Donations, Inheritance and Property in the Nordic and Western World from Late Antiquity until Today presents an examination of Nordic donation and gift-giving practices in the Nordic and Western world, beginning in late Antiquity and extending through to the present day. Through chapters contributed by leading international researchers, this book explores the changing legal, social and religious frameworks that shape how donations and gifts are given. In addition to donations to ecclesiastical, charitable and cultural institutions, this books also highlights the sociolegal challenges and the tensions that can occur as a result of transferring property, including answering key questions such as who has a right to what. It also presents, for the first time, an insight into the dynamics of donations and the interplay between individual motivations, strategic behaviour and the legal setting of inheritance law. Offering a broad chronological and European perspective and including a wide range of illuminating case studies Donations, Inheritance and Property in the Nordic and Western World from Late Antiquity until Today is ideal for students of Nordic and European legal and social history.

This book explains how to write a simple will, and how to deal with the affairs of someone who has died. This new edition is completely revised and updated, and is written in plain language by an author who has many years' experience in the probate registries. It explains when you can do things yourself and when you need a solicitor. The subjects covered include: * Making your will: why do it; how to do it; appointing executors, the different gifts that can be made; how to make sure the will is valid and will be put into effect. * Who may apply for probate: how to work out who, of the relatives and friends left behind, is the one to sort out a deceased person's affairs. Who inherits if there is no will? * The estate: making sure that all the property and debts are found . * Inheritance Tax: working out if tax has to be paid, how much, and the arrangements for paying it. * Going to court: the procedure for visiting the probate registry to finalise paperwork when this is requested by you and, when not, the procedure for swearing oaths before solicitors. * Administering the estate: collecting together the property; paying the debts, distributing the inheritances.

Succession, Wills and Probate is an ideal textbook for those taking an undergraduate course in this surprisingly vibrant subject, and also provides a clear and comprehensive introduction for professionals. Against an account of the main social and political themes of succession law, the book gives detailed explanations of core topics such as alternatives to wills and the making, altering and revocation of wills. It also explains personal representatives and how they should deal with a deceased person's estate and interpret and implement the will. Gifts may fail, estates may be insolvent or a person may die intestate, without a will at all. Increasingly relatives and others seek to challenge the will, for example on the grounds of the testator's capacity or under the law of family provision. This third edition is edited, updated and revised to take account of new legislation and case law across all the relevant issues, including a new final chapter dealing with the potentially contentious issues that are becoming more central to professional work in the field of succession.

Clignet's analysis of inheritance patterns in modern America is the fi rst sustained treatment of the subject by a sociologist. Clignet shows that even today inheritance serves to perpetuate both familial wealth and familial relations. He examines what leads decedents to chose particular legal instruments (wills, trusts, insurance policies, gifts "inter vivos") and how, in turn, the instrument chosen helps explain the extent and the form of inequalities in bequests, of a result of the gender or matrimonial status of the beneficiaries.

The author's major is to identify and explain the most signifi cant sources of variations in the amount and the direction of transfers of wealth after death in the United States. He uses two kinds of primary data: estate tax returns fi led by a sample of male and female benefi ciaries to estates in 1920 and 1944, representing two successive generations of estate transfers, and publicly recorded legal instruments such as wills and trusts. In addition, Clignet draws widely on secondary sources in the fi elds of anthropology, economics, and history. His fi ndings reflect substantive and methodological concerns. Th e analysis underlines the need to rethink the sociology of generational bonds, as it is informed by age and gender.

"Death, Deeds, and Descendants" underscores the variety of forms of inequality that bequests take and highlights the complexity of interrelations between the cultures of the decedents' nationalities and issues like occupation and gender. Inheritance is viewed as a way of illuminating the subtle tensions between continuity and change in American society. This book is an important contribution to the study of the relationship between sociology of the family and sociology of social stratification.

The extensively updated seventh edition of Unlocking Equity and Trusts will help you grasp the main concepts of Equity and Trusts with ease. Using straightforward language and explaining the law in a clear manner, it provides an excellent foundation for learning and revising. Each chapter in the book contains: Aims and objectives; Activities such as self-test questions; Charts of key facts to consolidate your knowledge; Diagrams to aid memory and understanding; Prominently displayed cases and judgements; Chapter summaries; Essay questions with answer plans; Glossary of legal terms. The Unlocking the Law series is designed specifically to make the law accessible to students coming to study a topic for the first time. All titles in the series follow the same formula and include the same features so students can move easily from one subject to another.

