Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
258 sec. 001 - Estates and Trusts (Spring 2026)
Instructor: Eric P Rakowski (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
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Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
MW 11:20 AM - 12:35 PM
Location: Law 110
From January 12, 2026
To April 28, 2026
Course End: April 28, 2026
Class Number: 33501
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 0
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 100
As of: 11/05 06:49 PM
This course covers the distribution of a decedent’s property if somebody dies without a will, the drafting and administration of wills, limits on a person’s power to determine what happens to her property when she dies, and the use of trusts and other nonprobate devices to create and control future interests or the passage of property at death. The course emphasizes California law and will prepare students for the California bar exam, though it also considers the rules of non-community property states, such as New York. The course introduces federal gift and estate taxes and the taxation of trusts in a general way, but it is no substitute for a specialized course in estate planning. No previous course work in tax is needed.
Exam Notes: (F) In-class Final Exam
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 3 hours
Course Category: Family Law
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Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Required Books are in blue
- Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Sitkoff
Edition: 12th edition
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer
e-Book Available: Yes
e-Book procurement note: available through Wolters Kluwer - Aspen
Price: $359.00
Note: prices are sampled from internet bookstores. Law-school Bookstore prices are unavailable at this time.