This guide will teach you to use some of the most commonly used ProbatePlus capabilities

  1. Notes on Using ProbatePlus
  2. Login – Login to your secure ProbatePlus account
  3. Cases – Create and manage cases
  4. Clients/Decedents – Store and access information (residence, marital status, date of death...)
  5. Case Detail– Enter and manage case information (probate, tax, fees...)
  6. Contacts – Enter and manage case contacts (spouse, children, other...)
  7. Case Contact Roles – Assign roles to contacts (executor, guardian, will witness, beneficiary...)
  8. Probate Forms – Automatically generate state probate forms
  9. Reports – Produce reports (case status, 706 tax status, family & contacts...)
10. Notes – Enter and manage case notes
11. Letters & Documents – Automate standard letters and documents

1. Notes on Using ProbatePlus

1. ProbatePlus Provides the Following Capabilities.
   
   - Automated state probate form generation
   
   - Case management
   
   - Automated letter & document drafting from templates
   
   - Case search and reporting
   
   
2. ProbatePlus is a web-based solution that is accessible from anywhere at anytime using a web browser and a secure username and password.
   
   
3. ProbatePlus is upgradeable to TrueSettlement, EstateWorks fully featured workflow and case management solution.
    

Scroll Up

2. Login - Login to your private, secure ProbatePlus database

1. Open an Internet Explorer web browser
   
   
2. Login
   
   - Go to http://www.estateworks.com/login.asp
   
   - Enter your email address and password
   

Scroll Up

3. Cases - Create and manage cases

1. Select Add Case from the Case Menu
   
   
2. Create a new client or pick an existing client
   
   - If you are adding a new client, enter the clients name
   
   - If you are adding a case for an existing client, select the
     Existing Client Tab and select an existing client from the list
   
   
3. Enter Case information
   
   - Enter Case Name, Case ID, Case Type, State of Residence and
    Attorney
   
   
4. Click the Add button
   

1. Select Admin from the Manage Menu
   
   
2. Select Lawgic Import
   
   
3. Browse for the Lawgic file to import
   
   - For most installations the ProbatePlus import file will be located at:
   
   C:\Program Files\Lawgic\ESTATEWORKS\Lawgic.XML
   (Note: ensure that you are using the latest version of Lawgic)
   
   
4. Click the OK button
   
   
5. Open the imported Case
   
   - Choose Select Case from the Case Menu
   
   - Select the case from the list

Scroll Up

4. Clients/Decedents - Enter information about the Decedent(settlement) or Client(planning)

1. Select the Client Tab from the case summary page
   
   - If you have just added a new case, ProbatePlus will take you   directly to the Client/Decedent Information



2. Click the Decedent Information Menu under Case Information
   
   - ProbatePlus will take you directly to the Client/Decedent information   when you click on the Client Tab
   
   
3. Enter Client or Decedent information
   
   - Decedent information entered here will automatically be filled-in   during the state probate form interviews and used to generate the   forms
   
   - Client/Decedent can be used for Case Search and letter and   document drafting
   
   
4. Click Save to commit the information to the database
   
   

Scroll Up

5. Case Detail – Enter and manage case information (probate, tax, fees...)

1. Select the Client Tab from the case summary page
   
   - If you are already on the Client Tab, you can skip this step



2. Click the Case Detail Menu in the left menu bar under Case Information
   
   
3. Enter Probate, Tax, & Fee information
   
   - Probate information entered here will automatically be filled-in   during the state probate form interviews and used to generate the   forms
   
   - Probate, Tax & Fee information is used in standard reports and can
     be used for letter and document drafting
   
   
4. Click Save to commit the information to the database
   

Scroll Up

6. Contacts – Enter and manage case contacts (spouse, children, other...)

1. Select the Client Tab from the case summary page
   
   - If you are already on the Client Tab, you can skip this step



2. Click the Contacts Menu in the left menu bar to display all the case contacts
   
   
3. Click the Add New Button to add a new contact to the case
   
   - Add new contacts only if the contact information is not already in   ProbatePlus
   
   - Contact information that was imported from Outlook can be linked   to without re-entering it
   
   - Contacts from other cases can be linked to without re-entering it   (I.E. insurance company contacts)
   
   
4. Click the Edit Pencil to edit contact information that has already been entered into ProbatePlus
   
   - Contacts where the globe is behind the edit pencil are used in   other cases
   
   - Editing global contacts will change the information in all cases where   they are linked
   
   
5. Click Link Existing to link an existing ProbatePlus contact to the case
   
   - It is always better to link to an existing contact if one exists rather   than creating a duplicate contact
   

Scroll Up

7. Case Contact Roles – Assign case roles to contacts (executor, guardian, beneficiary...)

1. Select the Client Tab from the case summary page
   
   - If you are already on the Client Tab, you can skip this step



2. Click any of the Contact Roles under the Contact Roles for this Case Menu in the left menu bar
   
   
3. Click the Add New Button to add a new contact role to a case contact
   
   - Contact roles can only be assigned to existing case contacts. To add   a contact role to a contact that is not included in the list of case   contacts, first add the contact to the case, then assign the contact   a role.
   
