Wills and trusts Flashcards

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1
Q

testamentary trust rule

A

for a valid testamentary trust, there must be
(1) an intent to create a trust,
(2) a beneficiary
(3) trust property,
(4) and a valid trust purpose

  • there must also be a trustee but it wont fail for lack of one
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2
Q

Where may you get the essential elements of a testamentary trust from?

A

(1) the terms of the will, (2) an existing writing incorporated by reference, or (3) the exercise of a power of appointment created in the will.

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3
Q

Charitable trust rules

A

(1) they must be for a charitable purpose
(2) they may be perpetual
(3) the cy pres doctrine applies when necessary
(4) they are usually enforceable by the atty general

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4
Q

Mixed trust def

A

when the beneficiaries of a single trust are both charitable and noncharitable, the trust is a mixed trust and the charitable trust special rules do not apply

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5
Q

If mixed trust, two separate trusts will be found if…

A

there is some indication as to
(1) how much of the corpus the settlor intended to be applied towards charitable purposes, OR
(2) how long the settlor intended the corpus to be applied towards charitable purposes

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6
Q

Cy pres elements

A

(1) when the specific charitable purpose indicate for the settlor is accomplished or becomes impracticable, the court may amend the trust as close as possible to the original one, rather than allow the trust to fail;
(2) the court must decide whether the settlor intended the trust to fail or would have wished the property devoted to a similar use

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7
Q

Modification by consent of an irrevocable trust (rule)

A

an irrevocable trust may be modified by the consent of all current and future beneficiaries if the modification will not impair a material purpose of the trust

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8
Q

Who may enforce (i.e. have standing to sue in the matter of) charitable trusts? (in the absence of statutes)

A

the atty general is the party authorized to bring suit to enforce charitable trusts

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9
Q

Testamentary capacity (rules)

A

(1) a testator has capacity to make a will if they are 18+ and of sound mind
(2) capacity is measures at execution

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10
Q

Testamentary capacity (elements)

A

Testator must have the ability to understand
(1) the nature of their act
(2) the nature and extent of their property
(3) the persons who are the natural objects of their bounty

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11
Q

Testamentary capacity evidential concerns

A

(1) there is a presumption that a testator had capacity; (2) the burden of proof is on the will contestant

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12
Q

Revocation of a will (rule) by subsequent instrument

A

(1) a will may be revoked in whole or in part by implication from the terms of a subsequent instrument; (2) to the extent that a second will makes an inconsistent disposition of property, the terms of the prior will are necessarily superseded or nullified

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13
Q

Can a conservator make a will for a conservatee?

A

Yes, if they have been so authorized by a court.

  • this is typically only approved if it is to dispose of property that the conservatee had not disposed of or to make a change due to changed circumstances
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14
Q

Undue influence (rule)

A

the execution or revocation of a will is ineffective to the extent the execution was procured by undue influence

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15
Q

California undue influence

A

There is a statutory presumption of undue influence for any provision of an instrument making a donative transfer to certain persons, including:
(1) the person who drafted the instrument, as well as their relatives;
(2) a person who transcribed the instrument or caused it to be transcribed and who was in a fiduciary relationship with the transferor (such as a conservator or trustee) when the instrument was transcribed

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16
Q

Testamentary capacity of a conservatee (rule)

A

A conservatee who is mentally competent may make her own will, or may make, amend, or revoke a will made by a conservator

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17
Q

Testamentary capacity of a conservatee (evidentiary concerns)

A

(1) a conservatee does not necessarily lack testamentary capacity;
(2) while a conservatorship creates a presumption of lack of the required mental capacity, it is not conclusive and may be overcome by showing that the testator still met the specific standard for mental capacity

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18
Q

When will a CA court enforce a will executed in another state?

A

When it was valid
(1) in the place of execution
(2) in the testator’s domicile at the time of death; or
(3) under CA law

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19
Q

What does CA law require for a will to be valid?

A

(1) compliance with the statutory formalities
(2) testamentary capacity
(3) testamentary intent

20
Q

What are the statutory formalities for a will in CA?

