Deck 11: Estates and Probate

Question 1

An action to have one declared legally incompetent must be based on

A) disability that is physical in nature and origin.
B) disability that is mental in nature and origin.
C) disability that is financial in nature and origin.
D) pregnancy.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

X dies and leaves a valid will.In the will,X disinherits his son Y.Y's best alternative is

A) nothing.Y has no right to inherit.
B) to elect to receive an intestate share.
C) to elect to receive a forced share.
D) to show undue influence based on X's failure to make a bequest to Y.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The personal representative does not have the duty to

A) inventory the estate.
B) evaluate claims of creditors.
C) determine will contests.
D) distribute the estate at the close of probate.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Under ordinary circumstances,a valid will must be

A) signed.
B) written.
C) witnessed.
D) All of the above.

Question 5

Heirs include

A) a spouse.
B) blood relatives.
C) adopted relatives.
D) All of the above

Question 6

Half-blood relatives inherit

A) one-half of what full-blood relatives inherit in probate of a testate estate.
B) one-half of what full-blood relatives inherit in probate of an intestate estate.
C) based on individual intestate succession laws of the state where probate occurs.
D) only if probate is of a testate estate.

Question 7

In a per stirpes distribution,

A) only legal heirs can inherit.
B) only immediate family can inherit.
C) all legal heirs inherit equal shares.
D) All of the above.

Question 8

A case is considered testate when the decedent

A) dies with a valid will.
B) dies with a will.
C) dies without a will.
D) names a testator to probate the will.

Question 9

Testamentary capacity includes

A) statutory age of adulthood and understanding of the obligation to be truthful.
B) contractual capacity.
C) understanding of assets and effect of a valid will.
D) never having been declared to be legally incompetent.

Question 10

R dies intestate.R's survivors include M (spouse),G (brother),and Q (niece,daughter of predeceased sister).Based on the rules of per stirpes intestate succession discussed in the text and applications,what is the likely intestate distribution?

A) Each survivor receives an equal share.
B) The spouse receives 50 percent of the estate,and the other two survivors each receives 25 percent.
C) The spouse receives the entire estate.
D) None of the above.

Question 11

Per capita distribution

A) is followed in most states for testate distribution.
B) is followed in most states for intestate distribution.
C) bases inheritance rights on proximity of relationship between decedent and heirs.
D) bases inheritance rights on total number of heirs.

Question 12

Intestate estates

A) always have a valid will.
B) always have an invalid will.
C) have no will.
D) have no valid will.

Question 13

A codicil

A) revokes prior wills.
B) incorporates by reference any unchanged terms of the previous will.
C) by law changes the date of a previous will to the date of the codicil.
D) All of the above.

Question 14

Probate does not usually include

A) hearing contested claims of creditors.
B) will contest hearings.
C) an inquest into a decedent's cause of death.
D) It can include all of the above.

Question 15

An illegitimate child

A) is presumed to have the same inheritance rights as a child born within a marriage.
B) has inheritance rights only if paternity is established through blood tests.
C) has inheritance rights if paternity is established by adjudication or acknowledgment of the father.
D) has no inheritance rights.

Question 16

Wills may not be contested on the grounds of

A) undue influence.
B) lack of testamentary capacity.
C) lack of properly witnessed testator signature.
D) lack of competence solely because of advanced age.

Question 17

A case is considered intestate when the decedent

A) dies with a valid will.
B) dies with an oral will.
C) dies without a valid will.
D) names a testator to probate the will.

Question 18

A valid will does not typically require

A) testamentary capacity.
B) a witness who can testify to the validity of the testator's signature.
C) witnesses who can testify to the specific intent of the testator.
D) None of the above.

Question 19

If a person is declared legally incompetent,

A) the courts supervise the day-to-day financial affairs of the guardian.
B) the finding cannot be reversed at a later time.
C) the guardian must periodically report to the court.
D) All of the above.

Question 20

Probate courts typically consider what type of cases?

A) Intestate estates of decedents
B) Testate estates of decedents
C) Guardianship of living persons
D) All of the above persons

Question 21

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Duty of personal representative

Question 22

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Responsible for probate of estate

Question 23

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Inheritance determined by proximity of relationship to decedent

Question 24

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Related to decedent as spouse,by blood,or by adoption

Question 25

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Died without a valid will

Question 26

Per capita is the most commonly applied distribution method for intestate estates.

Question 27

Creditors are paid from amounts in the residuary clause after the primary estate is distributed.

Question 28

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Cannot be disinherited

Question 29

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Can supersede a bequest to a spouse

Question 30

No specific bequests can be liquidated to pay creditors.

Question 31

Forced share applies only to surviving spouses.

Question 32

Witnesses must know they are witnesses to the execution of a will.

Question 33

Per stirpes is the most commonly applied distribution method for intestate estates.

Question 34

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Act to invalidate a will

Question 35

Most will contests must establish proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Question 36

The administrator of an estate in probate is a fiduciary.

Question 37

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
May be valid only if testator rightfully believed death was imminent

Question 38

If the only will of a decedent is declared invalid,then the estate becomes intestate automatically.

Question 39

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Addition,deletion,or change to a valid will

Question 40

Incorporation by reference applies only in cases where decedent was a shareholder in a corporation.

Question 41

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
All heirs inherit equally

Question 42

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Process to settle an estate

Question 43

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Testifies that the testator had testamentary capacity

Question 44

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Process by executor to validate will

Question 45

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Process by executor to invalidate will

Question 46

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Process used to include documents in a will

Question 47

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Used to initiate probate

Question 48

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Their rights to estate supersede rights of heirs

Question 49

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Dies with a valid will

Question 50

Match the most appropriate term to the definition.
a.per stirpes
b.intestate
c.personal representative
d.spouse
e.codicil
f.incorporation by reference
g.probate
h.creditors
i.witness
j.petition
k.will contest
l.per capita
m.forced share
n.heir
o.testate
p.fiduciary
q.execute
r.oral will
s.revocation
t.testamentary capacity
Requirement of valid will