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Estate Planning, Trusts & Probate

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Probate Document Organization Gems From Paralegal Pros

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
NALA Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 6 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
Washington Paralegal Association Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 48 minutes
Lisa Ramirez
Amanda Burgess
Matthew Sanford
Diane Kiepe
James Reddy
With Lisa S. Ramirez from Dismuke & Waters + 4 others
Recorded June 23, 2026.
Product ID 102063

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Course Includes
$319

OnDemand Video

Course Book Download

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

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$69/month

Overview

Turn Probate Paperwork Into a Working System

Do you have a clear, reliable system for organizing probate documents from intake through estate closing? This practical course is designed to help paralegals build and maintain well-structured probate files that support court requirements, attorney review, and efficient estate administration. Participants will walk through the probate matter as a document lifecycle - learning how to set up the file at intake, organize original instruments and court filings, track deadlines and supporting documentation, and maintain clean and auditable records throughout the administration process. The course emphasizes real-world workflows paralegals use to manage incoming client materials, drafts, filed documents, and final estate records with consistency and confidence. Register today!

  • Explore effective ways to create, improve, and maintain a standardized probate file structure.
  • Get practical tips for organizing the incoming and created documents.
  • Create better inventories with help from paralegal pros.
  • Learn how to better manage court filings, deadlines, and version control.
  • Maintain proper communication with clients, executors, and other parties.
  • Prepare well-structured files for attorney review, final distributions, and estate closing.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Probate Files as a System (Foundational Overview)
  2. Intake and Opening the Probate File
  3. Managing Original Instruments and Sensitive Documents
  4. Court Filings and Working Documents
  5. Asset, Creditor, and Beneficiary Documentation
  6. Preparing for Accountings and Estate Closing
  7. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
  8. Ethics in Probate

Related Topics

Product ID 102063

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
NALA Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 6 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
Washington Paralegal Association Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Probate Files as a System (Foundational Overview)

    1. The Paralegal’s Role in Probate Workflow Efficiency
    2. How Document Organization Supports Court and Fiduciary Compliance
    3. Differences Between Probate, Trust Administration, and Non-Probate Matters

  2. Intake and Opening the Probate File

    1. Establishing a Standardized Intake Checklist
    2. Handling Incomplete or Conflicting Documents
    3. Best Practices for Labeling, Dating, and Source-Tracking

  3. Managing Original Instruments and Sensitive Documents

    1. Identifying Originals vs. Copies
    2. Physical Storage vs. Digital Storage Protocols
    3. Chain of Custody Considerations
    4. Coordinating Originals for Court Filing or Attorney Review

  4. Court Filings and Working Documents

    1. Organizing Pleadings, Notices, and Orders
    2. Separating Drafts, Filed Versions, and Conformed Copies
    3. Tracking Filing Dates, Service, and Deadlines
    4. Creating a Clear Audit Trail Within the File

  5. Asset, Creditor, and Beneficiary Documentation

    1. Organizing Financial Records, Inventories, and Appraisals
    2. Tracking Creditor Claims and Supporting Documentation
    3. Beneficiary Communications and Acknowledgments
    4. Maintaining Access Controls

  6. Preparing for Accountings and Estate Closing

    1. Organizing Documents for Accountings and Final Reports
    2. Confirming Completeness Before Attorney Review
    3. Closing Checklists and File Retention Considerations

  7. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  8. Ethics in Probate

    1. Privileged vs. Non-Privileged Communications
    2. Unauthorized Practice of Law
    3. Safeguarding Against Malpractice Actions

Who Should Attend

This intermediate level course will allow attendees to improve their estate administration skills. Those who should attend include:

  • Paralegals
  • Legal Assistants
  • Legal Support Staff

Speakers

Lisa S Ramirez
Lisa S.
Ramirez
Dismuke & Waters
Amanda L Burgess
Amanda L.
Burgess
Dotzler Law
Matthew T Sanford
Matthew T.
Sanford
The Law Office of Matthew T. Stanford
Diane J Kiepe
Diane J.
Kiepe
Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC
James D Reddy
James D.
Reddy
James D. Reddy, P.C.
Speaker bio
Lisa S Ramirez

Lisa S. Ramirez

Dismuke & Waters
Lisa Ramirez

is an attorney at Dismuke & Waters. She focuses her practice on estate planning, probate, guardianship, and corporate transactions. Ms. Ramirez earned her B.S. degree from Columbia College and her J.D. degree from UNT Dallas College of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law, Business Law, Tax Section, Women and the Law), Tarrant County Bar Association (Tax and Estate Planning, Fort Worth Business and Estate, Real Estate, and Women Attorneys), Tarrant County Probate Bar Association, Dallas Bar Association (Probate, Trusts and Estates Section), and Texas Bar College. Ms. Ramirez is admitted to practice law in Texas and Colorado.

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Speaker bio
Amanda L Burgess

Amanda L. Burgess

Dotzler Law
Amanda Burgess

is a senior paralegal at Dotzler Law. She plays a pivotal role in overseeing the firm's day-to-day operations, managing legal projects, and leading the estate and trust administration practice. Ms. Burgess earned her A.A. and B.S. degrees from Indian River State College. She is a licensed paralegal in Illinois.

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Speaker bio
Matthew T Sanford

Matthew T. Sanford

The Law Office of Matthew T. Stanford
Matthew Sanford

is an attorney at the Law Office of Matthew T. Stanford. He focuses his practice on business law, real estate transactions, and estate planning. Mr. Sanford earned his B.S. degree in business administration, concentrating in finance, real estate, and law, from California State University, Pomona, and his J.D. degree from Loyola Marymount University. He is a member of the California State Bar and a licensed California real estate broker. Mr. Sanford is also a member of the California Lawyers Association and the San Bernardino County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in California.

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Speaker bio
Diane J Kiepe

Diane J. Kiepe

Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC
Diane Kiepe

is an attorney at Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC. She practices in the areas of wills, trusts, wealth transfer (including charitable gifting), probate and tax. Ms. Kiepe earned her undergraduate degree and J.D. degree from Memphis State University, and her LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of Miami. She is a long-time member of the Spokane Estate Planning Council and a member to the Spokane Chapter of Financial Planning Association. Ms. Kiepe is a member of the newly created Elder, Disability, Estate Planning Section of the Spokane County Bar Association. 

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Speaker bio
James D Reddy

James D. Reddy

James D. Reddy, P.C.
James Reddy

is a sole practitioner in Lindenhurst, New York (Suffolk County), where his main areas of practice are trusts and estates, real property, and family law, mostly in the litigation area, both at the trial level and appellate level. Mr. Reddy has litigated numerous deed contests, will contests, trust litigations, divorces, child custody disputes, and other related matters over the past two decades. He has presented many seminars for National Business Institute in the areas of estate planning, and recently presented a National Business Institute seminar on complex custody and support issues. Mr. Reddy earned his B.S.B.A. degree from Georgetown University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from St. John's University School of Law. 

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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.
How do I access my courses?

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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