Welcome to Law 20 - Probate Law for Fall 2013.
1st week assignment - Let's get going. Make sure you read the class syllabus and print out the calendar of activities (duedates).
Required Textbook
order textbook
How to Probate an Estate in California 22nd edition by: Julia Nissley - Nolo Press - ISBN: 1413318290 / 9781413318296
Table of Contents
- An Overview
- First Steps in Settling an Estate
- Who Are the Heirs and Beneficiaries?
- What Is the Decedent’s Estate?
- Preparing a Schedule of the Assets and Debts
- How to Identify the Best Transfer Procedure
- What About Taxes?
- Transferring Title to Real Property
- How to Transfer Securities
- Joint Tenancy Property
- Transferring Small Estates Under $100,000
- How to Transfer Trust Property and Property Subject to Life Estates
- An Overview of the Probate Court Process
- Conducting a Simple Probate Court Proceeding
- Handling Property That Passes Outright to the
- Surviving Spouse or Domestic Partner
- If You Need Expert Help
Appendixes
A. California Probate Code §§ 13100–13106
B. Judicial Council Forms
C. Non-Judicial-Council Forms
Index
Probate Resources
1. California Judges Probate Bench Guide
2. Self Help - Probate - Santa Clara
Grade Distribution
Tests - 25% of your grade
Assignments - 25% of your grade
Probate Forms - 35% of your grade
Discussion Forums - 15% of your grade
The class is divided into quizzes - 25% of your grade, assignments - 25%, Class participation - Discussions - weekly online discussions -15% of your grade, and Probate Forms 25% of your grade
The quizzes are not timed, nor multiple choice, but are short question/answer "open book" exams to test your understanding of the textbook.
Assignments - 25%
The first assignment is to Assignment #1 - Prepare a simple will - and Assignment #2 - Calculate Attorneys Fees to probate an estate.
Class Participation - Discussions - 15%
During the 1st week of class you will post your introduction under discussions, and also post to the following discussion topics - law study, legal argumentation, strategies against procrastination, learning ethics, reading law cases. Thereafter, each week, online students will post three times to each
Probate Forms - 35%
Probate Forms - Look at the probate forms you will prepare and submit in this class.
You will use the following facts for all of your forms (facts are being updated for Fall 2013)
Class Rules
- No cheating please - copying work, or quiz answers from another student is "cheating".
- Be constructive and productive
- Do not gripe or whine
- Ask questions
- Contribute replies
- Expect to be misunderstood and to misunderstand
- Don't take things personally
- Be supportive
- Remember that mistakes are learning opportunities
- Learning is fun, challenging, frustrating, and exciting at the same time.
General Rules for Management:
- Keep your posts short - one to two paragraphs.
- Keep one topic/question per post - don't mix topics.
- Keep your posts short - one to two paragraphs.
- It is normal to feel lost. ASK lots of questions.
- Keep one topic/question per post - don't mix topics.
How does that sound? I think we can handle this. Did we forget anything?
Let the journey begin !
Brief Description of our coverage of Probate Law - The class covers the handling of an estate through the courts and probate administration.
updated: 8/18/13 @ 5:58 pm