Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog

Uniform Trust and Estate Statutes, 2025-2026 Edition

Uniform Trust and Estate Statutes, 2025-2026 Edition prepared by Prof. Thomas P. Gallanis (George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School) will be published in June and available for Fall 2025 courses. Here is the publisher's description of this book:

This statutory supplement is ideal for use in basic and advanced courses in trusts and estates and for practitioner reference. The 2025-2026 edition includes the updated text and official comments (including amendments in 2025) of the Uniform Probate Code, Uniform Trust Code, and more than twenty other acts relating to the field of trusts and estates, including the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act 2023, Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act, Uniform Electronic Wills Act, Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act, Uniform Directed Trust Act, Uniform Trust Decanting Act, Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, Uniform Powers of Appointment Act, Uniform Prudent Investor Act, Uniform Custodial Trust Act, Uniform Cohabitants’ Economic Remedies Act, Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act, Uniform Parentage Act 2017, Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, Uniform Premarital and Marital Agreements Act, Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, Model Marital Property Act, Model Protection of Charitable Assets Act, and the amendments to the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act which is now renamed the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act. The book includes relevant provisions of the Restatement Third of Trusts and Restatement Third of Property, as well as selected prior versions of sections of the Uniform Probate Code. The book is ideal for teaching basic and advanced courses in trusts and estates. It is also ideal for practitioner reference.

For Every Winner a Loser: John Lancaster

John Lanchester's essay, For Every Winner a Loser, explores the role of finance in modern society, arguing that its complexity often serves to obscure systemic inequalities and enrich the few at the expense of many. He examines the historical development of financial systems, critiques their detachment from real-world economies, and highlights how financial markets prioritize profit over societal benefit. The piece also questions the ethical implications of such systems, urging a reevaluation of finance's purpose.

For more information see "For Every Winner a Loser: John Lancaster" London Review of Books, September 12, 2024. 

Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.

Estates, Future Interests, and Powers of Appointment in a Nutshell, 7th Edition

Estates, Future Interests, and Powers of Appointment in a Nutshell, 7th Edition by Thomas P. Gallanis (George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School) was recently released. Here is the publisher's description of this book:

This comprehensive guide provides an overview of the rules and principles of estates and future interests, including concurrent estates, marital estates (including the modern elective share), and powers of appointment. It includes recent innovations from the Restatement 3d of Property, modernizing the law of future interests and dramatically changing the Rule Against Perpetuities. With respect to powers of appointment, the book incorporates the clarifications and modernizations of the law in the Restatement 3d of Property and the Uniform Powers of Appointment Act (2013, with subsequent amendments). The Seventh Edition is fully updated to take account of the latest developments, including the rise of optional community property and the use of community property trusts, as well as the growing number of states extending or abolishing the Rule Against Perpetuities. The book also has exercises, with answers at the back. Valuable for students in first-year Property and upper-year courses in Trusts and Estates.

Philip Marlowe perfume, anyone? Raymond Chandler’s estate revives its hero, for better or worse

The Philip Marlowe character, created by Raymond Chandler, has evolved through modern adaptations and continuations commissioned by the Chandler Estate. Joe Ide was asked by the estate to write an original novel featuring Marlowe in the present day, resulting in "The Goodbye Coast." Other authors, like Denise Mina, have also contributed to this revival with novels such as "The Second Murderer." 

The stewardship of the Chandler Estate has passed through generations, now led by Alexander Greene, who continues to commission new works while addressing concerns about outdated themes in Chandler's originals. Critics like Kim Cooper express apprehension about potentially overshadowing Chandler's original works with new interpretations but acknowledge the value of expanding the Marlowe universe.

For more information see Nate Rogers “Philip Marlowe perfume, anyone? Raymond Chandler’s estate revives its hero, for better or worse”, The Los Angeles Times, February 15, 2024.

Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.

A New Book Fills In the Human Stories Behind Unmarked Graves

"The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels" by Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans explores the bureaucracy and mechanics surrounding unclaimed deceased individuals, particularly in Los Angeles. The authors delve into the lives of four specific individuals who died alone: Bobby, a homeless Air Force veteran; Lena, a paranoid widow; David, a solitary veteran; and Midge, a woman with a troubled past who found solace in a church community.

The book chronicles the post-mortem processes involving various bureaucratic entities, such as the medical examiner's and public administrator's offices. It emphasizes the importance of identifying the deceased, notifying relatives, and ensuring a dignified burial. However, the system's flaws often lead to complications, with resentful or absent relatives, exploitation by funeral homes, and bureaucratic red tape hindering the process.

For more information see Dan Barry “A New Book Fills In the Human Stories Behind Unmarked Graves”, The New York Times, March 7, 2024.

Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.

