Estate Planning, Trusts & Probate

Tax Basis 101 for Estate Planning Paralegals

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 1 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 1 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 1 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 1 Total
NALA Approved 1 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 1 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 1 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 1 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 1 Total
NFPA Approved 1 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 1 Total
Washington Paralegal Association Approved 1 Total
OnDemand
57 minutes
Lia Smietanski
With Lia E. Smietanski from Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC
Recorded November 07, 2025.
Product ID 101221

Buy This Course

Course Includes
$119

OnDemand Video

Course Book Download

OnDemand content will be available within 7 days of event date.

Overview

Build Tax Basis Skills That Keep Estate Plans Accurate and Audit Ready

Understanding tax basis is critical to planning asset disposition, minimizing tax burdens, and ensuring compliance in estate planning and administration. Do you know how it works? This practical course provides essential knowledge of tax basis concepts, focusing on the critical tasks paralegals perform to support attorneys and CPAs. Learn how to identify, gather, calculate, and document tax basis information for estate assets, as well as how to assist in preparing required tax forms and schedules. Emphasis is placed on real-world applications, efficient recordkeeping, and best practices for collaboration within the estate planning team. Learn the ropes - register today!

  • Ensure accuracy of client and property information to support basis calculations and tax compliance.
  • Assist in determining correct tax basis in gifted and inherited assets.
  • Adopt best practices for tracking original costs, improvements, and sales.
  • Improve communication and workflow with attorneys and CPAs to facilitate seamless estate plan execution.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. What Is Tax Basis? Key Concepts and Terminology, Property Types
  2. Obtaining Basis Information: Client Intake Forms, Requesting Supporting Documents
  3. Calculating Basis: Acquired vs. Inherited Property, Fair Market Value (FMV), Adjustments
  4. Estate Planning Effects on Basis (Trusts, Marital Deduction Planning, Sale of Assets, etc.)
  5. Recordkeeping and Reporting Beneficiary Information (Form 8971)
  6. Preparing Supporting Schedules for Tax Returns (e.g. Schedule D for Capital Gains/Losses)
  7. Collaborating With Attorneys and CPAs

Related Topics

Product ID 101221

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 1 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 1 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 1 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 1 Total
NALA Approved 1 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 1 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 1 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 1 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 1 Total
NFPA Approved 1 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 1 Total
Washington Paralegal Association Approved 1 Total

Credit Details by Jurisdiction

Paralegal Credits
California MCLE Paralegal Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - California MCLE Paralegal - 1: This program meets the California MCLE Paralegal requirement as specified in Business and Professions Code Section 6450(d).

Video Download - California MCLE Paralegal - 1: This program meets the California MCLE Paralegal requirement as specified in Business and Professions Code Section 6450(d).

Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Delaware Certified Paralegal Program - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 DCP CLE credit hours, including 0.0 DCP ethics credit hour, toward the eligibility requirements of the DPA Delaware Certified Paralegal Program.

Video Download - Delaware Certified Paralegal Program - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 DCP CLE credit hours, including 0.0 DCP ethics credit hour, toward the eligibility requirements of the DPA Delaware Certified Paralegal Program.

Florida Registered Paralegal Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Florida Registered Paralegal - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 hours of self-study continuing education for paralegals, including 0.0 hour of self-study ethics credit, toward the eligibility requirements of the Florida Registered Paralegal Program. This course has been approved by NALA and NFPA.

Video Download - Florida Registered Paralegal - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 hours of self-study continuing education for paralegals, including 0.0 hour of self-study ethics credit, toward the eligibility requirements of the Florida Registered Paralegal Program. This course has been approved by NALA and NFPA.

Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Indiana Paralegal CLE - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 hours of distancing learning continuing education, including 0.0 hour of ethics and satisfies the CLE requirement for Indiana State Bar Association Paralegal Members and Indiana Registered Paralegals (IRP).

Video Download - Indiana Paralegal CLE - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 hours of distancing learning continuing education, including 0.0 hour of ethics and satisfies the CLE requirement for Indiana State Bar Association Paralegal Members and Indiana Registered Paralegals (IRP).

NALA Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - NALA - 1: This seminar meets the requirements of NALA The Paralegal Association Certifying Board for 1.0 hours, including 0.0 ethics, of continuing legal education self-study credit required to maintain the CP(Certified Paralegal) credential.

Video Download - NALA - 1: This seminar meets the requirements of NALA The Paralegal Association Certifying Board for 1.0 hours, including 0.0 ethics, of continuing legal education self-study credit required to maintain the CP(Certified Paralegal) credential.

Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals - 1: This course has been approved for 1.0 hours of self-study CLE credit, including 0.0 hour of ethics, by NALA The Paralegal Association Certifying Board. The Montana Association of Legal Assistants (MALA) and the Paralegal Section of the State Bar of Montana will honor this credit approval.

