2021 Palm Beach County Bar Association's Bench Bar (Webinar Series)

Probate and Guardianship Session – 1:00-2:30

BBC Unplugged

This 90-minute combined session is for any lawyer or paralegal interested in probate, trust, and guardianship practice. We’ll introduce our panel of current and incoming Probate and Guardianship Division Circuit Judges, run through a playlist of recent caselaw and issues in probate and guardianship law, and then open up the virtual forum for an extended Q&A and online polling session with the Judges.

Panelists: Honorable Dina Keever-Agrama, Honorable James Martz, Honorable Scott Kerner and Honorable Laura Laurie

Session Moderator(s): Kelly Gardner Esq. and Andrew Kwan, Esq.

Part I: Singled Out – Meet the Incoming 15th Circuit Probate Division Judges (20 minutes)

A. Round 1 – Brief introduction from the incoming Judges

B. Round 2 – Judges will compare their practices, preferences, professionalism pet peeves, and pretrial procedures in a lighthearted “dating show” format

Part II: Headbangers Ball – Hot Topics in Probate and Guardianship (50 minutes)

A. Welcome to the Jungle – Professionalism in probate and guardianship practice in a post-COVID world

B. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Electronic wills, remote notarization, and videoconference technology in probate administration

C. Dr. Feelgood – Medical expert testimony in will and trust contests under the Daubert standard

D. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Compensation disputes and conflicts of interest in guardianship

E. Love Bites – Prenuptial, postnuptial, and marital settlement agreements in probate

F. Paradise City – Recent cases from the crossroads of guardianship and trust law (Habal v. Habal, Warlen v. Badeaux, Wallace v. Comp. Personal Care Servs.)

Part II: Total Request Live – Q&A with the Judges (20 minutes)

A. Attendees are welcome to ask questions of the Judges about any topic, including but not limited to trial practice, professionalism and ethics issues, and technology in the courtroom

B. Judges will be able to give virtual polls to the audience, with results tabulated in real time and presented onscreen for discussion