LAW 20 - Basic Probate Procedures Course Syllabus

YOUR INSTRUCTOR
see information on your instructor including website, office hours, phone no. etc. http://lamission.edu/law/lawfaculty.htm
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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Catalog: Law 20- Basic Probate Procedures is a study of the fundamental principles and methods for gathering, office procedures, and required court work involved in the handling of probates of both testate and intestate decedents, as well as the Administration of estates in California Probate Courts. Read Due Dates and Get Started.

The student will prepare all of the forms related to the probate of an estate, including the issuing of Letters Testamentary, Inventory and Appraisement, Petition and Order of Probate, and accounting.

COURSE TEXT

"How to Probate an Estate in California", 15th Edition or later Nolo Press, Julia Nissley, ISBN ISBN: 1-4133-0023-5. Available in the Campus Bookstore, or order online - see http://lamission.edu/law/textbooks

COURSE OJBECTIVES

1. The student will learn the substantive law of probate, including study of the fundamental principles and methods for gathering, office procedures, and required court work involved in the handling of probates of both testate and intestate decedents, as well as the Administration of estates in California Probate Courts and the preparation related to the probate of an estate, including the issuing of Letters Testamentary, Inventory and Appraisement, Petition and Order of Probate, and accounting.

2. The student will learn to "think critically" in law, and in the area of probate. This will be accomplished through the quizzes, postings to the hypothetical case discussions, and the probate court forms.

3. The student will learn how to do legal research in the area of Probate Law.

4. The student will improve his/her writing skills and legal drafting/writing skills.

5. The student will improve their study skills and will improve how they study law.

GRADING & EVALUATION

The class will be composed of quizzes, postings to an "electronic bulletin board" - threaded discussions, and hyupothetical case discussions and written projects, including the preparation of probate court forms.

A =  90-100 percent of total points
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = Below 60

The class follows strict deadline due dates, and the student should print out the "Due Dates" for this class, and ensure that all deadlines are kept. - click here., Students should also read carefully and understand our program's policies on "late assignments", plagiarism, Important College dates, and grading rubrics - click here.

Office Hours: see Faculty page at http://lamission.edu/law/lawfaculty.htm - Office Hours, Mon. - Friday 9-5 pm at the Office Telephone number of each Faculty member, or upon special appointment - email the faculty member for your appointment date and time.

Course Structure: This course will be offered through a course management system. To login to your class go to the Mission College online portal at http://lamission.edu/online .

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: ASSIGNMENTS SUBMITTED LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL IS REQUESTED AND GRANTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR.

EXTRA CREDIT: Since the law is in constant change, along with the advent of the Internet, issues may arise that are timely and germane to our class. Therefore, opportunities may arise during the term that allow for extra credit, although no extra credit is presently offered.

INCOMPLETE: If you require a grade of "incomplete," you must advise me as soon as possible and discuss the terms of its removal.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic honesty is highly valued at Mission College, just as it is at all colleges and universities. A student must always submit work that represents his or her original words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent the student's original words or ideas, the student must cite all relevant sources. The student should also make it clear to what extent such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citations include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communications when the content of such communications clearly originates from an identifiable source. All submissions to any public meeting or private mailbox fall within the scope of words and ideas that require citations if used by someone other than the original author.

Course Assignments: see links at http://duedates.pbwiki.com

Course Evaluation:

The final grade will be determined by: averaging quizzes, discussion questions and written assignments, each assigned 100 or more points.

Required Resources (for internet/online work)

System requirements: IBM or compatible (486/33 CPU minimum) with Windows or Mac or compatible with 6.05 operating system or higher, 8 megs of RAM, 20 megs free hard disc space, modem with a 9600 baud rate minimum.

* This syllabus is subject to change. Please note revision dates ("updated") above. Students are responsible for the most recent
updated version of this syllabus.

updated: 3-07-07