Overview of Major Topics Covered:
Introduction; Reasons People Die Intestate; When Intestacy Occurs; Background and History; Terminology; What Happens Upon Intestate Death; Surviving Spouse Protection; Descendants; Advancements; Ancestors and Collaterals; Half and Whole Blood; Improper Conduct; Survival; Transfer of Expectancy; Assignment; Disclaimers; Other Intestacy Issues; Choice of Law; Locating Heirs; Express Disinheritance; Introduction; Requirements of a Valid Will; Legal Capacity; Testamentary Capacity; Testamentary Intent; Formalities—Attested; Holographic; Nuncupative; Conditional Wills; Combination Wills; Malpractice and Professional Responsibility; Change in Circumstances; Changes in Value; Will Revocation—By Operation of Law; Revocation by Physical Act; Interpretation and Construction; Will Contests; Insane Delusion; Undue Influence; Duress; Fraud; Mistake; Remedy; Will Contest Avoidance; Estate Administration; Probate Avoidance Techniques; Inter Vivos Gifts; Gift Causa Mortis; Trusts; Concurrent Ownership; Multiple-Party Accounts; Contracts; Disability Planning; Property Management; Health Care Decisions; Death Planning; Assisted Suicide; Anatomical Gifts; Disposition of Body; Estate Planning Overview; Examination Approach and Strategy; Introduction; Uses of Trusts; Trust Creation; Trust Intent; Statute of Uses; Combination of Parties; Distinguishing Trusts from Other Relationships; Methods of Express Trust Creation; Consideration; Statute of Frauds; Rule Against Perpetuities; Trust Purposes; The Settlor; Trust Property; The Trustee; The Beneficiary; Spendthrift Provisions; Discretionary Trusts; Support Trusts; Charitable Trusts; Pour Over Wills; Life Insurance Trusts; Trust Administration—Overview; Standard of Care; Investments; Trustee Powers; Trust Distribution; Delegation of Duties; Duty of Loyalty; Contract Liability; Tort Liability; Principal and Income Allocation; Accountings; Trustee Compensation; Judicial Modification of Trusts; Modification of Trusts by Parties; Trust Termination; Trust Enforcement—Procedural Matters; Remedies Against the Trustee; Remedies Against the Beneficiary; Remedies Involving Trust Property; Remedies Against Third Parties; Enforcing Charitable Trusts; Barring of Remedies; Trust Accounts; Resulting Trusts; Constructive Trusts; Examination Strategy

About the Professor:
Professor Beyer frequently receives distinguished and outstanding faculty awards at the St. Mary’s University School of Law where he has taught since 1981, except for visits at Boston College, the University of New Mexico, Southern Methodist University and Santa Clara University. He specializes in wills, estates, trusts, and estate planning and is a frequent contributor to both scholarly and practice-oriented publications. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles including “Teaching Materials on Estate Planning,” a volume of West Group’s American Casebook Series, and a two-volume treatise on Texas wills law, also with West Group. Professor Beyer received his J.D. summa cum laude from Ohio State University and his LL.M. and J.S.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. He is a coif member and an academic fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.