In this class, we will study wills, trusts, and alternative methods of passing property between generations. We will discover and articulate the competing policies of the laws (including the tax provisions) that govern this field of law. We will study the laws governing health care issues that arise at the end of life, and the legal procedures used to effectuate the estate plans of those who have died. Finally, we will learn how to draft the documents needed to fulfill as many of a hypothetical client’s wishes as possible, consistent with the limitations and requirements posed by the governing law. We will use Virginia law as an example throughout this course, but will make occasional comparisons with the law of other states.

Entry Level Competencies: Although there are no prerequisites for this course, proficiency in spoken and written English is necessary for successful completion. You should have strong reading skills also!

If you are comfortable sending emails and performing Internet searches, you will be able to handle the "on line" part of this class. The text, exams and assignments are the same ones used in traditional sit-down sections of this course.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

1. list several different ways of passing property upon death, and to explain the primary advantages and disadvantages of each.
2. distinguish estates requiring tax planning from those that do not.
3. list the legal protections afforded to a decedent’s immediate family members, and explain the consequences that follow when a decedent’s estate plan attempts to undercut his or her family members’ rights.
4. draft an effective simple will.
5. draft an effective living will and durable power of attorney for health care.
6. complete the forms necessary to probate a simple estate.
7. recognize ethical issues in the practice of the law of estate planning and probate.
8. integrate and apply the knowledge acquired in the course to solve hypothetical problems resembling those which might be presented by clients to a legal professional working in the estate planning and probate field.

The required textbook for this course is:

• The required textbook for this course is:

  • Administration of Wills, Trusts and Estates, 4th edition, Scott Myers & Gordon Brown, Delmar Publishing, 2009.

Using eBooks

Your course allows open-book exams. You will only be allowed to use a hard copy of the textbook at the Testing Centers.

If the publisher offers an electronic version of the textbook (called an “eBook”), you will not be able to access it at the Testing Centers. Also, you will not be able to use the printouts of the electronic text or copies of the pages of the hard copy textbook at the Testing Centers. If you have purchased an eBook and wish to use a textbook during your open-book exam, we suggest that you check the NOVA libraries, and/or contact your instructor, to try to locate a hard copy you could borrow for the exam.

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books

As you work through the course, you will see that assignments have been posted for each week. Completing these assignments may require you to post your ideas about an assigned topic on the Discussion Board, research a question of law, draft a clause for a will, or complete a probate document. These assignments will be graded on a "pass" or "fail" basis. You will get credit for each assignment you do. You must complete at least 75% of the assignments to pass the course. My assessment of the attention and care you have given to them will be used to determine whether borderline grades, at the end of the course will be adjusted upward or not.

Three exams will be given during the course. The exams will open note and open book, and will consist largely of hypothetical problems for you to solve. The last exam will contain a cumulative objective portion. For each exam, I will compute a percentage score, based on the number of available problems you solved correctly. Each exam score will account for 25% of your final course grade.

During the course, you will be asked to submit a family tree, a list of assets, and a dispositive plan for a hypothetical client of your choice - and to draft a will putting your client's plan into effect. The will and the supporting documents (the family tree, asset list, and plan) will account for the remaining 25% of your course grade.

There are 3 online exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail: ehaynes@nvcc.edu
Telephone : (703) 317-0103
You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in Alexandria. 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.