Estate Planning

Estate planning may be the only area of law that applies to everyone. This course focuses on estate planning from start to finish, building on the foundation laid in wills and trusts and with an emphasis on practical considerations. Starting with fundamental aspects of property transfers at death and their tax consequences, the course will explore topics including planning for incapacity (both financial and for medical decisionmaking), selection of fiduciaries (agents, executors and trustees) and fiduciary duties, and planning for beneficiaries (including spouses, children and charities). The course will also include discussion about a lawyer's role in the estate planning process, including retaining clients and addressing conflicts of interest, estate plan execution, and preventing litigation over estate plans. By the end of the course, students will complete their own estate plans.