WEEK 1-2: ESTATE PLANNING LAW FOUNDATIONS AND CLIENT SERVICES, ASSET ANALYSIS AND ESTATE VALUATION

The first two weeks establish comprehensive estate planning foundations, covering Illinois estate planning law, probate procedures, and tax implications while developing expertise in client consultation and intake procedures that identify family dynamics, estate goals, and potential conflicts. Students advance to mastering asset discovery and valuation techniques, learning to identify and catalog all types of client property, coordinate professional appraisals, analyze business interests and retirement accounts, while conducting thorough liability assessments and calculating accurate net worth for estate tax planning purposes. By completing these foundational weeks, students develop the critical assessment and planning skills necessary to support attorneys in creating comprehensive estate plans that protect client assets and achieve family objectives.

WEEK 1: ESTATE PLANNING LAW FOUNDATIONS AND CLIENT SERVICES

Module 1.1: Illinois Estate Planning Legal Framework - ""Illinois Estate Planning Law: Your Complete Foundation"

Module 1.2: Client Consultation and Intake Procedures - "Mastering Estate Planning Client Consultations"

Module 1.3: Estate Planning Document Types and Selection - "Choosing the Right Estate Planning Tools for Every Client"

WEEK 2: ASSET ANALYSIS AND ESTATE VALUATION

Module 2.1: Comprehensive Asset Inventory and Valuation - "Asset Discovery: Finding Every Dollar in the Estate"

Module 2.2: Liability Assessment and Debt Analysis - "Debt and Liability Analysis: Protecting the Estate"

Module 2.3: Net Worth Calculation and Estate Tax Planning - "Estate Tax Strategy: Maximizing Wealth Transfer"

WEEK 3-4: WILL DRAFTING, TRUST PREPARATION, SPECIALIZED PLANNING AND BUSINESS SUCCESSION

Weeks 3 and 4 focus on document preparation mastery and specialized planning techniques, teaching students to draft comprehensive wills meeting Illinois statutory requirements, prepare revocable and irrevocable trust documents with proper funding procedures, and coordinate powers of attorney and healthcare directives that protect client decision-making authority. Students advance to sophisticated business succession planning, learning to analyze ownership structures, prepare buy-sell agreements, coordinate business valuations, and handle special needs planning, charitable giving strategies, and advanced tax planning techniques including generation-skipping trusts and wealth transfer optimization. By completing these weeks, students possess the technical drafting skills and specialized knowledge necessary to support attorneys in creating complex estate plans that address business interests, family dynamics, tax minimization, and sophisticated wealth transfer strategies.

WEEK 3: WILL DRAFTING AND TRUST PREPARATION

Module 3.1: Will Drafting and Execution Requirements - "Drafting Bulletproof Wills: Illinois Requirements and Best Practices"

Module 3.2: Trust Document Preparation and Administration - "Trust Mastery: From Creation to Administration"

Module 3.3: Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives - "Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Planning: Protecting Clients' Wishes"

WEEK 4: SPECIALIZED PLANNING AND BUSINESS SUCCESSION

Module 4.1: Business Succession Planning - "Business Succession: Keeping Companies in the Family"

Module 4.2: Special Needs and Charitable Planning - "Special Needs and Charitable Planning: Advanced Strategies"

Module 4.3: Advanced Tax Planning Strategies - "Advanced Tax Strategies: Maximizing Wealth Transfer Efficiency"

WEEK 5-6: PROBATE, ESTATE ADMINISTRATION, ESTATE AND TRUST LITIGATION SUPPORT

Weeks 5 and 6 transition students into probate administration and dispute resolution, focusing on court procedures and litigation support that protect estate assets and family relationships. In Week 5, students master Illinois probate court navigation, learning to prepare court petitions, coordinate probate notices, handle creditor claims, manage estate asset inventory and distribution, while coordinating trust administration, accounting requirements, and ongoing fiduciary responsibilities. Week 6 advances to estate litigation support, teaching students to assist with will contests and estate disputes, coordinate with expert witnesses, handle discovery in estate proceedings, support trust litigation and fiduciary breach claims, and prepare for mediation and alternative dispute resolution that preserves family relationships while protecting beneficiary interests. By completing these weeks, students gain sophisticated probate and litigation support skills necessary to handle contested estate matters while maintaining professional standards and protecting client interests through complex family disputes.

