WIlls, Trusts & Estates is meant to be both a guide to introductory resources for estate planning and a potential reference for more sophisticated planning. It is not intended to be exhaustive. Sources are categorized by type and are listed "newest to oldest." Current editions of print casebooks adopted by BLS faculty and current editions of many print study aids are in BLS Library's first-floor Reserve collection. Students can request these sources at BLS Library's first-floor Circulation desk. These sources circulate for two hours. Many sources in BLS Library's Cellar-level Main collection circulate for the semester.
This guide also highlights selected recently published digital study aids in Aspen Learning Library. (In the SARA catalog record for Aspen Learning Library, click: ACCESS ONLINE VERSION - ASPEN.) The "Read Online" feature in Aspen Learning Library is only available off campus if a BLS patron has implemented the BLS proxy server instructions for 1 web browser. Librarians recommend the proxy server instructions for Firefox.
Wills, Trusts, and Estates by 
Family Property Law: Cases and Materials on Wills, Trusts, and Estates by 
Estates in Land and Future Interests: A Step-by-Step Guide by 
A Possessory Estates and Future Interests Primer by Westlaw: Corpus Juris Secundum Entries:
Lexis: American Jurisprudence 2d Entries:
Hornbooks are primers for study. The term "hornbook" originated in England. In the U.S., a legal hornbook is a text that provides an overview of an area of law. A legal hornbook is a type of treatise. It might be a shorter (often single-volume) version of a multi-volume treatise. Students in U.S. law schools often use a hornbook as a supplement to a casebook.
Wills, Trusts, and Estates: Including Taxation and Future Interests by According to the source description, this volume in the Understanding series includes "examples, charts, cross-references among similar concepts and frameworks for analyzing problem areas" to help students deepen their understanding of trusts and estates. "Examples throughout the book demonstrate how trusts and estates doctrines affect real people."
Understanding Trusts and Estates by NEW BOOK: 04/24/2024: 1 print copy in process for Reserve:
Understanding Estate and Gift Taxation by This volume of Examples & Explanations includes hypothetical questions and in-depth explanations to help students test their knowledge/analysis of topics.
Wills, Trusts, and Estates (Examples & Explanations series) by The Emanuel Law Outlines below provide both capsule and detailed explanations of key issues, topics and law. Chapters include a "Quiz Yourself" feature (short answer questions & sample answers) + Exam Tips. At the end of both outlines, there are 3 Essay Exam Questions/Answers.
Wills, Trusts, and Estates, keyed to Sitkoff/Dukeminier (Emanuel Law Outlines series) by Older Emanuel Law Outline available in Aspen Learning Library:
Wills, Trusts, and Estates (Emanuel Law Outlines series) by Nutshells are short works that provide simple overviews of legal topics. Do not cite a Nutshell in a legal document.
Federal Income Taxation of Estates, Trusts, and Beneficiaries in a Nutshell by 
Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell by 
Uniform Probate Code and Uniform Trust Code in a Nutshell by 
Estates, Future Interests, and Powers of Appointment in a Nutshell by This volume of Gilbert Law Summaries includes 100 multiple choice review questions/answers and practice exam essay questions/answers for students.
Estate and Gift Taxation (Gilbert Law Summaries) by Some BLS professors assign or recommend CALI exercises to reinforce material covered in classes. One can browse CALI lessons by subject. One also can identify CALI lessons through BLS Library's SARA catalog. BLS first year students receive a CALI authorization code during 1L orientation. The BLS CALI student code also is available at the circulation desk, by emailing askthelibrary@brooklaw.edu or by texting (718) 734 2432.
Grace Wagner created and published this guide in spring 2023. This LibGuide was last substantively updated:
On: April 24, 2024
At: 4:00 AM
By: Jean Davis