Trusts and Estates Flashcards
this is gonna be your JOB Heidi
what is nonprobate property
property that does not pass through the probate court system and is not governed by a will or laws of intestacy
types of non-probate property
life insurance, joint tenancies, tenancies by the entirety, inter vivos trusts, bank account trusts, deeeds, contracts, intervivos gifts
total intestacy
decedent dies without having made a will or their will is denied probate
partial intestacy
decedent’s will does not dispose of all the decedent’s prop
what state’s intestacy law applies for personal property?
the law of the decedent’s domicile at death
what state’s intestacy law applies for real property?
the law of the state where the real property is located
Intestate had three children, Son One, Son Two, and Daughter. Son One predeceased Intestate, survived by two children of his own, Arthur and Brenda, both of whom survive Intestate. Son Two also predeceased Intestate, but Son Two had no surviving descendants.
How would Intestate’s property be distributed applying a per stirpes distribution?
D receives 1/2
A receives 1/4
B receives 1/4
One share is created for each living child of the decedent and one share is created for each deceased child who has at least one surviving relative. Each receives one share and one share passes to a deceased child’s descendants by representation.
Here, there are two shares of the decedent’s estate: 1/2 for D and 1/2 for Son 1 bc he has surviving children. D takes 1/2 and A and B split the 1/2 so each gets 1/4
per stirpes distribution
one share is created for each child and one share is created for each deceased child who has at least one surviving descendant. then the kids of the dead parent split the dead parent’s share equally.
what method does the common law use to compute shares of descendants?
classic per stirpes
what method do the majority of states use to compute shares of descendants?
per capita with representation
per capita with representation
property is divided into equal shares at the first generational level in which there are living takers
If all children are deceased, each grandchild takes an equal share (rather than what the parent would have taken if they were alive)
Intestate had two children, Son and Daughter. Son predeceasedIntestate survived by two children, Arthur and Brenda, both of whom survived Intestate. How would Intestate’s property be distributed applying a per capita with representation distribution?
D receives 1/2, A and B each receive 1/4 (divide at D’s level bc it’s the first gen alive
Intestate had four children, Arthur, Brenda, Charles, and Doris. Both Arthur and Brenda died before Intestate. Arthur was survived by one child, Edward, and Brenda was survived by two children, Fran and George.
How would Intestate’s property be distributed using a
per capita with representation distribution?
Divided into shares at C and D’s level then divided between the kids
E takes 1/4
F and G each take 1/8
C and D take 1/4 each
adoption by estoppel
a child can inherit from a stepparent or foster parent when legal proceedings for adoption failed or were not completed
When can a nonmaritial child inherit from their father?
1) if the dad married the mom after the kid’s birth
2) the dad was adjudicated to be the dad in a paternity suit
3) dad is proved to be the father by clear and convincing evidence after death and during probate
what is an advancement
a gift during the deceased’s lifetime to an heir made with the intent that the gift is applied against the heir’s inheritance from the estate
how does common law view a substantial lifetime gift
Presumes an advancement
how does the modern law view a substantial lifetime gift
A lifetime gift is presumptively not an advancement unless shown to be intended as an advancement
How does the UPC view a substantial lifetime gift?
by the strictest standard:
A lifetime gift is only an advancement if:
1- it is declared as such in a writing by the donor at the time of the gift or
2- is acknowledged as an advancement in a writing by the heir
what is the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act?
when there is no evidence that one person predeceased the other, the property of each decedent is disposed of as if they each survived the other
But if there is evidence that an heir or bene survived the decedent even by minutes -> the USDA doesn’t apply
what is the 120 hour rule?
The rule that the UPC applies
A person must survive the decedent by 120 hours to take any distribution from the decedent
when and how can you disclaim an inheritance or gift?
(most states/common law)
With a written disclaimer, signed by the disclaimant, acknowledged before a notary, and filed with the appropriate court within nine months of decedent’s death or the bene’s 21st bday
when and how can you disclaim an inheritance or gift?
(modern view)
Can disclaim at any time (with the right formalities) as long as you have not accepted or used any benefits from the gift
what is the effect of a disclaimer
the disclaimed property passes as if the disclaimant had predeceased the decedent. The disclaimant cannot choose the recipient of the property
what is the evidentiary standard for applying a slayer statute when there is no conviction of murder?