   - The same contact role can be assigned to multiple contacts   (multiple executors, trustees, guardians, etc.)
   
   - Assigning contact roles automates the process of generating   probate forms. Probate form Interviews are automatically populated   with the appropriate contact information when the Interview starts.
   
   
4. Click the Edit Pencil to edit contact information that has already been entered into ProbatePlus
   
   - Contacts where the globe is behind the edit pencil are used in   other cases
   
   - Editing global contacts will change the information in all cases where   they are linked
   
   
5. Delete contacts from contact roles by checking the box to the right of the contact, selecting Delete from the Action Menu and clicking the Go Button
   
   - Deleting a contact from a contact role does not delete the contact from the case
   

Scroll Up

8. Probate Forms – Automatically generate state probate forms

1. Select the Reports & Docs Tab from the case summary page
   
   
2. Click the State Forms Menu in the left menu bar to expand the list of probate forms
   
   - If the State Forms menu is not available, you have either selected a   state of residence for the case for which there are currently no   probate forms available or you have not subscribed for the forms
   
   
3. Click the State Form that you want to complete from the list of available forms
   
   - Clicking the State Form will start the probate form Interview
   
   - Some of the fields in the Interview will be automatically filled-in with   information previously entered into ProbatePlus
   
   
4. Complete the Interview
   
   - Enter additional information that has not been automatically filled-in
   
   - If any of the pre-filled information is incorrect, change the source   case information in ProbatePlus and regenerate the probate form.   Changing information during the Interview will not replace case information in ProbatePlus so the   next time the probate form is generated the information stored in ProbatePlus will be used to   pre-fill the Interview.
   
   
5. Click the Submit Button to complete the Interview and open the completed probate form in MS Word.
   
   - After clicking submit the Answers will be saved for use with other probate forms and for   regenerating the same form
   
   - If the form does not open in MS Word, turn off pop-up blockers and click submit again
   
   - The completed form can be further edited if necessary in MS Word
   
   

Scroll Up

9. Reports – Produce reports (case status, 706 tax status, family & contacts)

  Case Reports

1. Select the Reports & Docs Tab from the case summary page
   
   
2. Click the Case Reports Menu in the left menu bar to expand the list of reports
   
   
3. Click the Report that you want to display from the list of available reports
   
   - The report will open in a separate browser window
   
   - To open the report in Microsoft Excel formate, click the Excel Icon   to the right of the report
   
   

  Reports Across Cases

1. Select Reports from the Manage Menu in the upper right corner of the screen
   
   
2. Click the Report that you want to display from the list of available reports
   
   
3. Select the filter Options for the report and Click Display
   
   - The report will open in a separate browser window
   
   

Scroll Up

10. Notes – Enter and manage case notes

1. Select the Notes Tab from the case summary page
   
   
2. Click the Add Note Icon in the upper right corner of the screen below the Logout button
   
   - A window will open enabling you to create and attach the note to   the case
   
   
3. Enter the subject, priority, body and other note details
   
   - Setting the priority to HIGH will cause the note to be displayed on   the case summary page and on the Home Page of case team   members
   
   
4. Optionally, email the note Now or at a Scheduled Time in the future
   
   
5. Click the Add Button to add the note to the case
   
   
   
   

Scroll Up

11. Letters & Documents – Automate standard letters and documents

  Create Letter Templates

1. Select Admin from the Manage Menu in the upper right corner of the screen
   
   
2. Click Letter Writer from the Tools Menu to create your letter templates
   
   - Letter Writer is a tool used to create letter templates based on   sample ProbatePlus templates
   
   - Letter templates can be created to automate correspondence with   financial institutions, insurance companies, probate court, tax   agencies and the personal representative or executor.
   
   
3. Refer to the Letter Writer Guide for detailed instructions or contact support@estateworks.com
   
   
   

  Draft Letters using Templates

1. Select the Reports & Docs Tab from the case summary page
   
   
2. Click the Client Letters & Legal Documents Menu in the left menu bar to expand the list of templates
   
   
3. Click the Template that you want to use to draft your letter or document
   
   - If it is a multi-contact letter you will be prompted to select contacts
   
   
   - The letter will open in MS Word in a separate browser window
     (be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker)
   
   
4. Edit the draft as needed and print and save the document if desired
   
   

Scroll Up

For More Information about Using ProbatePlus

1. Visit the EstateWorks website: www.estateworks.com
2. Contact Customer Support: support@estateworks.com