Direct URL: 6-digit join code: Prof. Gerry W. Beyer Spring 2016 1. Texas Wills & Estates: Cases and Materials (7 th edition) 2. Texas Estate Planning Statutes with Commentary ( edition) 3. Texas Trust Law: Cases & Materials (2 nd edition) [not need until March 10] Attendance taken via Top Hat. Attendance will close at 9:00:30 a.m. Mid-Term (50%) Intestacy & Wills March 25, 2016 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Final (50%) Trusts May 12, 2016 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Combination of: Lecture Socratic Method Top Hat Responses Discussion Thursday! Life is 100% fatal. 1. Physical Strength and/or Finding 2. Bury with Decedent 3. Intestate Succession 4. Wills 5. Will Substitutes Based on common law (except Louisiana). Great similarity but key rules often very different Will valid in Texas might be invalid in New York. Default rules may be completely opposite. Uniform Probate Code not widely accepted (only about 15 states) Statehood to 1956 Uncodified statutes 1956 to December 31, 2013 Probate Code January 1, 2014 to present Estates Code Common Law Split: Crown = real property Church = personal property Descent = succession to real property Distribution = succession to personal property Heir = person who receives property from an intestate decedent Consanguinity = blood Affinity = marriage At common law Will = real property Testament = personal property Devise = gift of real property Bequest = gift of personal property Legacy gift of money X Beneficiary = any recipient of property (any type) Codicil = amendment to an existing will