WILLS TRUSTS
Fall Semester 2008Professor Kinsler
Three Credits
Objective: Wills & Trusts is an in-depth study of the law of intestate succession, wills, and trusts. Because most Elon University School of Law graduates will practice law in North Carolina, this course will focus on North Carolina law. The course also will compare and contrast North Carolina law to the Uniform Probate Code(which has been adopted in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine,Massachusetts,Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin).
Required Materials:(1) Dukeminier, et al.,Wills, Trusts and Estates (Aspen 7th ed. 2005) (“Text”).
(2) Selected N.C. Statutes—Intestacy, Wills & Trusts (a copy may be found on Blackboard).
Reference Works: In addition to those reference works listed on page 58 of the Text, I recommend McGovern, et al., Wills, Trusts and Estates; Atkinson, Law of Wills; Bogert, Trusts.
Assessment, Attendance, and Class Participation:
(1) The score achieved on the final examination will account for 80% of your course grade.
(2) The score achieved on midterm exams, quizzes, and written assignments will account for 20% of your course grade.
(3) Class attendance and participation also may affect a student’s grade. Students are expected to punctually attend all classes. In addition, a group of students will be assigned to participate in each class. Those students should be fully prepared to discuss the cases and other material assigned for that class and to answer the problems in the Text and the problems on the Powerpoints (which will be posted on Blackboard before class).
(4) Each student will be required to complete a drafting exercise (i.e., a simple will) in order to pass the course.
Reading Assignments:
There are 27 reading assignments on the course outline and 27 class periods. We will cover one assignment per class period.
COURSE OUTLINE
Assignment No. 1
Introduction to Wills & Trusts;Text 59-73
Intestacy—DistributionN.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 29-2, 29-8, 29-13, 29-14, 29-15, 29-12, 28A-24-1, 28A-24-2
Assignment No. 2
Intestacy—Distribution (cont.)Text 73-83
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 29-15, 29-16, 29-3, 29-12
Assignment No. 3
Intestacy--ChildrenText 83-101
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 29-17, 29-9, 29-18, 29-19, 29-20, 29-21, 29-22
Assignment No. 4
Intestacy—Advancement andText 114-116; 126-140
Other Bars to SuccessionN.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 29-23 through 29-29, 31A-4, 31B-1 through 31B-3, 29-11
Assignment No. 5
Testate Succession--Mental CapacityText 141-156
N.C. Gen’l Stat. § 31-1
In re Cook’s Estate, 372 P.2d 520 (Or. 1962)
Assignment No. 6
Testate Succession--Undue Influence & FraudText 158-176; 186-197
Vaupel v. Barr, 460 S.E.2d 431 (W.V. 1995).
Assignment No. 7
Wills--ExecutionText 199-219
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 31-3.2, 31-3.3, 31-11.6, 31-8.1, 31-9, 31-10, 31-11
Assignment No. 8
Wills--Execution--Curative Doctrines Text 220-235
N.C. Gen’l Stat. § 31-46
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Assignment No. 9
Holographic Wills Text 236-251
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 31-3.4, 31-3.5
Pounds v. Litaker, 71 S.E.2d 39 (N.C. 1952)
Assignment No. 10
Wills-Revocation Text 251-259
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 31-5.1, 31-5.2
Assignment No. 11
Wills-Revocation and RevivalText 259-270
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 31-5.8, 31-5.3, 31-5.4
Assignment No. 12
Wills--Integration, Republication &Text 271-286
Incorporation by ReferenceN.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 31-40, 31-41, 31-51, 31-52
Assignment No. 13
Wills—Contracts and Interpretation (Extrinsic Evidence)Text 286-294; 365-374
Collins v. Estate of Collins, 619 S.E.2d 531 (N.C.
App. 2005)
Assignment No. 14
Wills--Interpretation--LapsesText 387-397 (thru Note 4); 399-400; 404-405
N.C. Gen’l Stat. § 31-42
Early v. Bowen, 447 S.E.2d 167 (N.C. App. 1994)
Assignment No. 15
Wills--Interpretation--Ademption, Satisfaction, Abatement,Text 405-415
Accretion, and ExonerationN.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 28A-15-3; 28A-15-5; 31-41
Assignment No. 16
Wills--Spousal Protection (TraditionalText 417-428; 438-445
System)N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 30-15 through 30-18
Newman v. Dore, 9 N.E.2d 966 (N.Y. App. 1937).
Assignment No. 17
Wills--Spousal Protection (UPC)Text 445-451
UPC §§ 2-201 through 2-209(Blackboard)
Assignment No. 18
Wills—Spousal Protection (N.C.),Waiver of Elective Share, andText 451-455; 462-466
Omitted Spouse ProtectionN.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 30-3.1 through 30-3.6, 31-5.3
Assignment No. 19
Wills--Omitted ChildrenText 466-468; 473-484
N.C. Gen’l Stat. § 31-5.5
Assignment No. 20
Will Substitutes--P.O.D. Contracts, Joint Tenancies & TrustsText 295-310; 322-333; 341-345
Assignment No. 21
Trusts--Introduction & IntentText 485-493; 498-504
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 36C-4-401, 36C-4-402
Assignment No. 22
Trusts--Property and Pour OversText 508-516; 310-315
N.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 31-47, 31-10.1
Assignment No. 23
Trusts--Beneficiaries & Writing RequirementsText 518-533
N.C. Gen’l Stat. § 36C-4-408
Assignment No. 24
Trusts--Discretionary and SpendthriftText 533-557
Assignment No. 25
Trusts--Modification & TerminationText 572-587
Assignment No. 26
Trusts–CharitableText 729-746; 750-751; 758-763
N.C. Gen’l Stat. § 36C-4-405
Assignment No. 27
Planning for Incapacity and Death;Text 345-353
ReviewN.C. Gen’l Stat. §§ 90-321, 32A-17, 32A-8
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