A

(1) in writing
(2) signed by T
(3) T must sign in the joint presence of at least two disinterested witnesses
(4) the witnesses must sign while T is still alive
(5) the witnesses must understand that the instrument is a will

21
Q

What is the harmless error doctrine?

A

if a will is not executed in compliance with the statutory formalities, it may still be enforceable if it can be established by clear and convincing evidence that when the T signed he intended it to be his will

22
Q

When is a holographic will enforceable in CA?

A

when the signature and material provisions are in the T’s handwriting

*a date is not required but is helpful if another will with inconsistent provisions exists.

23
Q

What is testamentary intent?

A

T had the present intention at execution to make the instrument his will

24
Q

What does a surviving spouse take if they are not provided for in the will or trust?

A

their share of CP and QCP + intestate share of SP

25
Q

When will a surviving spouse not receive an intestate share?

A

(1) Decedent’s omission of spouse was intentional
(2) the decedent provided for spouse by an outside transfer instead
(3) the surviving spouse waived the right to share in the estate by agreement; or
(4) the spouse was a care custodian of the decedent and other circumstances existed

26
Q

What is a surviving spouse’s intestate share? what if they have a child?

A

(1) if they leave the surviving spouse with one or more children, surviving spouse is entitled to 1/3 of the deceased spouse’s SP;

(2) the decedent’s 1/2 share of community property passes to the surviving spouse

27
Q

What property earned during marriage will be subject to CP laws

A

only the CP acquired while domiciled in CA

28
Q

If a couple acquired property outside of CA prior to moving, what is it?

A

Property that would otherwise be CP is actually quasi CP

29
Q

What does a surviving spouse retain of quasi CP in intestacy?

A

her 1/2 interest in the prop and the deceased spouse’s 1/2

30
Q

What does the omitted child statute do?

A

If child is omitted , will receive intestate share unless:

(1) intentional omission of child
(2) provided for child otherwise
(3) the T devised all of their estate to the other parent of the omitted child.

31
Q

Nonmarital children

A

In CA children born out of wedlock have the same inheritance rights as those born in wedlock

32
Q

How to prove parenthood after death

A

(1) obtain a judgement of paternity (2) this requires clear and convincing DNA evidence taken during the parent’s lifetime

33
Q

What is abatement?

A

When the estate is not enough to pay all claims against the estate, abatement is the process of reducing testamentary gifts to satisfy competing claims and bequests

  • CA’s statuary protection of omitted spouses and issue takes priority and can cause abatement of other bequests
34
Q

Is trust valid?

A

must have:
(1) intent to create a trust
(2) identifiable corpus
(3) ascertainable beneficiaries
(4) proper purpose
(5) mechanics and formalities

35
Q

Characteristics of charitable or honorary trusts

A

must have :
(1) indefinite beneficiaries
(2) perpetual in duration and
(3) cy pres doctrine applies

36
Q

What is the method CA uses for calculating intestate shares of property?

A

per capita with right of representation

37
Q

when will step/foster children be treated as adopted children for inheritance purposes?

A

(1) relationship began when child was a minor and continued through parties lives; and
(2) clear and convincing evidence shows that the stepparent or foster parent was unable to adopt because of legal barrier

***also adoption by estoppel

38
Q

unworthy heirs

A

(1) heir kills the intestate
(2) “bad parent”
(3) Abuse or neglect of elder or dependent adults

39
Q

how long must heir survive the intestate to inherit?

A

120 hours

40
Q

Valid will requirements

A

(1) legal capacity (18+)
(2) testamentary capacity
(3) testamentary intent
(4) formalities (either attested or holographic)

41
Q

survival required if beneficiary under a will

A

could be a mere instant

42
Q

CA’s anti lapse statute

A

allows descendants to take by substitution

43
Q

CA, can extrinssic evidence be used to resolve: patent ambiguity; latent ambiguity; or no ambiguity (but the beneficiary thinks there’s a mistake)

A

yes, yes, yes

44
Q

Revocation by physical act

A

burning (slightest singing sufficient),
tearing (must touch a material part),
obliterating,
cancelling (drawing lines through words
defacing the signature

+ intent to revoke

45
Q

can a proxy revoke a will

A

yes, if by testator’s direction and in their presence