Building on the success of the prior editions of this highly regarded casebook, the fifth edition of Florida Wills, Trusts, and Estates continues its innovative approach of covering trusts as extensively as it does wills. This edition presents modern trends in wills, trusts, and estate planning and also includes discussion of newly enacted laws, including the Florida Uniform Directed Trust Act and the Florida Community Property Trust Act, and recently enacted statutes addressing forfeiture of rights in cases of abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult. Although Florida law is the focus, this casebook also discusses laws from other states and uniform acts approved by the Uniform Law Commission.
To encourage students to view wills, trusts, and estates issues from the standpoint of both planners and litigators, the authors include numerous questions that require students to think about ways to draft or plan to avoid litigation, while accomplishing client goals. The casebook is intended for the basic wills and trusts course, but it may also be used in advanced trusts and estates courses, as it includes chapters on estate planning, powers of appointment, advanced directives, and probate.
The rules governing wills and trusts continue to be driven by state law. The authors’ philosophy is that students gain critical insights into complex issues by studying the laws of one jurisdiction as a whole. Florida law is a perfect platform for this endeavor because it has extensive probate and trust codes and significant case decisions addressing current and cutting-edge issues.
Q. Why this book, and why now?
The rules governing wills and trusts continue to be state-law-driven. The authors’ philosophy is that students gain critical insights into complex issues by studying the laws of one jurisdiction as a whole. Florida law is a perfect platform for this endeavor because it has extensive probate and trust codes and significant case decisions addressing current and cutting-edge issues. This fifth edition of Florida Wills, Trusts, and Estates includes discussion of newly enacted laws, including the Florida Uniform Directed Trust Act and the Florida Community Property Trust Act. This edition also covers recently enacted statutes addressing forfeiture of rights in cases of abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
Q. Who should read this book?
While the casebook is intended for the basic wills and trusts course, it may also be used in advanced trusts and estates courses, as it includes chapters on estate planning, powers of appointment, advanced directives, and probate. Students who have taken the Wills and Trusts course have reported that they also use the book as a reference in their practice.
Q. What is the most important takeaway you hope your readers gain from this book?
We believe that there is much to be gained by studying the laws of one jurisdiction as a whole. Florida is particularly well-suited for studying this area of the law. Florida has a well-developed probate code and an extensive trust code. Moreover, case decisions in Florida address wills and trusts issues in fascinating factual situations that students find engaging.
Eloisa C. Rodriguez-Dod, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, joined the FIU College of Law in 2012. Prior to joining FIU, she was a Professor of Law at NSU College of Law, where she also served as the Academic Director of its University of Barcelona dual-degree program. Dean Rodriguez-Dod has been selected “Professor of the Year” at both law schools and, in 2016, was the recipient of the university-wide FIU Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is a recognized authority in property, estates, and real estate transactions.
Before joining academia, Dean Rodriguez-Dod practiced law at White & Case. She graduated cum laude from the University of Miami Law School, where she was Special Features and Reports Editor of the Inter-American Law Review and inducted into Order of the Coif. She holds a B.A. in International Marketing & Finance from the University of Miami, where she graduated magna cum laude, and an M.B.A. from Florida International University.
Dean Rodriguez-Dod’s scholarship focuses on the necessary balancing of autonomy versus societal goals. Her work includes books, monographs, book chapters, and law review articles. She has been cited, quoted, and excerpted in texts, scholarly books, articles, academic blogs, and leading treatises. She is frequently invited to speak at panels and legal conferences.
In addition to her service to FIU, Dean Rodriguez-Dod also has a strong commitment to national legal education organizations. She currently serves on the Audit Committee of the Law School Admissions Council. She has also served on American Bar Association site evaluation teams and is a past Chair and member of the Executive Committee of the Association of American Law Schools Section on Minority Groups.