Family Property Law: Cases and Materials on Wills, Trusts, and Estates, 9th Edition

Thomas P. Gallanis published the 9th edition of Family Property Law: Cases and Materials on Wills, Trusts, and Estates. Below is a description of the casebook:

The Ninth Edition of this highly-regarded casebook continues its innovative emphasis on the connection between the law of trusts and estates and the changing American family. The Ninth Edition incorporates the most recent uniform acts from the Uniform Law Commission, including the new Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act (2023), the Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act (2022), and the Cohabitants’ Economic Remedies Act (2021). It also addresses the new federal Corporate Transparency Act, effective January 1, 2024, and its consequences for estate planners. The casebook thus continues to be on the cutting-edge, discussing the very latest hot topics—in addition to the topics already mentioned, these include digital assets, posthumous assisted reproduction, directed trusts, trust decanting, asset protection trusts, silent trusts, noncharitable purpose trusts, unitrusts, family offices, private trust companies, choice of governing law for trusts, and donor standing to enforce charitable trusts. The authors of this book have long been at the forefront of law reform in trusts and estates, and this tradition continues under the authorship of Thomas Gallanis, who is the executive director of the Uniform Law Commission’s Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Trust and Estate Acts. The Ninth Edition emphasizes problems and questions to facilitate classroom discussion and analysis. Among many other things, the book teaches doctrine and policy, planning and drafting, case analysis and statutory interpretation.

New Edition of Hirsch & McGovern California Probate Code Annotated Released

Here is the publisher's description of this book authored by Adam J. Hirsch and William McGovern:

Hirsch & McGovern California Probate Code Annotated, 2024 ed. (California Desktop Codes) is your comprehensive resource for probate law and estate planning in California. It provides you with the complete text of the California Probate Code, related state and federal statutes, and rules of court regarding estate planning and probate.

This volume contains:

• Authoritative commentary, annotations, and analysis of leading cases
• Law Revision Commission editorial notes that provide additional guidance in the construction and application of particular sections
• References to Witkin’s Summary of California Law, 10th which direct you toward further research
• A table of Judicial Council forms to help you identify forms to be used in conjunction with the statutes and rules
• A table of cases illustrating the cases discussed in the author’s commentary
• A table of affected sections indicating recent modifications
• Underlining to indicate additions or changes in statutes
• Asterisks to indicate deletions

‘Retirement Guardrails’ Offers New Perspective on 401(k) Problems

In the book "Retirement Guardrails: How Proactive Fiduciaries Can Improve Plan Outcomes" by Quinn Curtis and Ian Ayres, the authors emphasize the need for guardrails in retirement accounts to steer workers toward better financial decisions. Curtis, a University of Virginia School of Law professor, drew insights from his employer's retirement system for the book. 

The authors suggest that many 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors must know how investors utilize their plan menus. They propose implementing measures such as monitoring portfolios for high-risk concentrations, eliminating costly or specialized funds, and warning investors about unusual choices. The UVA retirement plan's transformation from a vast selection of investment options to a more streamlined menu served as a case study for the book. This shift facilitated the transfer of investors to low-cost target-date funds, leading to improved outcomes for both employees and employers.

For more information see Melissa Castro Wyatt “‘Retirement Guardrails’ Offers New Perspective on 401(k) Problems” UVA Law, October 10, 2023.

Special thanks to Naomi Cahn (University of Virginia) for bringing this article to my attention.

Teaching Materials on Estate Planning, 5th Edition

The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog team would like to announce that a new edition of the Teaching Materials on Estate Planning by Gerry W. Beyer (Texas Tech University School of Law) will be published in the West Academic Publishing American Casebook Series this month and available for Fall 2023. Please see more information below on the 5th Edition of Teaching Materials on Estate Planing.

Kathryn Nail
Blog Assistant

 

This law school casebook provides a comprehensive review of the estate planning process. It is easily adaptable to two and three-credit courses and seminars. The new edition retains the basic structure of the prior edition with significant updates to reflect recent developments in law and practice. Part One focuses on the substantive law applicable to estate planning, while Part Two concentrates on estate planning practice itself. Extensive researching and drafting exercises are included to hone the student’s practical skills. Most of the material is self-explanatory and thus the professor may reserve class time for more difficult topics, areas that merit special attention, and concerns raised by local law.

Book Review: Robert's Story: A Texas Cowboy's Troubled Life and Horrifying Death

 I've just finished reading Robert's Story: A Texas Cowboy's Troubled Life and Horrifying Death by Stephen G. Michaud. Here is my review of this book which even references my earlier blog postings about Robert's situation:

Apparently, Robert East was not the easiest person to love. Sure he was a bit cowboy rough around the edges but he did not deserve to be treated and left to die in such a callous and painful manner.  His Texas family’s personal legacy was destroyed by those who systematically and thoughtfully obtained control of Robert’s wealth when Robert became ill.

This riveting true tale lays out the destruction of not just one cowboy but a way of life.  The author, Stephen Michaud, does an excellent job of sifting through the many years of Robert’s personal life and hurt, Robert’s back stabbing betrayal by those he trusted, and the offensive over-reaching legal system, all backed by evidence, to take the reader on a journey of disbelief, heartache, and the knowledge that it could happen to anyone of us. The establishment of the well known and highly respected East Foundation resulted from the orchestrated evil-doings of many people but does the end justify the means?