Faculty Course Information
Faculty Course Information

Online Seminar

Pennsylvania Probate Process: In 7 Simple Steps

Learn How to Handle Assets, Taxes, Personal Representatives, and More!

Division
NBI (102110)
Event Date
08/21/2026
Event Time
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT
Event Planner
Lauren Burton
Email
lauren.burton@nbi-sems.com
Phone
715.835.8525

Program Description

Learn How to Handle Assets, Taxes, Personal Representatives, and More!

This step-by-step practical instruction offers essential knowledge of probate processes and best practices for handling each unique case effectively. Learn how to tackle crucial first steps; handle the personal executive; gather, value, and distribute all assets; and successfully complete the final accounting and tax returns. Arm yourself with the foundational knowledge and best practices you need to ensure a smooth administration from start to finish. Register today!

  • Don't overlook anything important: confidently navigate critical first steps.
  • Understand executor powers, duties, responsibilities, and compensation guidelines.
  • Learn how to effectively marshal and inventory all assets.
  • Pick up tips for validating, prioritizing, and satisfying creditor claims.
  • Get practical guidance for post-mortem planning, trust administration, and tax hurdles.
  • Put the decedent's affairs to rest by making distributions, filing the final tax return, and completing the final accounting.
  • Discover how to litigate deed contests, lost or contested wills, fiduciary misconduct, and more.

Who Should Attend

This basic level online seminar is designed for attorneys, accountants, tax professionals, trust officers, executors and other fiduciaries and paralegals.


Course Content

  1. Opening the Estate
  2. Preparing the Personal Representatives for the Job
  3. Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More
  4. Addressing Creditor Claims
  5. Post-Mortem Tax Planning, Distributions, and Trust Administration
  6. Handling Estate Closing, Final Accounting, and Tax Returns
  7. Maintaining an Ethical Practice
  8. Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Eastern time.
  1. Opening the Estate
    9:00 - 9:45, Devin H. Snyder
    1. What to Do in the First 48 Hours
    2. Obtaining the Will and Getting it Admitted
    3. Locating and Notifying the Beneficiaries
    4. Determining if the Estate Qualifies for a Small Estate Administration
    5. The Estate Timeline - What Must be Done When
    6. Filing the Initial Petition With the Probate Court: Forms and Procedures
    7. Sending Initial Notices to the Public and to State Agencies
    8. Closing the Decedent's Accounts
    9. Obtaining the Estate Tax ID
    10. Laws of Intestacy
  2. Preparing the Personal Representatives for the Job
    9:45 - 10:15, Devin H. Snyder
    1. Educating PRs on Their Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities
    2. Compiling Personal Representative Guide/Instructions
    3. Clarifying Executor Compensation
    4. Advising PRs on Potential Problems and Liability
  3. Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More
    10:30 - 11:15, Devin H. Snyder
    1. Marshalling and Valuing Decedent's Assets
    2. Initial Inventory
    3. Maintenance and Management
    4. Determining Elective Share and Homestead Allowance
    5. Spousal Rights: Electing vs. Disclaiming the Share
    6. Claiming Homestead Allowance
    7. Portability Rules; Claiming Unused Lifetime Exclusion
    8. Estate Expenses: Payment and Record-Keeping
    9. What to Do With the Income the Estate is Producing
  4. Addressing Creditor Claims
    11:15 - 12:00, Biagio V. Musto II
    1. Issuing Notices to Creditors: What Works Best
    2. Validating Claims
    3. Determining the Priority of Creditor Rights
    4. Selling Property to Satisfy Claims: What to Sell, How to Do it, and How to Properly Record it
    5. Satisfying Tax Claims and Liens
  5. Post-Mortem Tax Planning, Distributions, and Trust Administration
    12:30 - 1:15, Christopher R. Gray
    1. Managing the Tax Consequences of Elections and Receipt of Non-Probate Assets (e.g. IRA Distributions)
    2. Tax Implications of Transfers
    3. Creating Trusts and Subtrusts for Multiple Beneficiaries to Receive Their Shares of the Estate
    4. What to Do With Bequests and Trust Distributions to Minors
    5. Post-Mortem Tax Planning Approaches: How Much Maneuver Room is Left?
    6. How to Calculate the Omitted Spouse Share or Omitted Child Share
    7. Guarding Disabled Adult Beneficiaries' Benefits Eligibility
  6. Handling Estate Closing, Final Accounting, and Tax Returns
    1:15 - 2:00, Christopher R. Gray
    1. Tax Returns and Deadlines - Estate and Income, State and Federal, Decedent's and the Estate's
    2. Informal Closing by Statement of Personal Representative
    3. Compiling and Balancing the Final Account
    4. Final Distributions to Beneficiaries and Liability of Distributees
    5. Closing the Estate and Discharging the Fiduciary
  7. Maintaining an Ethical Practice
    2:15 - 3:15, Christopher R. Gray
    1. Whom do You Represent? Conflicts of Interest
    2. Protecting Client Confidentiality
    3. Attorney Fees
    4. Practicing Law in More Than One State
  8. Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation
    3:15 - 4:00, Christopher R. Gray
    1. Will Contests, Deed Contests, Allegations of Undue Influence and Other Causes of Action
    2. Obtaining Court Guidance for Proposed Actions Regarding the Estate Administration
    3. Probate Litigation Rules, Procedures, and Evidentiary Provisions
    4. Fiduciary Misconduct, Liability, Disputes with Beneficiaries
    5. Effective Approaches to Resolving Disputes Without Going to Court

Materials Due Date: 07/17/2026


Materials

Attendees love sample forms! If you can think of any templates, checklists, letters, agreements, provision language, reports, or legal and tax forms that are appropriate for your topic(s) - you are encouraged to provide them.

Event Materials Support

Email: eventmaterials@nbi-sems.com

Phone: (800) 777-8707



Christopher R. Gray is an attorney at Norris McLaughlin, P.A. He focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, and income tax planning. In addition, Mr. Gray is experienced in corporate matters, business transactions, non-profit issues, health care governance, elder law, and general litigation. He represents high net-worth clients and their businesses in developing estate, gift, income tax, and succession planning strategies. Mr. Gray has also represented clients in merger and acquisition transactions, as well as tax-free reorganizations. He earned his B.A. degree from Franklin and Marshall College; his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School; and his LL.M. degree in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Gray is a past officer of the Lehigh Valley Estate Planning Council and currently serves on the Northampton Community College Foundation Board of Directors, where he is also chair of its Planned Giving Committee. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania.

Biagio V. Musto II is a solo practitioner at Musto Law Office, where he focuses his practice on elder law; estate planning and administration; personal injury; workers' compensation; adoptions; and bankruptcy. Mr. Musto was awarded an academic scholarship by Marywood based on academic excellence, and was awarded Dean's List honors throughout his undergraduate career based on academic achievement. He is a member of the Luzerne County Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association (member, Elder Law Section). Mr. Musto earned his J.D. degree from The Dickinson School of Law and is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania.

Devin H. Snyder is a director at Strassburger, McKenna, Gutnick & Gefsky, where she focuses her practice on trusts and estates and adoptions. She is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, International Academy of Collaborative Attorneys, Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Women's Business Network. Ms. Snyder earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Colgate University and her J.D. degree from William and Mary School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania.

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Phone: (800) 930-6182

Event Materials Support

Email: eventmaterials@nbi-sems.com

Phone: (800) 777-8707