When Probate Goes Wrong: Strategies to Keep it Right Real-Life Failures, Practical Fixes, Ethics, and How to Protect Your Clients from Chaos
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About This Course
Probate horror stories aren’t just dramatic tales; they are real-life legal disasters with serious consequences. From rogue executors to ambiguous wills and family conflicts fueled by careless drafting, probate missteps can lead to costly delays, emotional turmoil, and prolonged litigation. Attorneys must take a proactive approach to minimize these risks and protect their clients' interests.
This program explores how probate proceedings can unravel and how effective, strategic drafting can prevent chaos before it begins. Through analysis of real-world cases where probate went awry, attendees will gain actionable insights and practical tools to strengthen their estate planning and drafting techniques.
Designed for both attorneys new to estate practice and seasoned professionals looking to refine their approach, this seminar offers essential strategies to navigate the complexities of wills, trusts, and probate with confidence.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common legal issues that arise when probate is mismanaged or poorly planned.
- Discuss real-life cases of probate litigation to understand causative drafting errors.
- Become familiar with drafting strategies to mitigate fiduciary risk and prevent family disputes.
- Evaluate using clear and enforceable language in wills and trusts to reduce the likelihood of court intervention.
- Recognize warning signs of potential future litigation during the estate planning phase.
- Review legal ethics, specifically those related to wills and estates.
Course Time Schedule:
Eastern Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Central Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Mountain Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Pacific Time: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Alaska Time: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
This course is also being presented on the following dates:
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
About the Presenters
Laura Alfano, Esq.
Solo Practitioner
Practice Area: Wills, Trusts, & Estates
Laura Alfano graduated from the Birmingham School of Law in 1990 and holds a Master of Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has nearly 35 years’ experience practicing law and has been in education for almost 50 years.Ms. Alfano taught in public...
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