Wills, Trusts, and Estates Administration

Currently a practicing lawyer, Dennis R. Hower is formerly a professor for the University of Minnesota. In 1983, the university presented him with the Horace T. Morse Amoco Foundation Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Peter T. Kahn is a Professor Emeritus for the University of Minnesota where he taught introductory law and political science courses for thirty years. His teaching philosophy centers on promoting a positive atmosphere for students and generating enthusiasm for learning about the legal system. A member of the American and Minnesota Bar Associations, Professor Kahn was a practicing attorney for nearly four decades, and earned his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

1. The Estate Plan, and the Purpose and Need for a Will. 2. The Concept of Property Related to Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration. 3. The Participants and the Proper Court. 4. The Law of Succession: Death Testate or Intestate. 5. Wills: Validity Requirements, Modification, Revocation, and Contests. 6. Preparation to Draft a Will: Checklists and the Conference with the Client. 7. Final Draft and Execution of a Valid Will. 8. Introduction to Trusts. 9. Classification of Trusts, the Living Trust, and Other Special Trusts. 10. Estate Planning. 11. Long-Term Care. 12. Personal Representatives: Types, Pre-Probate Duties, and Appointment. 13. Probate and Estate Administration. 14. Informal Probate Administration. 15. Tax Considerations in the Administration of Estates. 16. Ethical Principles Relevant to Practicing Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Appendix A: Sample Marital Deduction Testamentary Trust. Glossary. Index.