AL Specific

Trusts, Estates & Probate

Alabama Estate Administration From Start to Finish

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
6 hours 7 minutes
P. David Matheny
Jennifer McInerney
M. Hampton Baxley
L. Thomas Ryan
With P. David Matheny from P. David Matheny, P.C. + 3 others
Recorded March 11, 2025
Product ID 99974

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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, 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 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 jointly held assetsĀ 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

  1. Commencement of Proceedings and Information Gathering
  2. Initial Steps to the Estate Administration Process
  3. Marshalling Assets
  4. Handling Creditor Claims and Debt
  5. Complex Issues in Estate Administration
  6. Distribution and Closing of the Estate
  7. Ethics and Estate Administration

Related Topics

Product ID 99974

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Commencement of Proceedings and Information Gathering

    1. Appointment of Estate Administration
      1. Formal vs. Informal Proceedings
      2. Sample Letters of Authority
    2. First Meeting With Family or Designated Personal Representative and Determination of Heirs
    3. Written Fee Agreements
    4. Tips to Locate Information Quickly Using Online and Government Resources
    5. Dealing with Multiple States

  2. Initial Steps to the Estate Administration Process

    1. Understanding the Laws of Intestacy
    2. Sample Estate Administration Checklists, Forms, and Required Notices
    3. Interpreting Provisions and Terms of Art Found in Wills
    4. Using Disclaimers Correctly

  3. Marshalling Assets

    1. Procedures to Locating and Marshalling Probate and Non-Probate Assets
      1. Safe Deposit Boxes and Bank Accounts
      2. Real Estate
      3. Brokerage Accounts, 401Ks, IRAs, Pensions, and Life Insurance Policies
    2. Sample Forms and Documents Needed
    3. Appraisers and Valuing the Property of Probate Estates

  4. Handling Creditor Claims and Debt

    1. Sample Forms and Required Notices Needed
    2. Priority and Payment of Claims
    3. Late Claims and Contested Claims
    4. Steps to Ensure all Debt is Located and Handled Correctly
      1. What if the Assets Don't Cover the Bills?
      2. Bankruptcy and Foreclosure
    5. Selling of Assets and Properly Dealing With Creditors

  5. Complex Issues in Estate Administration

    1. Jointly Held Assets
    2. Spousal Claims
      1. Allowances and Elections Against the Will
    3. Handling Unmarried Couples and Stepchildren
    4. Will Contests, Trust and Estate Disputes
    5. Business Ownership
    6. Agency Problems Involving Guardianships, Conservatorships, Powers of Attorney, or Other Agency Relationships

  6. Distribution and Closing of the Estate

    1. Sample Forms, Agreements and Documents Needed
    2. Proper Transferring and Distribution of Probate and Non-Probate Assets and Timing of Distributions
      1. Real Estate
      2. 401Ks, IRAs, Pensions and Life Insurance Policies
      3. Distribution of Miscellaneous Assets (Automobiles, Jewelry, Etc.)
    3. Distributions in Kind
    4. Distribution to Minors, Surviving Spouse and Trusts
    5. Disposition of Unclaimed Assets
    6. Proper Settlement of the Estate
      1. Formal and Informal Estate Accountings
      2. Choosing the Appropriate Closing Procedure
      3. Compensation and Discharge of the Personal Representative

  7. Ethics and Estate Administration

    1. Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility
    2. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
    3. Attorney-Client Privilege
    4. 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

P. David Matheny
P. David
Matheny
P. David Matheny, P.C.
Jennifer M McInerney
Jennifer M.
McInerney
McInerney Law
M. Hampton Baxley
M. Hampton
Baxley
Ramsey, Baxley & McDougle
L. Thomas Ryan Jr.
L. Thomas
Ryan, Jr.
Ryan Hicks Cumpton & Cumpton, LLP
Speaker bio
P. David Matheny

P. David Matheny

P. David Matheny, P.C.
P. David Matheny

is a sole practitioner in Bay Minette, Alabama. He has been practicing law in Baldwin County for over 30 years. His practice is now focused on probate law, including probating estates, small estate planning, guardianships, and conservatorships. Mr. Matheny served as the first County Conservator for Baldwin County, Alabama. He often serves as court representative or guardian ad litem in numerous probate court proceedings. His past trial experience includes the prosecution of capital murder cases and child abuse cases, have served three times as an Assistant District Attorney. Mr. Matheny also served for many years as a part-time special assistant attorney general for the State of Alabama for child protection matters. He earned his B.S. degree from Mississippi State University and his J.D. degree from Mississippi College School of Law.

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Speaker bio
Jennifer M McInerney

Jennifer M. McInerney

McInerney Law
Jennifer McInerney

is an attorney with McInerney Law, where her practice is focused in estate planning, primarily for families with special needs children. She is licensed to practice in Alabama and Mississippi. Ms. McInerney is the founding member and co-president of the Board of Directors of Special Siblings, which provides support for children with special needs siblings. She currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors of the Jefferson County Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority. Ms. McInerney is a member of the Board of Directors for Down Syndrome Alabama, Shelby Humane Society and 25:35. She earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, as well as her M.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ms. McInerney earned her J.D. degree from Indiana University School of Law and her LL.M. degree in taxation from Washington University in St. Louis.

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Speaker bio
M. Hampton Baxley

M. Hampton Baxley

Ramsey, Baxley & McDougle
M. Hampton Baxley

is a partner in the law firm of Ramsey, Baxley & McDougle in Dothan, and is a fourth-generation Dothan attorney having followed his great-grandfather, grandfather and father in the legal profession. His practice consists of real estate transactions, wills and estates, probate litigation (estates, conservatorship/guardianship), civil litigation, business/corporate transactions, and family law/domestic relations. Mr. Baxley is admitted to practice in Alabama and before the U.S. District Court for the Middle, Northern and Southern districts of Alabama. He has served as a bar commissioner for the 20th Judicial Circuit and president of the Houston County Bar Association. Mr. Baxley has also served as a member of the Alabama State Bar MCLE Commission and the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. He earned his B.S. degree from Birmingham-Southern College and his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.

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Speaker bio
L. Thomas Ryan Jr.

L. Thomas Ryan, Jr.

Ryan Hicks Cumpton & Cumpton, LLP
L. Thomas Ryan

is a founding partner of the law firm of Ryan Hicks Cumpton & Cumpton, LLP, and is the managing partner in the firm's Huntsville office. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was the articles editor for the Law & Psychology Review. Mr. Ryan also completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama earning a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar Association and its sections on Elder Law (chair, 2004-2006, 2024-2025), Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (chair, 2008-2009), and Taxation Law; Huntsville Madison County Bar Association; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; and the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. Mr. Ryan is admitted to practice before all courts in the state of Alabama, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He is a frequent speaker on estate planning topics, and regularly presents educational seminars for public and private audiences.

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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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