Discipline: Legal Assisting (Paralegal Studies) Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Paralegal Studies 83


COURSE DESCRIPTION
83 Estate Planning and Probate Procedures Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
Estate planning for paralegals focusing on preparation of wills, trusts, life insurance, annuities, and tax issues. Introduces various methods of administering a deceased person’s estate by a paralegal. Probate and non-probate procedures are examined as well as court proceedings to protect minors and an incompetent person’s estate. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Estate planning for paralegals focusing on preparation of wills, trusts, life insurance, annuities, tax issues, and probate procedures.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Evaluate information needs with regard to estate planning.

2.   Contrast testate and intestate succession.

3.   Contrast insurance and annuities and evaluate the reasons for
      selecting the various types.

4.   Distinguish among revocable and irrevocable trusts and specialty
      trusts.

5.   Evaluate and draft legal documents using subject-related
      application software.

6.   Evaluate and draft a will.

7.   Evaluate and draft a trust.

8.   Analyze information necessary to develop and prepare probate
      petition.

9.   Evaluate procedures for handling small estates, informal
      proceedings, supervised probate, and ancillary administrations.

10.  Analyze requirements for Guardianship and Conservatorship
       proceedings.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Estate Planning Without a Will\
  2. The Will, Its Purpose and the Various Types
  3. Drafting a Will
  4. Types and Function of Trusts
  5. Drafting a Trust
  6. Attorney/Client Relationship
  7. Probate Alternatives
  8. Insurance, Annuities
  9. Office Procedure and Commencing Probate
  10. Marshaling the Assets
  11. Creditors
  12. Family Protection During Probate
  13. Administration of Estates
  14. Accountings/Taxes
  15. Final Exam  
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Multimedia
  • Case Studies
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Essays
  • Case files
  • Legal drafts
  • Discussion
  • Objective-type examinations
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • 1. WILLS, TRUSTS AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PARALEGAL, Dennis Hower, West Publishing.

    2. Reference: PROBATE, Moore, The Rutter Group
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