Trusts and Estates (Ufberg/Solmssen)
Additional Information
Skills Training
Other Professional Skills: This is an area of the law which many clients deal with only a handful of times in their lives. How to be technically accurate while also conveying the issues involved is an important skill that will be covered. In addition, this area of law is filled with real, forseeable and unavoidable conflicts of interest and ethical challenges. We will discuss methods to face them.
Grading
100% Exam
Exam
Short Answer,
Essay,
Take Home,
Open-Book
No
Class meets in person.
Course Continuity
Students are encouraged to stay home if you are ill or experience flu-like symptoms. If you miss a class for any reason, it is still your responsibility to make up the work missed.
I offer the following to students who miss class due to illness:
- Class sessions are regularly recorded. If you are absent due to illness or some other unavoidable circumstance, contact Felicia Lin, the Dean of Students. Upon receipt of her authorization, I will email instructions to you for accessing the recording for the class session(s) you missed.
- I will make PowerPoint slides or other class materials routinely available on the course site to everyone in the class.
Meeting Times/Location
T 6:40PM - 8:30PM
Gittis Hall 213
Category
Upper-Level
Credits
2.0
This course is a general survey of the law relating to property transmission by individuals, both during life and at death. The course will study transfers within the probate system - wills and intestate succession - and transfers outside of it, with special attention to the creation and administration of trusts. The course will examine the substantive law, with an emphasis on how the law has changed (or not) as society has changed. The course will cover the Uniform Probate Code and Uniform Trust Code with occasional references to Pennsylvania and New York law. The course will also cover the theoretical and practical aspects of powers of attorney, living wills, incapacity and guardianship. While not a tax class, the course will review the basics of federal wealth transfer taxation and the tools used to achieve tax and other planning goals. Tax classes are not a prerequisite.
Attendance at the one class per week is mandatory. Participation is expected but not graded. Students will be called on from time to time.
Skills Learning outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of the individual course skill; Demonstrate the ability to receive and implement feedback; Demonstrate an understanding of how and when the individual course skill is employed in practice.
Family Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of family law; Perform legal analysis in the context of family law; Communicate effectively on topics related to family law; Demonstrate an understanding of how family law affects other areas of law.
Property and Real Estate Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of property and real estate law; Perform legal analysis in the context of property and real estate law; Communicate effectively on topics related to property and real estate law; Demonstrate an understanding of how property and real estate law affect other areas of law.
Textbooks
"Uniform Trust and Estate Statutes" by Thomas P. Gallanis |