CLE
Leah Del Percio
Leah Del Percio Trustate
Estate Administration Simplified Master the Mess Without the Stress
Watch Now
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
Watch Now
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

*CLE credit is only available to Justia Connect Pros. Not a Pro? Upgrade today>>

California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Difficulty: All Levels

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General


This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in California, South Carolina (all levels), and North Carolina.

Justia only reports attendance in jurisdictions in which a particular Justia CLE Webinar is officially accredited. Lawyers may need to self-submit their certificates for CLE credit in jurisdictions not listed above.

Note that CLE credit, including partial credit, cannot be earned outside of the relevant accreditation period. To earn credit for a course, a lawyer must watch the entire course within the relevant accreditation period. Lawyers who have viewed a presentation multiple times may not be able to claim credit in their jurisdiction more than once. Justia reserves the right, at its discretion, to grant an attendee partial or no credit, in accordance with viewing duration and other methods of verifying course completion.

At this time, Justia only offers CLE courses officially accredited in certain states. Lawyers may generate a generic attendance certificate to self-submit credit in their own jurisdiction, but Justia does not guarantee that lawyers will receive their desired CLE credit through the self-submission or reciprocity process.

Speaker
Leah Del Percio
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 ›
Watch Related Videos
CLE
Leah Del Percio
Leah Del Percio Trustate
Empowering Your Practice Estate Planning Fundamentals
Watch Now
CLE
Leah Del Percio
Leah Del Percio Trustate
Navigating & Mitigating Ethical Conflicts in Estate Administration & Planning
Watch Now