Routledge QandAs give you the tools to practice and refine your exam technique, showing you how to apply your knowledge to maximum effect in an exam situation. Each book contains essay and problem-based questions on the most commonly examined topics, complete with expert guidance and fully worked model answers that help you to: Plan your revision: introducing how best to approach revision in each subject Know what examiners are looking for: identifying and explaining the main elements of each question to help you understand the best approach providing marker annotation to show how examiners will read your answer Gain marks, and avoid common errors: identifying common pitfalls students encounter in class and in assessment providing revision advice to help you aim higher in essays and exams Understand and remember the law: using diagrams as overviews for each answer to demonstrate how the law fits together The series is also supported by an online resource that allows you to test your progress during the run-up to exams. Features include: multiple choice questions, bonus QandAs and podcasts. www.routledge.com/cw/revision

Adoption of core practice management standards, based on Lexcel v.5, is a mandatory requirement for legal practices seeking accreditation under the new Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme*. To help applicants to understand and comply with these standards, this practical toolkit: describes the requirements of each standard gives advice on implementation sets out example policies, plans and procedures refers to overlapping obligations under the SRA Handbook compares the related obligations of the Wills and Inheritance Protocol (see below). Over 30 example documents are provided in this toolkit, both within the book and on its accompanying CD-ROM. This means you can customise the documents to suit your firm's particular needs. *Practices accredited under Lexcel v.5 already meet the core practice management standards of the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme. Members of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme must demonstrate that core practice management standards have been applied across the relevant departments.

Wills from lower social status shed light on religious, social and cultural history. Lincolnshire has an extensive archive of sixteenth-century probate material, preserved in the registers of the consistory and archdeaconry courts of Lincoln, the peculiar court of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral, and thearchdeaconry court of Stow. Unlike the wills proved by the archiepiscopal probate courts of Canterbury and York, those from Lincolnshire reflect a population of lower social status. The overwhelming majority come from the ranks of husbandmen, yeomen, or tradesmen, rather than the gentry. In this respect the wills offer a valuable source for the cultural and religious preoccupations of the 'middling sort' and those lower in the social spectrum on the eve of the Reformation. Equally, the detailed bequests of property, livestock and land provide an insight into the material culture and prosperity of the testators, as well as extensive genealogical and topographical information of interest to local, regional and family historians.

Plan ahead: estate planning to secure your wishes Estate Planning is your overview of the estate planning concepts that are necessary to consider when advising your clients about the different facets of wealth transfer planning. This fundamental reference presents the basic estate, gift, and trust planning ideas in a descriptive and accessible manner allowing you to easily and conveniently access the information you need when you need it. This essential text covers the development of estate planning strategies for your clients, the fundamentals of the federal transfer tax system, relevant federal income tax rules, lifetime donative asset transfers, gratuitous property transfers at death, generation-skipping transfers, special property transfer planning considerations, and post-mortem planning. When done effectively, estate planning enables your clients to make both lifetime and testamentary transfers of assets to beneficiaries of their choice. In the process, strategic, successful estate planning strategies conserve wealth for these beneficiaries, who are often family members of the client. Leveraging the right methods of estate planning can ensure that you achieve your client's objectives. * Explore the fundamentals of estate planning as they relate to wealth transfer planning * Dive into special property transfer planning considerations, including community property, life insurance, charitable transfers, closely held corporations, etc. * Better serve your clients by having access to relevant, easy to navigate information on estate planning best practices * Reinforce these new ideas with a comprehensive test bank Estate Planning is your guide to estate planning concepts that help you protect your assets during wealth transfer and prepare for your assets to change hands as smoothly as possible.

Succession, Wills and Probate is an ideal textbook for those taking an undergraduate course in this surprisingly vibrant subject, and also provides a clear and comprehensive introduction for professionals. Against an account of the main social and political themes of succession law, the book gives detailed explanations of core topics such as alternatives to wills and the making, altering and revocation of wills. It also explains personal representatives and how they should deal with a deceased person's estate and interpret and implement the will. Gifts may fail, estates may be insolvent or a person may die intestate, without a will at all. Increasingly relatives and others seek to challenge the will, for example on the grounds of the testator's capacity or under the law of family provision. This third edition is edited, updated and revised to take account of new legislation and case law across all the relevant issues, including a new final chapter dealing with the potentially contentious issues that are becoming more central to professional work in the field of succession.

Planning how to pass your estate on doesn't have to mean complications, legal jargon and huge bills. "Wills, Probate and Inheritance Tax For Dummies, 2nd Edition" takes you through the process step-by-step and gives you all the information you need to ensure that your affairs are left in good order. It shows you how to plan and write your will, minimise the stress of probate, and ensure that your nearest and dearest are protected from a large inheritance tax bill.

