Wills Trusts And Estate Administration For The Paralegal

New text for the paralegal course on Wills, Trusts, and Estates that provides a general overview of Wills and Trusts. Covers the use of wills and trusts in creating an estate plan, as well as an overview of estate litigation and estate administration. This text teaches paralegals the necessary skills to assist with the preparation of wills and trusts and with the administration of estates. Key Features Begins with an understanding of the history and development of estate planning laws, continues through the preparation of the documents needed to create an estate plan, and ends with how to administer an estate. Practical, step-by-step examples throughout the book apply the concepts to realistic situations. Examples break down each document into individual elements. At each step, alternatives are provided and options are discussed. Practice Tips help students understand real-life applications and situations. Drafting exercises in the text offer opportunities to apply what the students have learned. Ethical considerations that all attorneys and paralegals must follow are included throughout the text. More complex concepts are introduced for general understanding only, so that students have an understanding of the concepts and language used in practice. The text emphasizes the vocabulary of estate planning so that students know the meaning of different terms and to use the terms correctly. Key terms are defined in the margins.

The leading text in the field takes a practical approach, illustrating legal principles through examples, exercises, legal forms, checklists, and actual drafts of wills and trusts. Students are exposed to detailed procedures and are prepared for everyday practical duties of the paralegal through comprehensive, authoritative coverage. Blend of theory and practice balances the need for understanding concepts and law and the need to be able to apply it.

Helewitz's Basic Wills, Trusts, and Estates for Paralegals is a concise and practical guide to the planning and administration of wills, trusts, and estates. This succinct, simple, and straightforward introduction to all the basics of wills, trusts, and estates law was specifically designed for paralegal students. Continuing examples describing four different families provide an accessible structure and helpful point of reference for students learning the intricacies of estate planning. Highlights include: A straightforward introduction that provides a student-friendly orientation to the subject Clear and concise coverage of key topics A review of the sources of property law, trusts, and taxes A helpful guide to drafting documents related to wills and trusts Step-by-step instruction for completing the entire federal estate tax return State-by-state analysis of trust and estate law Four families/clients threaded through the text exemplify the intricacies of estate planning Chapter overviews, key terms, review questions, sample clauses, edited cases, chapter summaries, and end-of-chapter exercises Sample forms in the appendix New to the Ninth Edition: General and state-specific sections concerning admissibility and restrictions for electronic wills Updated codes and case law for the comparison of estate law in the different jurisdictions Updated tax thresholds and rules Updated federal and state documents and forms New case studies in each chapter cover such issues as: QTIP trusts The impact of Covid on the execution of wills Claims against an escheated estate Wrongful prolongation of life Professors and students will benefit from: Comprehensive coverage of the key topics includes a review of the sources of property law, trusts, and taxes, topics not thoroughly covered in other texts. Clearly written text and lively examples help students understand the law. A straightforward introduction that provides a student-friendly orientation to the subject Clear and concise coverage of key topics A helpful guide to drafting documents related to wills and trusts Step-by-step instructions for completing the entire federal estate tax return State-by-state analysis and comparison of trust and estate law Four families/clients threaded through the text exemplify the intricacies of estate planning Chapter overviews, key terms, review questions, sample clauses, edited cases, chapter summaries, and end-of-chapter exercises Sample forms in the appendix Examples and explanations pedagogy engages students with the material. Practical approach appeals to programs with shorter, less theoretical courses.

A practical approach illustrating legal principles through examples, exercises, legal forms, checklists, and actual drafts of wills and trusts.

ON-LINE RESOURCE- On-line Resource for this text includes an electronic study guide for students for free at www.west legalstudies.com with relevant problems, case vocabulary questions and on-line assignments

For courses in Wills, Trusts, and Estates; Probate Law; and Financial Planning/Estate Planning. Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration for Paralegals provides a comprehensive overview of estate planning and probate in a manner that is straightforward and easy to read and understand. Instructor resources include an Instructor's Manual, PowerPoint lecture slides, and Test Bank, while a book companion site offers study resources for students. Teaching and Learning Experience: Includes frequent hypotheticals to illustrate key concepts and features. "The Hypothetical Family" is a running example introduced in Chapter 1 and continued throughout each chapter to exemplify a fictional, but life-like, estate planning and probate scenario. Drafting assignments are provided in each chapter, as well as the forms for every assignment. Covers all of the major topics, including ethical considerations, and offers solid review and application of concepts.

With a focus on practice and portfolio development, this book provides a detailed approach to the substantive law of estate planning and administration. It includes examples of a variety of documents and step-by-step instruction on their preparation. Each chapter includes practitioner-oriented assignments (role-playing activities, research assignments, portfolio assignments etc.) and coverage of estate planning and estate administration is balanced throughout. A separate chapter is devoted to tax law and offers a closer look at this more complicated area of the law."