Standard |
PLS 110 - Wills, Trusts, Probate, and
Administration
Provides a general framework of the substantive theory of wills, trusts, and estates. The student receives practical information to better enable him or her to assist in the drafting of wills and other documents, and in the probate and administration process. Topics include: wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; probate of wills and administration of estates; document preparation for other probate proceedings; general jurisdiction of the probate court; terminology of wills and estate practice; client interviews; and document preparation.
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Competency Areas |
Hours
|
|
|
Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney |
Class |
5 |
|
Probate of Wills and Administration of Estates |
D. Lab |
0 |
|
Document Preparation for Other Probate Proceedings |
P. Lab/O.B.I. |
0 |
|
General Jurisdiction of the Probate Court |
Credit |
5 |
|
Terminology of Wills and Estate Practice |
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Client Interviews |
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Document Preparation |
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Prerequisite: |
Program admission |
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Corequisite: |
PLS 101 |
Course Guide |
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Competency |
After completing this
section, the student will: |
Hours |
||
|
Class |
D.Lab |
P.Lab/ O.B.I. |
||
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WILLS, TRUSTS, AND POWERS OF
ATTORNEY |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Overview of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney |
Discuss the substantive law of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. |
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PROBATE OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Ethics |
Describe the ethical considerations involved in using legal assistants in this area. |
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Documents |
Obtain printed forms. |
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Prepare printed forms. |
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Draft documents. |
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Obtain signatures. |
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Proofread prepared materials. |
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Classify documents/materials. |
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Summarize documents/materials. |
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Coordinate document notarization. |
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File pleadings and/or documents. |
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Conduct client interviews. |
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Locate witnesses. |
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Monitor client's case. |
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Keep client informed. |
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Prepare request for service of process. |
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Monitor service of process. |
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Describe the procedure of legal notice. |
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Obtain hearing and/or court dates. |
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Access court records. |
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Access administrative/governmental records. |
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Consult with officers of the court, administrative agencies, and resource persons. |
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Assist in case management. |
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Gather documentary and physical evidence. |
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Inventory assets and liabilities. |
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Verify investigative information. |
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Analyze documentary and physical evidence. |
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Obtain certified/attested/authenticated documents. |
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Conduct nonlegal research. |
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DOCUMENT PREPARATION FOR OTHER PROBATE PROCEEDINGS |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Describe the ethical considerations involved in using legal assistants in other probate proceedings. |
|
|
|
|
|
Obtain printed forms. |
|
|
|
|
|
Prepare printed forms. |
|
|
|
|
|
Draft documents. |
|
|
|
|
|
Obtain signatures. |
|
|
|
|
|
Obtain certified/attested/authenticated documents. |
|
|
|
|
|
Proofread prepared materials. |
|
|
|
|
|
Classify documents/materials. |
|
|
|
|
|
Summarize documents/materials. |
|
|
|
|
|
Coordinate document notarization. |
|
|
|
|
|
File pleadings and/or documents. |
|
|
|
|
|
Monitor client's case. |
|
|
|
|
|
Keep client informed. |
|
|
|
|
|
Prepare request for service of process. |
|
|
|
|
|
Monitor service of process. |
|
|
|
|
|
Describe the procedure of legal notice. |
|
|
|
|
|
Obtain hearing and/or court dates. |
|
|
|
|
|
Access court records. |
|
|
|
|
|
Access administrative/governmental records. |
|
|
|
|
|
Consult with officers of the court, administrative agencies, and resource persons. |
|
|
|
|
|
Assist in case management. |
|
|
|
|
|
Gather documentary and physical evidence. |
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory assets and liabilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
Verify investigative information. |
|
|
|
|
|
Analyze documentary and physical evidence. |
|
|
|
|
|
Conduct nonlegal research. |
|
|
|
|
GENERAL JURISDICTION OF THE PROBATE COURT |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Define terms associated with wills and estates. |
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CLIENT INTERVIEWS |
5 |
0 |
0 |
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Describe the ethical considerations involved in using legal assistants in interviewing clients. |
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Interview clients and witnesses. |
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Gather relevant facts from clients and witnesses to draft documents. |
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DOCUMENT PREPARATION |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
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Describe the ethical considerations involved in using legal assistants in preparing documents. |
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Assist in the drafting of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. |
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Prepare the necessary forms to probate a will or administer an estate. |
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Prepare the forms for other probate proceedings. |
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Complete forms. |
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Suggested Resources |
Suggested Resources include textbooks shown below or most current
edition.
McConaughey, D. E. (1984). Wills: The truth
about probate. Norcross, GA: Harrison.
ABA Journal
American Lawyer
Fulton County Daily Report
Georgia State Bar Journal
Legal Economics
Legal Professional
National Paralegal Professional
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