Video Download - Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals - 1: This course has been approved for 1.0 hours of self-study CLE credit, including 0.0 hour of ethics, by NALA The Paralegal Association Certifying Board. The Montana Association of Legal Assistants (MALA) and the Paralegal Section of the State Bar of Montana will honor this credit approval.

North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education - 1: This program has been approved by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification for computer-based continuing paralegal education credit in the amount of 1.0 hours, of which 0.0 hour will also apply in the area of professional responsibility. This course is not sponsored by the Board of Paralegal Certification.

New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of - 1: Approved by the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of New Mexico for 1.0 general self-study credit and 0.0 ethics self-study credit (for a total of 1.0 hours CLE).

Video Download - New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of - 1: Approved by the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of New Mexico for 1.0 general self-study credit and 0.0 ethics self-study credit (for a total of 1.0 hours CLE).

Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Ohio Certified Paralegals - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 hours of self-study continuing education for paralegals, including 0.0 hour of ethics, toward the eligibility requirements of the Ohio State Bar Association Paralegal Certification program.

Video Download - Ohio Certified Paralegals - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 hours of self-study continuing education for paralegals, including 0.0 hour of ethics, toward the eligibility requirements of the Ohio State Bar Association Paralegal Certification program.

NFPA Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - NFPA - 1: This seminar has been approved by The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA) for 1.0 hours of Continuing Legal Education self-study credit, including 0.0 hour of ethics.

Video Download - NFPA - 1: This seminar has been approved by The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA) for 1.0 hours of Continuing Legal Education self-study credit, including 0.0 hour of ethics.

Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 self-study CLE credit hours, including 0.0 ethics credit hour, toward the eligibility requirements of The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas.

Video Download - Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division - 1: This course qualifies for 1.0 self-study CLE credit hours, including 0.0 ethics credit hour, toward the eligibility requirements of The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas.

Washington Paralegal Association Approved · 1 Total Credits

Earn Until

OnDemand - Washington Paralegal Association - 1: Approved for 1.0 CLE self-study credits by the Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA).

Video Download - Washington Paralegal Association - 1: Approved for 1.0 CLE self-study credits by the Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA).
Select Jurisdiction
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Tax Basis 101 for Estate Planning Paralegals

    1. What Is Tax Basis? Key Concepts and Terminology, Property Types
    2. Obtaining Basis Information: Client Intake Forms, Requesting Supporting Documents
    3. Calculating Basis: Acquired vs. Inherited Property, Fair Market Value (FMV), Adjustments
    4. Estate Planning Effects on Basis (Trusts, Marital Deduction Planning, Sale of Assets, etc.)
    5. Recordkeeping and Reporting Beneficiary Information (Form 8971)
    6. Preparing Supporting Schedules for Tax Returns (e.g. Schedule D for Capital Gains/Losses)
    7. Collaborating With Attorneys and CPAs

Who Should Attend

This basic level course will teach attendees how to effectively handle the paralegal duties associated with taxation of trusts and estates. Those who should attend include:

  • Paralegals
  • Legal Technicians
  • Legal Assistants
  • Legal Support Staff

Speakers

Lia E Smietanski
Lia E.
Smietanski
Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC
Speaker bio
Lia E Smietanski

Lia E. Smietanski

Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC
Lia Smietanski

is an attorney at Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. She assists clients with the implementation of estate planning strategies, including drafting wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney for healthcare and property, living wills, real property deeds, and opening and closing pleadings. Ms. Smietanski earned her Tax Certificate and J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Loyola University. During law school, she served low-income taxpayers at the Loyola Federal Income Tax Clinic.

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Top FAQs

What is included with my course purchase?

When you enroll prior to the live event date you will receive access to the live-streaming webinar which will allow you to interact with faculty in real-time.

With each course, you will receive access to the content via OnDemand Streaming and the Video Download.

Course reference materials are included with each course purchase in a downloadable PDF format.
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Courses are available within your account. Simply login to your account and click on My Courses. If you require additional assistance please call our Customer Service Department at 800-793-5274.
Do you have options for attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Closed captioning is available for all online live courses. Attendees may enable the closed captioning functionality within the event room once they have accessed the event by simply clicking the "cc" button in the lower right of the event room.
Are multiple attendee discounts available?

Yes, the more people you bring from your organization, the more you save. Please call out Customer Service Department to inquire about savings for your team at 800-793-5274.
When will the OnDemand be available and how long will I have access to the content?

The OnDemand Video will be available to stream within 14 days of live broadcast date. You will have access to the content for 6 months in your account.

If you're a subscriber, you'll have access to your course recordings until 7 days after the expiration date of the subscription.

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