becoming an attorney, she became a Louisiana notary public and held an active Louisiana Realtor license for over ten years. Ms. Tournet harnesses her unique, real-world background to effectively resolve her clients' concerns, and she appreciates the importance of providing early case evaluation and continued communication. She graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans, with a double major in economics and international business. Then, Ms. Tournet pursued her Juris Doctorate at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law's evening program, while she continued to work full-time. Loyola University School of Law awarded her the LaNasa-Greco Endowed Scholarship and the Loyola Law Excellence Award in probate. Ms. Tournet remains actively involved in her community and the industries she represents. She is a member of the Northshore Wealth & Planning Professionals, National Association of Estate Planners, the 22nd JDC Bar and the 22nd JDC Inn of Court. Ms. Tournet also performs pro bono work for Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, and participates in their Volunteers for Veterans and the Wills for Heroes programs.
Speaker bio
Katherine L. DeBlanc
is an associate with Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C. where she concentrates her practice in trusts and estates. She is a member of the New Orleans Estate Planning Counsel, Louisiana State Bar Association and Federal Bar Association. Ms. DeBlanc earned her B.S. degree, summa cum laude, from Tulane University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
Speaker bio
Bradley J. Spedale
is a shareholder with Newman, Mathis, Brady & Spedale. Utilizing his Master of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary in addition to his Juris Doctor, his practice focuses on estate planning, including wills, trusts, successions, tax, and litigation. Mr. Spedale's practice covers everything from simple wills and successions to complex trusts and advanced estate planning. Attorneys that prepare basic wills as part of their practice may be unaware of the constant changes in this area of law and many estate planning options. He writes trusts that serve many different purposes, such as trusts that delay or manage children's inheritance, trusts that help clients qualify for Medicaid and VA benefits, special needs trusts and life insurance trusts that allow benefits to pass to heirs free of estate tax. Mr. Spedale also serves as a professional trustee. He is a member of Baton Rouge Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association and National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys.
Speaker bio
Kevin Naccari, Jr.
is an associate attorney with Liskow & Lewis, APLC. in the firm's business transactions practice group focusing on tax and corporate law. With a background in accounting, he brings over seven years of experience as a corporate accountant to his legal practice. Mr. Naccari's experience spans a diverse range of businesses, from small-scale restaurants and convenience stores to large health insurance companies and pre-initial public offering retailers. During his time as an accountant, he focused on inventory system design, maintenance, and financial operations optimization. Mr. Naccari earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Louisiana State University before receiving his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. During his time at Loyola Law, he served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Carl J. Barbier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, Mr. Naccari obtained an LL.M. degree from New York University.
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