Family Law and Estate Planning (FMEST)

This course examines the disposition of property at death by intestate succession and by will. The execution, revocation, construction, and contest of wills, as well as limits on the power to dispose of property by will, are studied. This course also examines the creation, purposes and termination of trusts, including informal trusts, and the interrelationship between trusts and wills.

This course studies legal problems pertaining to the organization, operation, and dissolution of the family. It includes material on privacy, alternative families, marriage and annulment, child and spousal support, termination of parental rights, adoption and care of the child, divorce, alimony, property distribution at divorce, and custody of children.

This course presents a survey of the legal issues associated with aging, including introduction to national and global demographics on population aging; comparative policies on Social Security; quality of health care, including care under Medicare and Medicaid (and alternative forms of payment systems for health care and long term care); age discrimination in employment; housing for older adults, including nursing homes, assisted living and continuing care facilities; advance health care decision making; and fiduciary duties of agents and family members.

Studies the concepts and techniques required to develop estate plans. Topics include the initial client interview, drafting of wills and trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, disability planning and income taxation of trusts and estates. The psychological and ethical aspects of estate planning will be covered. The course will also survey the federal gift, estate and generation skipping taxes. The course is intended to be an introduction to estate planning, valuable to both the person intending to specialize in the field and the general practitioner.

This course deals primarily with the handling of estates following the decedent's death. Emphasis is thus placed on accounts and distribution, the responsibilities of estate administrators and personal representatives, inheritance tax problems and will contests. Other topics include avoidance of probate and the drafting of wills.