WEEK 5: PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

Module 5.1: Illinois Probate Procedures and Court Navigation- "Probate Court Mastery: Navigating Illinois Procedures Like a Pro"

Module 5.2: Estate Administration and Asset Distribution - "Estate Administration Excellence: From Inventory to Distribution"

Module 5.3: Trust Administration and Ongoing Management - "Trust Administration: Managing Ongoing Fiduciary Responsibilities"

WEEK 6: ESTATE AND TRUST LITIGATION SUPPORT

Module 6.1: Will Contests and Estate Disputes - "Estate Litigation Support: When Families Fight Over Money"

Module 6.2: Trust Disputes and Fiduciary Litigation - "Trust Litigation: Protecting Fiduciary Interests and Beneficiary Rights"

Module 6.3: Alternative Dispute Resolution in Estate Matters -  "Estate Mediation and Settlement: Keeping Families Together" 

WEEK 7-8:  TAX COMPLIANCE, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, ETHICS, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Weeks 7 and 8 complete comprehensive estate planning training by covering tax compliance, professional ethics, and career development essential for specialized practice success. In Week 7, students master federal and Illinois estate tax return preparation, gift tax compliance and reporting, ongoing fiduciary income tax requirements, and coordination with tax professionals on complex estate and trust tax issues while managing audit support and government relations. Week 8 emphasizes ethical compliance in estate planning practice scenarios, confidentiality management in family representations, conflict of interest resolution, and unauthorized practice prevention, while advancing to technology integration including estate planning software, document automation, digital asset planning, and modern practice management systems that enhance efficiency and client service. Upon completing these final weeks, students possess the advanced tax knowledge, ethical framework, and professional development foundation necessary to excel in sophisticated estate planning practice while maintaining compliance standards and leveraging technology for optimal client outcomes and career advancement.

WEEK 7: TAX COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Module 7.1: Estate Tax Returns and Compliance - "Estate Tax Mastery: Federal and Illinois Compliance Strategies"

Module 7.2: Gift Tax Planning and Reporting - "Gift Tax Strategy: Maximizing Tax-Free Transfers"

Module 7.3: Ongoing Tax Compliance and Fiduciary Returns - "Fiduciary Tax Returns: Trust and Estate Income Tax Compliance"

WEEK 8: ETHICS, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Module 8.1: Ethics in Estate Planning Practice - "Estate Planning Ethics: Protecting Families and Your Career"

Module 8.2: Technology Integration for Estate Planning Practice -  "Technology for Estate Planners: Modern Tools for Traditional Practice"

Module 8.3: Professional Development and Specialization - "Building Your Estate Planning Career: Specialization and Growth Strategies

COURSE TOTALS

Overall Statistics:

• Total Modules: 24 modules across 8 weeks
• Total Learning Hours: 64 instructional hours
• Total Video Content: 24 videos
• 24+ Comprehensive PDF Guides (500+ pages of materials)
• 24 Interactive Exercises and workshops
• 24 Real-World Case Studies
• 40+ Professional Templates and forms
• 8 Comprehensive Quizzes plus final exam
• 8 Practical Assignments plus final portfolio project
• Average Weekly Commitment: 8 hours (7-9 hours range)

Learning Objective Categories:

• Legal Knowledge: Illinois estate planning law, probate procedures, and tax compliance
• Client Service: Consultation skills, family dynamics, and relationship management
• Document Preparation: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and specialized instruments
• Administration Skills: Probate court procedures, estate administration, and trust management
• Tax Expertise: Estate, gift, and fiduciary income tax compliance and planning
• Professional Development: Ethics, technology integration, and career advancement

Estate Planning Areas Covered:

• Basic Estate Planning: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives
• Tax Planning: Estate tax, gift tax, generation-skipping transfer tax strategies
• Business Succession: Buy-sell agreements, family business transfers, succession planning
• Special Situations: Special needs planning, charitable giving, asset protection
• Administration: Probate procedures, trust administration, fiduciary responsibilities
• Dispute Resolution: Estate litigation, will contests, family mediation

This comprehensive module structure ensures systematic skill development while building toward complete professional competency in Illinois estate planning paralegal practice from initial client consultation through estate administration and dispute resolution.