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.

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.

Using an effective “learn by doing” approach, Wills, Trusts, and Estates for Legal Assistants emphasizes examples and applications, and includes hundreds of real life situations with detailed explanations. Students understand what the rules of law mean and how they apply in a real world context. The complete topic coverage introduces wills and trusts, intestate succession, estate administration, nonprobate transfers, and other estate planning issues such as taxes and malpractice. A balanced, experienced author team skillfully blends theory with practice and extensive pedagogy reinforces the text, with marginal terms and a glossary, ethical points, checklists, practice tips, and sample forms. The instructor's manual provides a summary of chapters, a model course outline, exam questions, assignment ideas, exercises, and a research guide for wills, trusts, and estates. New to the Sixth Edition: The impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on federal income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes Rights and liabilities of same-sex spouses Electronic wills and access to a decedent’s digital assets Techniques for demonstrating testamentary capacity Directed trusts and trusts authorizing trustees to consider environmental, social, and governance factors in making investment decisions Modifying the terms of an irrevocable trust by “decanting” Professors and students will benefit from: lively, lucid, and conversational style grabs and holds students’ interest learning-by-doing approach gives students a concrete grasp of abstract concepts Practice Tips guide students through the critical process of preparing and managing files flexible structure allows professors to follow the presentation of concepts in the book or organize the chapters to fit their syllabus

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.

For courses in Wills, Trusts, and Estates (Legal Studies & Paralegal) Flexible, complete coverage of all pertinent topics in the field of estate planning, in a format that's accessible to all levels of students Wills, Trusts, and Estates Administration is specifically designed for paralegal students and legal professionals. It presents the fundamentals of the field in a flexible approach that captures the complexities of modern estate planning while maintaining a clear, accessible style. The book's self-contained chapters let instructors easily adapt the material to their own classes and students. Written by a lawyer with 30 years of experience in the estate-planning field, it covers practical issues that arise in law office--situations that students will actually encounter when they begin their careers. The focus is on issues that concern today's typical American client, such as the trend towards an aging population, the growing population of families in second marriages, blended families and families in which the grandparents are raising their grandchildren, as well as those families that include non-married or same-sex couples. Current statistics concerning the aging population in the United States keep readers up to date on how current trends affect the estate planning industry. Neither too complicated for a two-year program, nor too simple for a full four-year program, this book does not presuppose a prior background in legal studies of any kind. The book is appropriate for the longtime continuing student, and it is ideal for the lifelong learner.