Wills, Trusts, & Probate Test 02 – Flashcards

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Changes to a will take effect once the testator signs the will; no additional witness signatures are needed.
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Fasle
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Much of the law relating to testaments was developed by the church.
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True
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A gift of real property in a will is a called a legacy.
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False
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Agreements to devise or bequeath property to someone in a will must be in writing to be enforceable.
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True
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Most states have age requirements for witnesses to wills.
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False
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Although each state passes its own statutes regarding wills, all states base their statutes on the Uniform Probate Code.
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False
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Most states do not require the testator's signature to be at the end of the instrument.
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True
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In some states, witnesses who are named as beneficiaries lose their inheritance unless two other witnesses who inherit nothing sign the will.
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True
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Technically, the term "will" refers to an instrument that disposes of real property.
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True
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All states require two signatures except:
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Louisiana, Pennsylvania, & Vermont
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Separate, identical wills for two testators are called:
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Mutual Wills
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A gift of personal property in a will is call a:
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Legacy
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Testamentary capacity means:
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Sound Mind
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The act of canceling a will is called:
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Revoking
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A will that is entirely in the handwriting of the testator is called a:
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Holographic Will
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About half of the states recognize holographic wills as being valid.
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True
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In some states, the subsequent marriage of a person revokes his or her will.
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True
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When there is fraud, the court may disallow only part of the will instead of the entire will.
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True
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To "subscribe" means to see the signature or take note mentally that the signature exists as a fact.
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False
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Altering the terms of a will is most effectively done through a(n):
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Codicil
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The law of wills, estates, and trusts of today has its roots in the:
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Feudal System
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The burden of proving a testator's soundness of mind falls on the devisee.
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False
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When a man and woman are married, it is generally a good idea for them to have a joint will.
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False
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Agreements to devise or bequeath property to someone in a will must be:
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Signed by the decedent, In writing, & Made w/o duress
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Grounds for contesting a will are:
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Undue Influence
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A person can have several residences but only one domicile at any particular time.
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True
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Guardian of the property has the responsibility of caring for a child's property until the child becomes an adult, and it is a natural right of parents.
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False
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A letter of instruction provides detailed instructions about how specific pieces of the testator's personal property should be distributed.
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False
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When items of vastly different value are given to different people, the residuary estate is an appropriate source from which to pay death taxes.
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False
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Generic forms from any state can be used to create wills.
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False
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The residuary clause states how the testator would like to distribute his or her share of community property.
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False
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It is advisable to include burial arrangements in a will.
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False
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A will should never be executed in duplicate or triplicate.
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True
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The clause that follows the testator's signature and precedes the witnesses' signatures is called the:
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Attestation Clause
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A will should never be drafted without a:
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Resuduary Clause
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An example of a fiduciary is a(n):
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Executor
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One purpose of the exordium clause is to revoke all prior wills and codicils made by the testator.
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True
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What establishes the court in which the estate will be settled?
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The domicile of the testator
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The opening paragraph of a will is called the:
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Exordium Clause
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Unless a will provides otherwise, real property is usually the last asset to be used for the payment of estate debts.
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True
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The residuary clause is included in what part of the will?
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Main Body
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A gift of money in a will is known as a:
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General Legacy, Pecuniary Legacy, & Pecuniary Bequest
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In states that have adopted the Uniform Probate Code, specific legacy is a gift in a will of an identifiable item of property (other than real estate).
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False
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The testimonium clause comes immediately before the testator's signature.
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True
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An insurance company or individual(s) who stands behind the executor by agreeing to pay the amount of his or her bond in the event the executor becomes liable on the bond is called a:
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Surety
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When a person dies owning real property, when does title pass to the heirs?
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At the moment of death
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A valid will does not require a form other than the placement of the signature in some states.
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True
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Money cannot be left to pets.
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True
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At least three copies of the letter of instruction should be made.
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True
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Detailed information about the testator's funeral arrangements should be included in the testator's:
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Letter of instruction
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If a specific legacy or devise is not in existence at the time of testator's death, the item is said to adeem by extinction.
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True
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A child omitted from a parent's will is called a(n):
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Pretermittted Child
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The period of time covered by the family allowance is usually 18 months.
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False (1 year)
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The typical antilapse statute provides that if a gift is made to a relative who dies before the testator, the gift or its value will be split among the testator's other relatives named in the will.
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False
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Parents may not disinherit children.
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Flase
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In all states, the homestead exemption is automatic.
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False
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When property that is specifically bequeathed or devised in a will is not owned by the testator at death, the legacy or devise is:
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Adeemed
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Which of the following statements is true regarding the homestead exemption?
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The homestead allowance is in addition to any share passing to the surviving spouse or minor children. The homestead allowance is exempt from all claims against the estate. & The homestead allowance has priority over all claims against the estate.
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When a gift of property or money is given by the testator, while alive, to a legatee with the intent that the gift or payment be in lieu of the legacy, it is called:
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Satisfaction
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When spouses sign a prenuptial agreement, they individually agree that the other party's estate plan will be binding.
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True
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In all states, when a surviving spouse elects to take a forced share instead of inheriting under the terms of the will, a fixed percentage is used to determine the amount of the forced share.
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False
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When a surviving spouse elects to renounce the will and instead inherit the amount set forth in his or her state's statues, it is called:
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Forced Share
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The homestead exemption allows the head of a family to keep the family home up to a certain value regardless of the amount of family debt.
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True
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In states that have adopted the Uniform Probate Code, antilapse statutes apply to gifts given to:
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Grandparent and lineal descendants of grandparents
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Exempt property rights are in addition to the homestead exemption.
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True
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When legatees or devisees die before the testator, gifts to them in the testator's will become part of the residuary estate.
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True
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If testators do not want the antilapse statute to go into effect, they simply need to include the words "if he or she shall survive me."
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True
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In some states, the homestead exemption applies to personal property as well as real property.
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True
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The homestead exemption is available only when there is a death in the family.
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False
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States that have adopted the Uniform Probate Code have abolished the rights of dower and curtesy.
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True
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Under English law, the right of a widow to a one-third life estate in all the real property owned by the husband during marriage is called:
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Dower
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State laws are in place to give assistance to family members while the decedent's estate is being settled.
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True
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In states that have adopted the Uniform Probate Code, a surviving spouse is entitled to exempt personal property in the amount of:
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$3,500
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An allowance from the estate granted by the court to the widow or widower and surviving children to provide for their immediate needs after the death of the decedent is called:
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Family Allowance
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When legatees die before the testator, gifts to them in the testator's will are known as:
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Lapsed Legacies
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