Decedents' Estates: Cases and Materials

The fourth edition of this casebook continues the use of fact-driven judicial decisions to illustrate the expanding list of transfer of wealth devices via non-probate trusts and payable-on-death options, valid Last Will and Testaments, and statutory intestate succession. But the fourth edition also includes material pertinent to the increasing usage of assisted reproduction, including surrogacy and the newly revised Uniform Parentage Act treatment of establishing paternity and maternity. The casebook also addresses the impact of nonmarital cohabitation on inheritance claims upon the death of a cohabiting partner.
References to state and federal taxation include current exemptions and the overlap between federal and state tax law is discussed. Included too are references to the newly enacted Uniform Directed Trust Act, the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act, the Uniform Powers of Appointment Act and the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. Self-settled asset protection trust legislation, trust protectors, dynasty trusts, and socially responsible investing are all offered for discussion.