Wills, Trusts, and Estates Administration, 5th edition

Published by Pearson (January 23, 2017) © 2018

  • Suzan D. Herskowitz
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For courses in Wills, Trusts, and Estates (Legal Studies & Paralegal)

Flexible, complete coverage of all pertinent topics in the field of estate planning, in a format that’s accessible to all levels of students

Wills, Trusts, and Estates Administration is specifically designed for paralegal students and legal professionals. It presents the fundamentals of the field in a flexible approach that captures the complexities of modern estate planning while maintaining a clear, accessible style. The book’s self-contained chapters let instructors easily adapt the material to their own classes and students.

Written by a lawyer with 30 years of experience in the estate-planning field, it covers practical issues that arise in law office—situations that students will actually encounter when they begin their careers. The focus is on issues that concern today’s typical American client, such as the trend towards an aging population, the growing population of families in second marriages, blended families and families in which the grandparents are raising their grandchildren, as well as those families that include non-married or same-sex couples. Current statistics concerning the aging population in the United States keep readers up to date on how current trends affect the estate planning industry.

Neither too complicated for a two-year program, nor too simple for a full four-year program, this book does not presuppose a prior background in legal studies of any kind. The book is appropriate for the longtime continuing student, and it is ideal for the lifelong learner.

  • Preface 
  • Acknowledgments 
  • Purpose and Need for a Will 

  • Property 

  • Testate or Intestate 

  • The Will 

  • Will Preparation and Drafting 

  • Advance Directives 

  • Planning for Non-Traditional Families 

  • Trusts: Elements and Purpose 

  • Specialized Trusts and Gifts 

  • The Personal Representative 

  • Estate Administration 

  • Tax Considerations in Estate Administration 

  • The Probate Court and Uniform Laws 

  • Paralegals and Ethics 

  • Appendix A Important Cases Concerning the Right to Die 
  • Appendix B Selected Wills of Famous People 
  • Appendix C Internet Websites 
  • Appendix D 
  • Glossary 
  • Index 

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