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60 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
Formal requirements for Execution of a Will |
1. Testamentary capacity - over 18 and sound mind) 2. Testamentary intent - intent this document to be will 3. In writing and signed |
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What if a portion of the will follows the T's signature?
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UPC/Majority: If present at execution, everything above signature is valid, below invalid
KY: If additional clause appears below T's signature, then whole will is void |
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What is a handwritten will called? How much must be written by T to be valid? |
Holographic Will: in T's writing w/ T's signature KY: Entire will or invalid |
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What are the majority and minority/KY positions on witness presence? |
Majority: Conscious Presence test - conscious of each other and what they are doing |
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T is domiciled in Blue State but owns real estate in Red State. On vacation in Purple State, T executes a will meeting Blue State's legal requirements but not Red State's. T dies after changing domicile to Red State. Is will valid for purposes of disposition in or the Red State real estate? |
UPC: In order to be valid and subject to full, faith, and credit, a will must comply with: 2. Domicile at Death (Red), |
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Are gifts to witness of wills within the will valid? |
UPC: Valid KY: Gift invalid, unless: 1. One other disinterested witness, or 2. If witness is heir w/o will, then takes lesser of amount given or intestate share |
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What is the best practice for proving a will?
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Elements: At time will is executed (or later in T's lifetime), T and witness sign: 3. Stating all elements of due execution were performed |
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What is revocation by physical act? |
1. Intent to revoke |
KY: cutting, tearing, burning, obliterating, canceling, or destroying |
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What are the elements to presume revocation? |
1. Will was last in T's possession, and |
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How do we handle a lost/destroyed will? |
Prove by clear & convincing evidence: 1. Valid execution |
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How do we interpret codicils? |
A codicil is a later testamentary instrument that alters a previously executed will. |
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How does divorce impact a will?
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All provisions to spouse are revoked as a matter of law (but revived if T remarries ex-spouse) |
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What doctrine saves an otherwise revoked will? |
Dependent Relative Revocation 1. T revokes his will under the mistaken belief that another disposition of his property would be effective, and 2. But for the mistake belief, T would not have wanted his first will revoked |
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May a first will revoked by a second will be revived? |
UPC/minority: Yes, if
KY: No |
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May a will devise property "as designated in a memo, that I plan to write, that will be found attached to this will?" |
Yes - Doctrine of Incorporation by Reference, if:
KY: limits incorporation by reference to strict requirements, even for tangible property |
(KY) limits Incorporation by reference to strict requirements, even for tangible property |
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Will devises an auto to Neil. 3 months after execution, T trades Hummer for Prius. What effect? |
Doctrine of Independent Significance: acts having independent lifetime significance may impact the will |
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What happens if a beneficiary dies before T? What does the law do to prevent lapse? |
Normally, gifts lapse, passing to residuary estate. Anti-lapse saves gift for issue of beneficiary, if the predeceased beneficiary: 1. Was in a specified degree of relationship with T, and 2. Left descendants who survived T
KY: applies to any predeceasing beneficiary who leaves surviving issue
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What are the five kinds of gifts? |
In order of sacrificed property: |
KY |
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What happens if specific property no longer in estate at death? |
Ademption KY: Devisee receives value, unless T expressed intention that gift fail |
KY |
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How are gifts of stock treated? |
UPC: Includes additional shares from: |
KY; same, but |
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Does a specific devisee of encumbered property take the property encumbered?
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UPC/Majority: Must take encumbered, absent explicit intent otherwise
KY: May pay off lien from funds in residuary estate, unless explicit intent otherwise |
KY |
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How do courts handle ambiguities, mistakes, and blanks in the will?
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Extrinsic evidence allowed to clear up latent ambiguity |
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If decedent survived by spouse, and decedent is intestate, how much does spouse take?
