ESTATE LAW FOR PARALEGAL STUDIES, POLS-Y229
GENERAL STUDIES/CLN PARALEGAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Section 26470
SPRING 2008
Professor:F. Woodard Jr., J.D. Office Hours:By Appointment
Phone:317-843-9792
Class:WEDNESDAY - 6:00-8:40 p.m., NU 202
Text:Hower, Kahn, Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration,West Legal Studies, Thomson Delmar Learning, Sixth Edition, 2007.
Course Policies:
(a)Exams and Grading:There will be three exams in this course (two hourly exams and a final exam). The format of the hourly exams will be a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and short-answer questions. The format of the final exam will be all multiple-choice questions. The final exam will not be cumulative. These three exams will equal 80% of your final grade in the course, class participation will equal 5%, and assignments will equal 15%.
(b)Grading Scale:I will arrive at your final grade by using the following grading scale (all decimal points of .5 or above will be rounded up to the next integer):
93-100% / = A / 73-75 / = C90-92 / = A- / 70-72 / = C
86-89 / = B+ / 64-69 / = D+
83-85 / = B / 62-63 / = D
80-82 / = B- / 60-61 / = D
76-79 / = C+ / 0-59 / = F
(c)Makeups:If you must miss an hourly exam, makeups will be permitted if you have a compelling reason (death in the immediate family or serious illness) for missing one and you obtain permission prior to the next exam. NO MAKEUPS OF THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE PERMITTED. FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF F FOR THE COURSE.
Important Note:Further, access to Title 29 and 30 of the Indiana Code is necessary for reading assignments. The Code is NOT a required text and it is available online and in the libraries.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND ASSIGNMENTS*
(*NOTE: With the exception of the January 9 class, you should complete the assigned readings beforethe date for which they are assigned. Read all text cases encompassed by an assignment.) Because Estate Planning and Administration is very State specific and the Text is NOT State specific, there will also be limited reading assignments from Title 29 and 30 of the Indiana Code and handouts supplementing the readings.
I.INTRODUCTION TO WILLS
Jan. 9The Estate Plan and The Purpose and Need For A Will
Read: Syllabus; Text
Read: Chapter 1
Jan. 16The Concept of Property Related To Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration
Read: Chapter 2
Jan. 23The Participants and The Proper Court
Read: Chapter 3
II.OVERVIEW OF THE LAWS OF SUCCESSION
Jan. 30The Law Of Succession: Death Testate Or Intestate
Read: Chapter 4
Feb. 6Wills: Validity Requirements, Modification, Revocation, and Contests
Read: Chapter 5
Preparation to Draft a Will: Checklists and the Conference with the Client
Read: Chapter 6
Feb. 13Final Draft and Execution of a Valid Will
Read: Chapter 7 / Review
Feb. 20FIRST EXAM
Introduction to Trusts
Read: Chapter 8
2
III. SURVEY OF TRUSTS LAW
Feb. 27Classification Of Trusts, The Living Trust, And Other Special Trusts
Read: Chapter 9
Feb. 29Last day to withdraw with an automatic "W"
Mar. 5Estate Planning
Read: Chapter 10
Long-term Care
Read: Chapter 11
Mar. 10 SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
IV. SCOPE OF PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
Mar. 19Personal Representatives: Types, Pre-probate Duties and Appointment
Read: Chapter 12
Mar. 26Probate and Estate Administration
Read: Chapter 13 / Review
Apr. 2SECOND EXAM
Apr. 9Informal Probate Administration
Read: Chapter 14
Apr. 16Tax Considerations in the Administration of Estates
Read: Chapter 15
Apr. 23Ethical Principles Relevant To Practicing Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Read: Chapter 16 / Review
Apr. 30 FINAL EXAM (5:45-7:45 p.m.)