Illinois Estate Administration From Start to Finish
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois CLE |
|
6.5 Total | 06-23-2026 |
| Missouri CLE |
|
6 Total | 06-24-2026 |
Buy This Course
OnDemand Video
Video Download
Course Book Download
or
Overview
A Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide to Estate Administration
Whether you're new to estate administration or need a basic refresher, this course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of estate administration, including proper asset valuation and distribution, taxation, and account closing procedures. You'll also learn how to correctly deal with thorny estate administration debt issues, including jointly held assets, business ownership and complex tax issues. Equip yourself with real-life, practical knowledge to ensure you are fully prepared to handle the entire estate administration process from start to finish - register today!
- Learn how to meet every deadline, follow procedures, and complete essential forms.
- Identify key estate administration pitfalls you need to avoid.
- Come away with helpful forms, sample documents, and checklists to assist in the process.
- Acquire strategies to ensure you can help your clients through every step of the probate process.
- Manage your client's entire estate administration procedures properly and effectively.
- Learn how to tackle complex estate administration issues such as tax issues, jointly held assets, and will contests.
- Understand how to properly transfer and distribute assets.
- Explore proper procedures and processes when dealing with insurance claims and debt during estate administration.
- Gain a better understanding of the probate court's procedures so that you can avoid common pitfalls and mistakes.
- Get the latest information on allowances and elections against the will.
- Identify how to properly distribute assets to minors, surviving spouses and trusts.
Abbreviated Agenda
- Commencement of Proceedings and Information Gathering
- Initial Steps to the Estate Administration Process
- Marshalling Assets
- Handling Creditor Claims and Debt
- Handling Estate Administration Tax Issues
- Distribution and Closing of the Estate
- Complex Issues in Estate Administration
- Ethics and Estate Administration
Credit Details
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois CLE |
|
6.5 Total | 06-23-2026 |
| Missouri CLE |
|
6 Total | 06-24-2026 |
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Agenda
-
Commencement of Proceedings and Information Gathering
- Appointment of Estate Administration
- Formal vs. Informal Proceedings
- Sample Letters of Authority
- First Meeting With Family or Designated Personal Representative and Determination of Heirs
- Written Fee Agreements
- Tips to Locate Information Quickly Using Online and Government Resources
- Dealing with Multiple States
- Appointment of Estate Administration
-
Initial Steps to the Estate Administration Process
- Understanding the Laws of Intestacy
- Sample Estate Administration Checklists, Forms and Required Notices Needed
- Interpreting Provisions and Terms of Art Found in Wills
- Using Disclaimers Correctly
-
Marshalling Assets
- Procedures to Locating and Marshalling Probate and Non-Probate Assets
- Safe Deposit Boxes and Bank Accounts
- Real Estate
- Brokerage Accounts, 401Ks, IRAs, Pensions and Life Insurance Policies
- Sample Forms and Documents Needed
- Appraisers and Valuing the Property of Probate Estates
- Procedures to Locating and Marshalling Probate and Non-Probate Assets
-
Handling Creditor Claims and Debt
- Sample Forms and Required Notices Needed
- Priority and Payment of Claims
- Late Claims and Contested Claims
- Steps to Ensure all Debt is Located and Handled Correctly
- What if the Assets Don't Cover the Bills?
- Bankruptcy and Foreclosure
- Selling of Assets and Properly Dealing with Creditors
-
Handling Estate Administration Tax Issues
- Examples of Forms Needed
- Federal and State Estate Tax Considerations
- Income Tax Issues for the Estate and the Heirs
- Resolving Disputes With Taxing Authorities
- Deductions and Exemptions
- How the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Affects Your Clients
- Tax Deadlines and Handling Extensions
- Sales of Real Property
-
Distribution and Closing of the Estate
- Sample Forms, Agreements and Documents Needed
- Proper Transferring and Distribution of Probate and Non-Probate Assets and Timing of Distributions
- Real Estate
- 401Ks, IRAs, Pensions and Life Insurance Policies
- Distribution of Miscellaneous Assets (Automobiles, Jewelry, Etc.)
- Distributions in Kind
- Distribution to Minors, Surviving Spouse and Trusts
- Disposition of Unclaimed Assets
- Proper Settlement of the Estate
- Formal and Informal Estate Accountings
- Choosing the Appropriate Closing Procedure
- Compensation and Discharge of the Personal Representative
-
Complex Issues in Estate Administration
- Jointly Held Assets
- Spousal Claims
- Allowances and Elections Against the Will
- Handling Unmarried Couples and Stepchildren
- Will Contests, Trust and Estate Disputes
- Business Ownership
- Agency Problems Involving Guardianships, Conservatorships, Powers of Attorney or Other Agency Relationships
-
Ethics and Estate Administration
- Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
- Attorney-Client Privilege
- Fee Agreements
Who Should Attend
This basic 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
Speakers
Speaker bio
Sandra D. 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.
Speaker bio
Mollie A. Whitehead
is a partner at WhiteheadFink Elder Law LLC, in Chicago, Illinois. She has been representing clients in the areas of estate planning, probate, guardianships, Medicaid planning, elder law, and trust administration for ten years. Ms. Whitehead regularly appears in court hearings for probate and guardianship cases in Cook County Circuit Court, Probate Division. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association (member, Elder Law Committee and Probate Practice Committee), and co-chair of the Serving Our Seniors Committee of the Young Attorney Section of CBA. Ms. Whitehead earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude and with honors, from Illinois Wesleyan University; and her J.D. degree from American University, Washington College of Law.
Speaker bio
Sarah M. Muenzer
is an attorney at Fuchs & Roselli, Ltd., where she practices estate planning. She earned her bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Ms. Muenzer is admitted to practice law in Illinois.
Speaker bio
Andrew Willis
is an attorney at Handler Thayer, LLP in the advanced planning and family office practice group. He focuses his practice on probate, estate administration, trusts and estates, and estate contest litigation. Mr. Willis has also worked with nonprofit clients and has experience with contracts, and business transactions, trademarks and copyright issues, and land use/zoning matters. He graduated with an undergraduate degree from Liberty University with honors; and received his law degree with honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he served as an executive articles editor for the Chicago-Kent Law Review and president of the Federalist Society and Christian Legal Society Student chapters. Mr. Willis is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Speaker bio
Jennifer L. Guimond-Quigley
is the owner and managing attorney at the Law Office of Jennifer Guimond-Quigley, where she focuses her practice on estate planning and family law. She has an extensive background in business and accounting, which has been invaluable in her legal practice. Ms. Guimond-Quigley spent years working as an accountant, and that experience has been imperative in counseling her clients about the financial and tax impact of their decisions and agreements. She received her B.A. from Governors State University and her J.D. from the University of Illinois School of Law. Ms. Guimond-Quigley is admitted to practice law in Illinois.
TOP FAQs
Have more questions? Please Contact Us