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UPC: Spouse takes all, unless issue is not of spouse's, then first $100k and 1/2 remainder
KY: 1/2 of surplus real property and personal property + life estate in 1/3 of real property conveyed during the marriage with the spouse's release |
KY: 1/2 of surplus real property and personal property + life estate in 1/3 of real property conveyed during the marriage with the spouse's release |
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If D not survived by spouse or descendants, who takes intestate? |
Following order: 1. Parents or surviving parent 2. Siblings and their descendants 3. 1/2 to both grandparents and their descendants 4. 1/2 to nearest kin on maternal side and paternal side
KY: If no descendants, then portion not passing to surviving spouse goes to: 1. D's parent(s) (all or 1/2 each) 2. Descendants of D's parents (D's siblings and their issue) 3. Surviving spouse 4. 1/2 to both sets of grandparents 5. D's nearest kin 6. D's spouse's nearest kin |
KY: If no descendants, then portion not passing to surviving spouse goes to: 1. D's parent(s) (all or 1/2 each) 2. Descendants of D's parents (D's siblings and their issue) 3. Surviving spouse 4. 1/2 to both sets of grandparents 5. D's nearest kin 6. D's spouse's nearest kin |
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Do illegitimate children take intestate? |
Children inherit from natural mother, and maybe from natural father if: legitimatize paternity (but even after death of father)
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What is the significance of 120 hours? |
Deceased #1 pre-deceased decedent #2, unless #1 survived #2 by 120 hours (unless contrary intent in will) |
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What is the effect of a gift in the lifetime on the estate/probate? |
UPC/Majority: Advancement is a lifetime gift to descendent - Applies intestate - No advancement unless declared such in a contemporaneous writing or acknowledgment by heir
KY: presumes advancement
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What is the homestead exemption/elective share? |
Given over and above the estate - right to live in home as long as spouse chooses
KY: First $15k of personal property set aside for surviving spouse or surviving children |
KY |
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What bars a party from sharing in the estate? |
Felonious and intentional killing: killer treated as predeceasing decedent
KY: also any adultery or parent willfully abandons care and maintenance of child |
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Do pretermitted children or children thought dead take under a will? |
Pretermitted children (born/adopted after will execution): take intestate share, unless: 1. Omission appears intentional KY: No relief for child thought dead unless provision appears in will |
(KY) |
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Who has standing in a will contest? |
Anyone who would take more as heir if no will or as beneficiary under a prior will |
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What are indicators for testamentary capacity or lack thereof? |
1) Did T understand the nature of act? |
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How may contestants show undue influence on will?
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1) Existence and exertion of influence |
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What is insane delusion?
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T adheres to delusion against all reason and evidence, despite being otherwise sane, and will is product of that delusion |
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What is the definition of a trust?
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- Creator (settlor) |
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What is the trust's requirement of intent? |
Title + intent |
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What is the trust's requirement of delivery?
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Signature alone insufficient; must deliver subject matter of the trust |
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What is the trust's Res requirement?
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Subject matter of trust must be certain and identifiable |
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What is the Ascertainable Beneficiaries requirement?
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Required for private trusts, but not charitable trusts |
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What are three will substitutes (trusts)?
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(1) Revocable trusts are valid |
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Can there be only one trustee? Only one beneficiary?
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Yes, but sole trustee cannot also be sole beneficiary (cannot be both unless there are two of either) |
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Are oral trusts valid?
Distinctions? Exceptions? |
Majority: Enforceable if of personalty; Statute of Frauds (SoF) applies to realty
KY: Oral land trust may be proven by clear & convincing evidence (if no writing) |
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What are secret and semi-secret trusts? |
Secret trust: Devise in will w/ oral promise to hold in trust |
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How are charitable trusts special? (4 ways)
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1. Exception to RAP (can last forever) |
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What are beneficiary's remedies if trustee fails to distribute income?
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1. May file suit for order to distribute income |
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Creditors v. Trust
Who prevails? |
Creditors cannot touch the corpus/principal (owned by trustee) but may get income |
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"income in support . . . sole discretion of trustee . . ." What effect of such language? |
Discretionary Support Trust: Beneficiary has very limited right to income, basically only when in need |
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What does the Duty of Loyalty mean to the trustee? |
No self-dealing (key) 2. No borrowing trust funds 4. No transactions re: trust resulting in personal gain |
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Besides Duty of Loyalty, what is the standard for trustee management? |
Prudent Investor Rule |
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What is a trustee's duty between multiple beneficiaries? |
Duty of Impartiality: may not favor one beneficiary over another (unless terms allow)
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What are the implied powers of a trustee? What power have most statutes added? |
Implied Powers 2. Improve |
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What is a trustee's liability? (3 types) |
1. Breach: beneficiary may |
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How may a trustee be personally liable? |
Delegation to agent situations: |
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What are the (4) basic principles of Trust Accounting |
1. Income beneficiaries get income but remaindermen entitled to trust corpus - Extraordinary means capital improvements, taxes on sales, other non-recurring and is charged to principal |
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Trust Termination; what requirements? |
Beneficiaries may if 2. No further purpose served, and 3. No minor/unborn beneficiaries |
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Who does what in a power of appointment? (5 possible parties)
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Donee creates power; donee exercises it |
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What are the different types of power of appointment? (4 possible kinds of powers) |
1. General powers may be used in favor of donee, donee's estate, or creditors; 2. Special powers may not 4. Presently exercisable powers exercisable during life |
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Must trusts be in writing?
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Most states do not require a writing for a trust of personal property
Statute of Frauds requires it for real property. |
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Is a promise to create a trust in the future enforceable? On what conditions?
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If supported by valid consideration, a valid trust will arise in the future, even if the res property has not yet been acquired |
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What is the effect of a valid disclaimer by a beneficiary of the trust?
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Same as wills, the effect is as if beneficiary has predeceased settlor and remainder interest is accelerated if appropriate.
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