This course will consider emerging issues in trusts, estates, and wealth preservation. Topics will include the legal and social science aspects of innovative death technologies, planning for digital assets, the role of trusts and retirement planning in asset protection, and creative estate planning strategies. The course will also briefly consider some of the legal rules that apply to persons of significant wealth, whose estate plans are designed to protect assets and accomplish tax efficient intergenerational transfers of property. Students will have two short essays to complete, and reading assignments will be front-loaded to allow students to read materials before the class begins and to render the week’s work more manageable.
Course Learning Objectives
The successful student should be able to:
- Synthesize competing practical, ethical, and policy issues that are raised by emerging issues in trusts and estates;
- Articulate and express well-informed opinions about potential legal impacts of innovation;
- Demonstrate skills in legal analysis, reasoning, problem solving; and written and oral communication;
- Listen actively and engage with speakers and other students to share viewpoints and identify weaknesses in other’s arguments.