That the killing was unlawful or intentional by a preponderance of the evidence
Elements for testamentary capacity; the testator must have the capacity to understand
1- the nature of their act (that the testator is executing a will)
2- the nature and extent of their property
3- the people who are the natural objects of their bounty (family members) and
4- the ability to formulate an orderly scheme of distribution
at what point in the will process is capacity measured?
When the will was executed
what is testamentary intent?
the testator has the present intent that the instrument operate as their will
elements of testamentary intent
When it is unclear whether an instrument was meant to be testamentary
Must show that the testator
1- intended to dispose of the property
2- intended the disposition occur upon his death, AND
3- intended that the instrument in question accomplish the disposition
Will formalities
Requirements to create a valid will
- A writing
- Signed by the testator (or by another at the testator’s direction and in their presence) in the presence of
- two attesting witnesses
- who sign in the testator’s presence
Common law interested witness rule
A witness who was a bene was not competent and could not serve as an attesting witness unless there were two other noninterested witnesses
conscious presence test
Presence requirement of will formation is satisfied if each party (testator and witnesses) was conscious of where the other parties were and what they were doing and the act of signing took place within the general awareness and cognizance of the other parties
scope of vision test
presence requirement of will formation will be satisified only if the person was so close to the other party that they could have seen the signing had they looked
self-proving affidavit
document that recites that all the elements of will formation were properly performed as sworn by the testator and witnesses before a notary public at will formation; helps to streamline the probate process bc all elements are deemed satisfied
Some states and the UPC allow ________ to substitute for attestation of witnesses
notarization
By what standard does the proponent of a will have to establish to prove that the testator intended the document to be their will
clear and convincing evidence
holographic will
will that is entirely in the testator’s handwriting, has no attesting witnesses, and is signed by the testator
UPC holographic will rule
UPC and some states will accept a holographic that contains some typewritten text as long as the non-handwritten portion is not material
what is a devise
gift of real property
recipient of a devise is a devisee
what is a bequest
gift of personal property
what is a legacy
a gift of personal property in a will, usually of money. The recipient is a legatee
What is a specfic devise or legacy
A gift of a particular item of property distinct from all other objects in the testator’s estate
what is a general legacy
a gift of a specified amount of money or general property not attached to a specific asset. Paid out of the general assets of the estate
“I leave $10,000 to my son, John”
what is a demonstrative legacy
A gift to be paid from a specific source or fund. If that source is insufficient, the gift can be paid from the general assets of the estate
“I leave $5k to be paid from my savings account at Chase Bank to my niece, Heidi”
what is a residuary legacy
A gift of the remainder of the estate after all debts, taxes, expenses, and other legacies have been paid
“I leave the residue of my estate to my wife”
ademption by extinction
the failure of a gift bc the property is no longer in the testator’s estate at the time of their death
what types of divises does ademption apply to?
specific devises and bequests
common statutory exceptions to the ademption doctrine
- replacement property if the testator replaced the gifted item with another similar item
- balance of purchase price: testator sold the gifted item and purchaser still owes money to testator –> bene can receive the remainding money
- bene can receive condemnation award or casualty insurance proceeds if they are paid after the tesator’s death
- if testator became incompetent and the specifically devised property was sold by a guardian, the bene may be entitled to money equal to the amount of the proceeds
ademption by satisfaction
testator gives a gift to the bene during their lifetime with the intention that the gift be deducted from the bene’s share of the estate
The intent for the gift to be a satisfaction must be present at the time the gift was made
UPC requirements for ademption by satisfaction
1- satisfaction is provided for in the will or in a contemporaneous writing or
2- the devisee acknowledges the gift as a satisfaction in a writing
what does the bene receive after a stock split occurs in their specific bequest of stock? (common law)
Bene gets any additional shares produced by the stock split but does not include shares produced by a stock dividend
what does the bene receive after a stock split occurs in their specific bequest of stock? (UPC and majority)
Bene gets any additional shares produced by the stock split and any shares produced by a stock dividend. WIll also take an increase in securities froma merger or corporate reorg