Estate Administration

Catalog description

This course provides an overview of the probate process and administration of decedents’ estates. Students will gain familiarity with the steps that should be taken upon death, the court filings necessary to probate a will, the duties of a personal representative, applicable tax and accounting matters, and other aspects of estate administration, such as non-probate transfers. The course includes a practical component that will allow students to develop skills in drafting petitions, pleadings, and other motion papers. Covered topics may also include the role of the public administrator and state attorney general, representing estates of all sizes, access to justice issues, the judicial process, ethical concerns in estate representation, claim disposition, and miscellaneous estate matters. Students will have the opportunity to observe court proceedings, including calendar calls, conferences, and hearings. This course is designed for those interested in wills, trusts, estates, and probate law, as well as those interested in litigation more generally.