LAWS 6679 Trusts and Estates
This course explores the basic law surrounding the disposition of property at death: (1) overview of the estate planning process and the policy considerations regarding inheritance law; (2) the process by which property is distributed in the absence of a will (intestacy); (3) the law of wills, examining challenges to the will, formal requirements for the execution of a valid will, revocation, and construction; (4) will substitutes and planning for incapacity; (5) the law of trusts, including revocable and pour-over trusts, and creditor and beneficiary rights; (6) brief coverage of powers of appointment, perpetuities, charitable trusts, and general tax considerations. This course does not address in detail tax-motivated estate planning (see instead Estate and Gift Tax and Estate Planning).
Course overview
- Department
- Law
- School
- LAW
- Credits
- 4
- Level
- Graduate
- Offered
- Every Fall
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.39 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.57 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 10
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Ray Madoff | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 14 of 17 |
| Fall 2025 | Thomas Mitchell | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 18 of 22 |
| Spring 2025 | Ray Madoff | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 66 of 70 |
| Fall 2024 | Stuart Hamilton | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4–6 hrs/week | 47 of 56 |
| Spring 2024 | Ray Madoff | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 76 of 80 |
| Fall 2023 | Thomas Mitchell | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 of 46 |
| Spring 2023 | Stuart Hamilton | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4–6 hrs/week | 71 of 78 |
| Fall 2022 | Ray Madoff | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 69 of 78 |
| Spring 2022 | Ray Madoff | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 49 of 79 |
| Fall 2021 | Stuart Hamilton | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4–6 hrs/week | 50 of 65 |