Wills and Trusts for Non-Lawyers

This is a class on the basic tools and law of decedent’s estates and trusts. As a class for non-lawyers, it will touch on topics like fiduciary duties, future interests, estate tax, and property, but no special knowledge of those areas is required. This class will focus principally on transfers of property through the law of intestate succession, wills, and will substitutes. In particular, we will study the requisite formalities for creation of a valid will and trust, for revocation of a will, and such specific doctrines as lapse of gifts, homestead, elective share, and family allowances, to name a few. We will also examine basic living wills, powers of attorney, and other typical estate planning instruments.