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Justia Connect Webinars Probate From Start to Finish: What Every Attorney Should Know

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Tereina Stidd American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (“AAEPA”)

Probate From Start to Finish What Every Attorney Should Know

Premieres April 28, 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

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Overview AI Webinar Summary

Probate From Start to Finish: What Every Attorney Should Know

Join Tereina Stidd, Director of Education for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, as she works her way through a typical probate proceeding. Tereina will provide a detailed overview of the probate process beginning with the initial paperwork required to start the proceedings and ending with obtaining the order of discharge. She will supply foundational knowledge and practical guidance for the estate administration process. Attendees will leave this presentation with a step-by-step understanding of probate which will include tips on avoiding pitfalls, settling the assets and debts, dealing with challenges and disputes, understanding the role that attorneys and courts play, the laws regulating probate, and best practices.

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

When: Premieres in 43 days | April 28, 2026 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

Tereina Stidd, the speaker, is introduced with her extensive experience in estate planning and her role at the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. Tereina plans to discuss probate, sharing her knowledge and experiences to provide valuable insights. She outlines the structure of probate, emphasizing the importance of understanding the phases and the Uniform Probate Code.

05:05 Probate Structure and Phases

Tereina explains the structure of the Uniform Probate Code and its relevance to different states. She describes the three phases of probate: beginning, administration, and distribution and discharge. The beginning phase involves initial client meetings and determining the right person to serve as personal representative. The administration phase includes gathering assets, dealing with creditors, and addressing debts. The distribution and discharge phase concludes the probate process, ensuring all tasks are completed and fees are paid.

08:00 Testate vs. Intestate Proceedings

Tereina discusses the differences between testate and intestate proceedings. In testate proceedings, a will guides the process, while intestate relies on state statutes. She emphasizes the importance of determining the personal representative's qualifications and understanding their fiduciary duties. Court documents, including petitions for administration, are crucial in both scenarios. The elective share proceeding is highlighted as a significant consideration in both testate and intestate cases.

17:04 Ancillary Proceedings and Timetable

Tereina introduces ancillary proceedings, which involve assets in multiple states or jurisdictions. She stresses the importance of understanding the probate timetable and setting up a calendar for deadlines. Missing deadlines can lead to malpractice risks, creditor leverage, and beneficiary dissatisfaction. She advises on the importance of filing necessary documents, such as the will and inventory, within specified timeframes. Tereina highlights potential issues like elective shares, safe deposit boxes, and family allowances.

24:33 Forms, Accountings, and Adversarial Proceedings

Tereina emphasizes the importance of understanding county-specific probate forms and procedures. She discusses accountings, adversarial proceedings, and appraisals as critical aspects of probate. Accountings must be detailed and served to beneficiaries, with waivers possible if beneficiaries agree. Adversarial proceedings require heightened notice and court involvement. Appraisals provide protection and support for asset valuation, especially in taxable estates.

36:27 Businesses, Claims, Compensation, Debts, and Discharge

Tereina discusses the roles and responsibilities of personal representatives in managing businesses and claims. She highlights the importance of impartiality and communication with all beneficiaries. Claims must be validated, and the order of priority for payments must be understood. Compensation for attorneys and personal representatives should be checked against state statutes. Debts should be paid from estate assets, and discharge marks the completion of probate duties.

42:07 Further Issues to Consider

Tereina advises on managing probate proceedings to avoid administrative closures and ensure proper distributions. She emphasizes the need for receipts and waivers when distributing assets to beneficiaries. The elective share and fiduciary duties are discussed, as well as asset gathering. Understanding state-specific laws, such as Florida's homestead laws, is crucial. She advises caution in insolvent estates and highlights the importance of identifying interested parties.

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.

Speaker

Tereina Stidd Director of Education
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

Tereina Stidd spent over fifteen years in private practice, working in AM Law Top 100 and 200 firms, mid-sized firms, and boutiques. When the opportunity to join the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (the “Academy”) presented itself, she jumped at it. The Academy is an organization dedicated to empowering attorneys from around the country to fulfill their potential through its tested systems, procedures, and workflows. Tereina knew that her broad range of practical experience would be invaluable in her role as the Director of Education at the Academy. Tereina spends her days helping Member firms resolve issues ranging from how best to structure an estate plan to determining which sections of the Internal Revenue Code will apply to a particular transaction to administering estates and trusts efficiently. The range of issues she addresses keep Tereina knowledgeable in all areas relating to Trusts and Estates and provide opportunities for growth, development, and collaboration between Tereina and Academy Members. Read More ›

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

* CLE credit for this webinar is available for lawyers who have claimed their Justia Lawyer Directory Profile and are Justia Connect Practice members attending live. On-demand CLE credit is only available to Justia Connect Pros.

California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Hawaii CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Illinois CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Missouri CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 General

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 General

Ohio CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Pennsylvania CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Substantive Law, Practice, and Procedure

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

West Virginia CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 General

This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in California, one hour of General CLE credit in Hawaii, one hour of General CLE credit in Illinois, one hour of General CLE credit in Ohio, one hour of Substantive Law, Practice, and Procedure CLE credit in Pennsylvania, and one hour of General CLE credit in West Virginia. 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. 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.
This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in Missouri from 2026-04-28 to 2026-04-28.

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