Discover how to: Decide if a will is right for you Value your assets Leave your home through a will Appoint executors and trustees Choose beneficiaries Draw up a DIY will Work out how inheritance tax works and if you're liable to it Find out what can and can't be taxed

The fourth edition of this book follows the format of the previous editions, but has been comprehensively updated to take into account the most significant new cases and legislation, including the Trusts of Land and the Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and the Trustee Delegation Act 1999. It also deals in depth with the Trustee Act 2000.

The extensively updated seventh edition of Unlocking Equity and Trusts will help you grasp the main concepts of Equity and Trusts with ease. Using straightforward language and explaining the law in a clear manner, it provides an excellent foundation for learning and revising. Each chapter in the book contains: Aims and objectives; Activities such as self-test questions; Charts of key facts to consolidate your knowledge; Diagrams to aid memory and understanding; Prominently displayed cases and judgements; Chapter summaries; Essay questions with answer plans; Glossary of legal terms. The Unlocking the Law series is designed specifically to make the law accessible to students coming to study a topic for the first time. All titles in the series follow the same formula and include the same features so students can move easily from one subject to another.

The Wills and Inheritance Protocol sets out the Law Society's preferred practice in will drafting, probate and estate administration and supports the provision of consistent and high quality services by legal practices. The Protocol aims to raise standards of client care and service by: improving communication between practices, clients and beneficiaries increasing transparency and therefore understanding of the necessary processes encouraging practices to agree timescales and service levels with clients. Meeting the obligations of the Protocol is the cornerstone of the new Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme and will also help all legal practices to: demonstrate high standards of practice to clients and others meet legal requirements achieve compliance with outcomes-focused regulation provide a consistent level of service. This book contains the full text of the Protocol version 1.0 and an appendix with relevant statutory extracts and guidance on good practice.

An honorary professor of Sanskrit and Hindu law at Fort William College in Calcutta, and a key figure in the foundation of the Royal Asiatic Society, Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837) became Britain's foremost orientalist during the early nineteenth century. Taking up the reins of Sanskrit scholarship following the death of Sir William Jones (1746-94), Colebrooke made several substantial contributions to Indic study. Through seminal publications such as a grammar of Sanskrit and an extended article on the Vedas, he provided unprecedented access to one of the world's oldest languages and some of its oldest texts. Published in 1801, this three-volume translation of Brahman law was based on a Sanskrit compilation prepared by a pandit, Jagannatha Tercapanchanana, whose learned commentary is also featured in the work. Volume 1 elucidates Hindu jurisprudence on monetary issues, covering contracts, loans and deposits.

An honorary professor of Sanskrit and Hindu law at Fort William College in Calcutta, and a key figure in the foundation of the Royal Asiatic Society, Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837) became Britain's foremost orientalist during the early nineteenth century. Taking up the reins of Sanskrit scholarship following the death of Sir William Jones (1746-94), Colebrooke made several substantial contributions to Indic study. Through seminal publications such as a grammar of Sanskrit and an extended article on the Vedas, he provided unprecedented access to one of the world's oldest languages and some of its oldest texts. Published in 1801, this three-volume translation of Brahman law was based on a Sanskrit compilation prepared by a pandit, Jagannatha Tercapanchanana, whose learned commentary is also featured in the work. Volume 2 expounds the legal issues concerning slavery, marriage and inheritance rights.

An honorary professor of Sanskrit and Hindu law at Fort William College in Calcutta, and a key figure in the foundation of the Royal Asiatic Society, Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837) became Britain's foremost orientalist during the early nineteenth century. Taking up the reins of Sanskrit scholarship following the death of Sir William Jones (1746-94), Colebrooke made several substantial contributions to Indic study. Through seminal publications such as a grammar of Sanskrit and an extended article on the Vedas, he provided unprecedented access to one of the world's oldest languages and some of its oldest texts. Published in 1801, this three-volume translation of Brahman law was based on a Sanskrit compilation prepared by a pandit, Jagannatha Tercapanchanana, whose learned commentary is also featured in the work. Volume 3 continues with inheritance law, covering adoption (of sons) and bequeathal rights relating to daughters.

The fate of the dead is a compelling and emotive subject, which also raises increasingly complex legal questions. This book focuses on the substantive laws around disposal of the recently deceased and associated issues around their post-mortem fate. It looks primarily at the laws in England and Wales but also offers a comparative approach, drawing heavily on material from other common law jurisdictions including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. The book provides an in-depth, contextual and comparative analysis of the substantive laws and policy issues around corpse disposal, exhumation and the posthumous treatment of the dead, including commemoration. Topics covered include: the legal frameworks around burial, cremation and other disposal methods; the hierarchy of persons who have a legal duty to dispose of the dead and who are entitled to possession of the deceased's remains; offences against the dead; family burial disputes, and the legal status of burial instructions; the posthumous use of donated bodily material; and the rules around disinterment, and creating an appropriate memorial. A key theme of the book will be to look at the manner in which conflicts involving the dead are becoming increasingly common in secular, multi-cultural societies where the traditional nuclear family model is no longer the norm, and how such legal contests are resolved by courts. As the first comprehensive survey of the laws in this area for decades, this book will be of use to academics, lawyers and judges adjudicating on issues around the fate of the dead, as well as the death industry and funeral service providers.

