Author: wpadmin

Amy Farrar and Amanda Moore, co-founders of the Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law, PLLC, recently attended the Tennessee Bar Association’s 2022 Estate Planning & Probate Forum in Franklin, Tennessee. They joined their colleagues for a day of education on recent developments in the law on trusts, probate, conservatorships, ethics, and more. Topics included 2021 revisions to Tennessee’s Uniform Trust Code and practical advice on trust administration and drafting from professional trustees; practical probate advice from a panel of Tennessee Clerk & Masters; updates on legislation, including proposed mandatory conservatorship training; estate planning for business owners; and ethical issues in estate planning. The Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law is dedicated to staying current on the law to better represent its clients.

Amy Farrar and Amanda Moore have accepted invitations to speak to a variety of groups on estate planning and elder law. They presented to a group of seniors at the St. Clair Senior Center in Murfreesboro about how proper estate and elder law planning can prevent frustration and expense in the future. Moore also took part in a panel sponsored by Alzheimer’s Tennessee, “What Every Caregiver Needs to Know and When You Need to Know It,” as part of a webinar series on aging in place. Along with other experts in their respective fields, Moore was part of a program to help listeners understand their options and next steps for senior care. She explained her work in elder law and the benefits of estate planning. Farrar and Moore will next speak to the Murfreesboro Jaycees on February 25. 

The Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law welcomed an intern in January. Through the Harpeth Hall School’s Winterim program, high school senior Elisabeth Nelson spent three weeks with the firm to learn what a career in law can look like. Harpeth Hall’s Winterim program allows students to participate in internships to explore potential career interests and gain experience in the workplace. As an intern at the Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law, Elisabeth attended client meetings, watched probate court, and helped with special projects. Through partnerships with other members of the community, Elisabeth was able to shadow both Judge Lisa Eischeid and the law firm of Catron and Fowler. Going into her internship, Elisabeth hoped to achieve a greater understanding of the work Farrar and Moore do for their clients and is grateful to have been able to do that and more. As for her future plans, Elisabeth knows she would love to have a career in law after this opportunity with the firm.

The Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law, PLLC is always working to refine its clients’ experience at the firm. To that end, co-founders Amy Farrar and Amanda Moore completed the award-winning Scaling Small Law program. Hosted by the Tennessee Bar Association, this program focused on business education and practice growth. Created with entrepreneurial lawyers and newly formed small firms in mind, the program included roundtable discussions, training sessions, and assignments on topics ranging from business planning and finance to law practice management and digital marketing. This course pushed its participants to look strategically at the development of their law firms in areas like client experiences and technology use. Such work gave Farrar and Moore further tools to continue to work on their firm instead of just in their firm.

Scaling Small Law just received the Excellence Award in Continuing Education from the Tennessee Society of Association Executives. Farrar and Moore were honored to have been in the inaugural class.

Amy Farrar and Amanda Moore, co-founders of the Tennessee Center for Estate and Elder Law, PLLC, have been selected for the inaugural class of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Scaling Small Law Program.

This four-month-long business development and education program is designed for entrepreneurial lawyers, solo practitioners, and small to mid-sized law firms. As part of the class, Farrar and Moore will study business planning, marketing, law firm finance and budgeting, client service, ethics, and technology.

The course will help the firm implement and refine internal systems that will make clients’ experiences as pleasant and smooth as possible. Ultimately, a firm that runs well behind the scenes will produce better and faster results for clients. The team at the Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law, PLLC, is committed to doing just that and is honored to have been selected for this forward-thinking new program.

When a loved one dies, you have to deal not only with grief and loss but also with practical matters like incoming bills, real estate upkeep, and a house full of things. Unless the person who died had arranged their affairs so that all property passed to a named beneficiary or joint owner upon their death, you will likely need to open an estate and have a court appoint someone to be the official person in charge of winding up the financial affairs of the person who died.

You will need to contact an attorney to assist with this process. What documents and information should you have ready when you contact a lawyer to make the best use of your time?

Death Certificate

Your lawyer will need a certified copy of your loved one’s death certificate. The certified copy of the death certificate will need to be filed with the court. It also contains information that will need to be included in the papers that your lawyer will file with the court on your behalf.

Last Will and Testament

If your loved one died with a Last Will and Testament, your lawyer will need the original signed and witnessed Last Will and Testament. Even if all you can find is a handwritten will, let your lawyer review it.

Relatives

If your loved one died without a Last Will and Testament, you will need to provide a list of names and addresses of all close relatives of the person who died. List the spouse of the person who died, even if the couple was estranged or separated. List any children, including adopted, deceased, or estranged children. If any children are deceased, include any of their children. If the person who died had no children, list any of their living parents. If the person had no children and had no living parents, list any siblings. If any siblings have died, list their children in their place.

Assets and Debts

To determine the best course of action, your lawyer will need a list of the assets and debts of the person who died. Assets include real estate, bank accounts, life insurance policies, investment accounts, automobiles, and business interests. Your attorney will want to see how those assets are titled to see if they even need to be administered through an estate or if they passed upon death. Debts include any outstanding loans, including mortgages and car notes, and bills, such as credit card or medical bills. If someone is jointly responsible for these debts, please let your lawyer know.

Fees

Opening an estate requires paying the court a filing fee. Filing fees may vary from county to county and will depend upon the type of estate you need to open. For most estates, you will also have to pay a publication fee to run a notice to creditors in the local newspaper.

When you gather this information and are prepared to call a lawyer, be sure to call an attorney with experience handling probate in Tennessee. The attorneys at the Tennessee Center for Estate and Elder Law, PLLC have this experience and are available to discuss your particular situation. Contact us at 615-869-7450.