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Estate Administration Simplified: Master the Mess Without the Stress

Join estate attorney and Trustate CEO Leah Del Percio for a practical, no-fluff walkthrough of how to manage an estate or trust administration from start to finish. Learn a proven six-phase framework that helps attorneys and fiduciaries move quickly and confidently through even the most chaotic cases — while saving time, reducing errors, and delivering high-touch client service. From probate filings and asset discovery to tax filings and final distributions, this session gives you real-world tactics for mastering the process without the stress.

Topics covered include:

Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Practice

Agenda:

Introduction & Framing

Quick intro: Who you are, why you’re here
What “trust administration” means in this context
Overview of common myths: “Every estate is different & unpredictable.”
Setting the goal: Simplify estate admin into predictable phases

The 6 Phases of Estate Administration

Phase 1: Estate Opening

The “probate” part
Executor appointment & authority
Probate vs. non-probate assets
Client onboarding checklist
Pro tips: Death certificates, EINs, timeline expectations

Phase 2: Asset & Liability Discovery

Identifying all assets/liabilities
Importance of qualified appraisals
Tech tools that help (e.g., EVP, Yahoo Finance)
Pro tips for making this phase less painful

Phase 3: Asset & Liability Management

Transferring vs. retitling assets
Role of trust funding in avoiding this phase
Managing debts, disputes, creditor negotiations

Phase 4: Payments, Taxes & Accountings

Key tax filings: 1040, 1041, 645 election
Step-up in basis explained
Estate vs. inheritance tax
Pro tips on tax deadlines & transcripts

Phase 5: Distributions

Preliminary vs. final distributions
Releases, waivers, indemnification agreements
Virtual representation considerations

Phase 6: Estate Closure, Settlement & Final Distributions

Holdbacks: purpose & calculation
Executor’s commission process
Final court filings, releases, and closing tasks

Wrap-Up & Takeaways

Recap: Predictable phases = less stress, fewer errors
How this framework enhances practice efficiency
Trustate’s role in streamlining these phases
Invite to connect: LinkedIn, website, Q&A

Additional Questions & Answers (as time permits)

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: July 16, 2025 10:00 AM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction

Leah del Percio, the speaker, is introduced as the CEO of Trustate, a leading estate administration platform. Leah discusses the challenges of estate administration, highlighting the emotional and legal complexities involved. She emphasizes the lack of guidance in estate administration before companies like Trustate and expresses her intent to simplify the process for practitioners.

05:07 Challenges in Estate Administration

Leah shares her extensive experience in estate administration, emphasizing the challenges faced regardless of a client's net worth. She highlights the importance of standardizing processes to ease the burden on both attorneys and clients. Leah discusses the role of fiduciaries in estate administration and the responsibilities they hold. She introduces a framework to improve efficiency and reduce errors in estate and trust administration.

10:09 Framework for Estate and Trust Administration

Leah explains the phases of estate and trust administration, emphasizing the importance of applying a structured framework. She dispels myths about estate administration, noting that while each case is unique, a standardized approach can be applied. Leah clarifies the difference between probate and estate administration, emphasizing that probate is just one element of the broader process. She stresses the importance of guiding clients through the administrative tasks involved in estate administration.

34:44 Probate and Non-Probate Assets

Leah discusses the probate process, noting its variability across jurisdictions and the importance of understanding probate and non-probate assets. She explains the significance of ancillary probate when real property is located in multiple states. Leah highlights the creditor protection benefits of non-probate assets and the importance of understanding asset types in estate planning. She emphasizes the need for thorough asset and liability discovery to effectively manage estate administration.

44:42 Asset and Liability Management and Taxes

Leah discusses the management of assets and liabilities, including the transfer and retitling of accounts, and the importance of a structured approach. Leah emphasizes the importance of handling payments, taxes, and accounting accurately to avoid complications. She explains the tax implications of estate administration, including the benefits of a step-up in basis for inherited assets.

54:50 Distributions and Liability Protections

Leah discusses the importance of managing distributions carefully to protect fiduciaries from liability. She advises obtaining waivers and indemnification agreements from beneficiaries to safeguard against future claims. Leah emphasizes the need for holdbacks to cover potential unforeseen liabilities after estate closure. She highlights the importance of calculating fiduciary commissions and the implications of taking them.

59:59 Q&A and Practical Tips

Leah answers questions about ancillary probate, ethical protections for estate attorneys, and the structure of indemnification agreements. She discusses common mistakes in estate administration that lead to delays and malpractice claims. Leah provides practical tips for handling disputes and emphasizes the importance of informed consent in legal agreements. She advises on charging for estate administration services and the importance of understanding client needs.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 Ethics/Professionalism

Earn Credit Until: April 7, 2026

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in California, one hour of General CLE credit in North Carolina, and one hour of General CLE credit in South Carolina (all levels). This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.20 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.20 qualify as total hours of credit for Ethics/Professionalism. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours.

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Speaker

Leah Del Percio CEO & Founder
Trustate

Leah Del Percio is the President, CEO, and co-founder of Trustate, one of the world’s fastest-growing estate administration platforms. Since Trustate’s founding in 2020, Ms. Del Percio has been involved in all aspects of the firm's development and growth. Trustate provides B2B tools to various stakeholders throughout the estate administration process including law firms, wealth managers, banks, and accountants, amongst others. Today, the firm is an industry leader in the LegalTech space and is regularly featured as one of the top startups to watch. Read More ›