A study of the implications and practices of wills and will-making in Anglo-Saxon society, and of the varieties of inheritance strategies and commemorative arrangements adopted. A remarkable series of Anglo-Saxon wills have survived, spanning the period from the beginning of the ninth century to the years immediately following the Norman Conquest. Written in Old English, they reflect the significance of the vernacular, not only in royal administration during this period, but in the recording of a range of individual transactions. They show wealthy laymen and women, and clerics, from kings and bishops to those of thegnly status, disposing of land and chattels, and recognising ties of kinship, friendship, lordship and service through their bequests; and whilst land is of prime importance, the mention in some wills of such valuable items as tableware, furnishings, clothing, jewellery and weapons provides an insight into lifestyle at the time. Despite their importance, no study has hitherto been specifically devoted to Anglo-Saxon wills in their social and historical context, a gap which this book aims to fill. While the wills themselves can be vague and allusive, by establishing patterns of bequeathing, and by drawing on other resources, the author sheds light on the factors which influenced men and womenin making appropriate provision for their property. Linda Tollerton gained her PhD from the University of York.

This new edition of 'Wills: A Practical Guide' explains what is involved in making a will, with particular reference to avoiding those issues which often given rise to litigation. The book contains a concise description of the content of a will and the mechanics of signing and witnessing and is written by two experienced practitioners in a clear and user-friendly style. It provides a guide to not only what can be disposed of by will but to property which is subject to its own rules. Information is provided on the formalities for making a will, including the testator's capacity and related issues, particularly those involving the elderly, which may affect the validity of the will. The appointment of executors, trustees and guardians is considered along with the dispositive provisions typically contained in a will, including the use of trusts, creation of residences, gifts to children and so on. There are also sections on less common aspects of will-making but which often cause problems for practitioners including gifts for the benefit of pets, gifts to employees, gifts of business interests, mutual (as distinguished from mirror) wills, testamentary options, burial and other requests and dealing with property overseas. These matters are dealt with in the context of how a contentious will is now interpreted by the court in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Marley v Rawlings and other rules of construction. The importance of providing executors and trustees with appropriate powers and the need to modify what is implied by statute is dealt with, including the importance of making adequate provision for the application of income and capital when required. The inheritance tax implications of will planning and drafting are covered along with typical strategies for dealing with family wealth by making best use of the exemptions and reliefs available. This includes guidance on leaving the family home in a way that maximises use of the new residence nil rate band when available, as well as explaining how the often overlooked matter of the incidence of inheritance tax effects its burden on beneficiaries. There are illustrative case studies of tax efficient wills appropriate for testators with common will-making problems. There is also a whole chapter aimed at dealing with drafting pitfalls and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Problems are also caused if the existence of a will is uncertain and so there is a helpful section on storing and locating a will. The work also includes sections on revocation and the effect of alterations to wills. The book includes useful precedents and checklists. 'Wills: A Practical Guide' provides a concise summary of the law and practice of will-making for all those concerned in drafting wills.

Muslim law and rules for dealing with the distribution of a dead person's property differ greatly from western law. The system of Muslim law, the SharVa, is derived from the Qur'an and the words of the Prophet himself, and is therefore believed to be of divine inspiration, and not man-made. A variety of schools of law have grown up which interpret the Prophet's sayings, and the practical effect of these different rules of interpretation varies considerably. Recent codifications have not necessarily remained within the classical Muslim legal traditions, and have introduced further differences. With western law it is assumed that a man will make a will, and, broadly speaking, his property will be distributed in accordance with its provisions. It is only in the event of a man dying without making a will that the rules of intestacy are applied. Muslim law makes the opposite assumption.

This practical, accessible and authoritative handbook covers all aspects of the law and practice relevant to probate disputes, including: * removal of executors and trustees * probate disputes, including due execution, lack of testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval, undue influence, and fraud and forgery * sham trusts and foundations * Inheritance Act claims * interpretation and rectification of wills * beneficial interest and proprietary estoppel claims. In addition to detailed guidance on claim analysis and preparation, Chancery litigation and the CPR, the author gives an account of costs management, and considers all ADR options. Practitioners will also benefit from contributions from Dr Hugh Series on mental disorders, and from Ellen Radley on forensic examination of handwriting and questioned documents. The concise appendix contains helpful precedent letters, pleadings and orders, which are also included on the accompanying CD-ROM.