New Jersey Estate Administration: A Primer for New Attorneys

This course, presented by Joshua Cheslow, is intended to be a primer for new attorneys handling estate administration in New Jersey. From proper client management, including intake and managing expectations, the statutory regime and case law, methods, workflows, tips, and tricks, this "101" style course is meant to give New Jersey practitioners a complete overview of handling a decedent's estate from beginning to end. Most clients are in the unfamiliar position of being either fiduciaries or beneficiaries and rely upon their trusted counsel in some of their most trying times. Being able to competently navigate estate administration waters will also breed both the confidence and compassion necessary to handle this practice area. 

 The primer will include overview discussions of:

 - The New Jersey Probate Code, including the New Jersey Trust Code

- Probate, the Surrogate's Court, and the Chancery Court

- Federal and New Jersey Estate Tax

- New Jersey Inheritance Tax

- Client Intake

- setting up an estate for success

- Accountings

- Probate vs. Non-Probate Assets

- Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Accounts

- handling specialized assets

- handling creditor claims

- advising fiduciaries

- surety bonds

- Intestacy and Administration

- resources available to lawyers

Learning Objectives:

1. Examine the process of successfully starting and finalizing estate administration
2. Identify potential pitfalls or ethical dilemmas created by "triangular representation"
3. Gain helpful strategies to reduce or alleviate obstacles to successful representation