Comprehensive Estate Planning & Probate Essentials: What Lawyers Must Know

Jennifer Norton | Norton Estate Planning & Elder Law

Jennifer Norton is an experienced estate planning attorney who has devoted her legal career to helping families navigate every stage of planning and administration. A lifelong Indianapolis native, she graduated from Cathedral High School and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University–Bloomington before attending the Maurer School of Law, where she discovered her commitment to serving families through thoughtful, comprehensive estate planning.

Since graduating in 2008, Jennifer has focused her practice exclusively on estate planning, joining the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys (NNEPA) in 2009 and gaining extensive training in estate and tax planning. After working closely with the CEO of NNEPA for more than four years, she founded her own firm in 2013. Her practice now serves more than 350 client families and provides a full range of services, including trust-based plans, wills, powers of attorney, guardianship and conservatorship assistance, probate administration, and strategic Medicaid qualification.

Jennifer’s work is grounded in her passion for educating and supporting families, particularly as they navigate the complexities of probate. Her experience guiding personal representatives, heirs, and beneficiaries through administration—along with her deep understanding of Indiana probate timelines, procedures, and common pitfalls—allows her to deliver clear, practical strategies that simplify the process and reduce stress for clients.

A dedicated member of the estate planning community, Jennifer continues to collaborate with leading professionals through NNEPA and serves in several leadership roles, including Vice President of the Trust & Estates Section of the National Bar Association and President of Marion County’s Citizen Police Complaint Board. She also contributes her time to multiple nonprofit boards serving Indiana communities.

James T. McNary | McNary Law Office, P.A

James T. “Jim” McNary is a seasoned trust and estates attorney based in Red Wing, Minnesota, with more than 35 years of experience advising individuals, families, and businesses. Throughout his extensive career, Jim has concentrated his practice in estate planning, probate and trust administration, business succession planning, and the preparation of gift, estate, and fiduciary income tax returns. His focused approach has allowed him to develop a deep and practical command of these areas of law.

Jim is a frequent and respected educator in his field, having presented dozens of continuing legal education courses for attorneys and professionals. His written work has appeared in leading publications including Trusts and Estates, Probate and Property, and Minnesota Bench and Bar magazines, where he has contributed insights on estate planning, administration, and related tax issues.

Licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, Jim assists clients with the full spectrum of estate planning needs from powers of attorney, health care directives, wills, and transfer-on-death deeds to complex tax-saving trusts and multi-generational succession strategies. He also guides families through the probate and trust administration process with clarity and compassion.

Whether serving clients with multimillion-dollar estates or more modest holdings, Jim is committed to delivering personalized, goal-driven estate plans designed to protect assets, support family legacies, and ensure smooth transitions across generations.

Session I – Planning for the Small Estate | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Advantages and disadvantages of non-probate transfers
• Coordination of probate and non-probate transfers
• Devices available under different uniform laws

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Navigating Probate: Practical Guidance for Families and Professionals | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Understanding the probate process
  • What probate is
  • When it’s required
  • How estates move through the court system
• Roles & responsibilities
  • What personal representatives, heirs, and beneficiaries should expect during administration
• Timelines, costs & common pitfalls
  • How long probate typically takes? (Indiana as an exemplar)
    1. Expected expenses
    2. Frequent mistakes to avoid
• Strategies to simplify probate
  • Practical steps families can take to streamline administration and reduce stress