LGST 316: Estates and Probate

Estates and Probate builds the legal skill of drafting simple wills and administering estates — from probate inventory through final distribution.

What LGST 316 covers

Prerequisite: LGST 201. A fundamental study of the legal concepts required to draft and prepare simple wills and administer estates. The goal is to construct an estate plan supporting the creation and administration of a simple estate.

Topics include preliminary and practical considerations of administering an estate; the appraisal of estate assets and probate inventory; inheritance taxes; claims against the estate; management of debts, accounting, and distribution considerations; the drafting and execution of wills; and guardianships.

Typical LGST 316 assignments

Expect an assignment requiring you to draft a simple will or construct an estate plan for a specific estate scenario, addressing probate inventory and claims against the estate.

Key topics in LGST 316

• Simple will drafting
• Estate administration
• Probate inventory and appraisal
• Inheritance taxes and debt claims

Writing tips for LGST 316

Follow the assignment instructions and rubric line by line

UMGC assignments for LGST 316 are graded against a specific rubric or grading criteria your instructor provides — every requirement has to be visibly addressed. Skipping a requirement because it seems minor is one of the most common reasons a strong submission loses points.

Cite actual legal authority, not general legal statements

Legal Studies courses like LGST 316 expect you to cite specific case law, statutes, or rules of procedure behind an argument — not general statements like "the law requires fairness." Evaluators check whether the authority cited is real, relevant, and correctly applied.

Use the required legal writing format precisely

Legal writing assignments (memos, briefs, client letters) follow a specific professional format and structure. Deviating from the expected format — even with strong legal analysis inside it — is one of the fastest ways to lose points in a paralegal/legal studies course.

Why students seek help with LGST 316

Students sometimes draft a will without addressing the probate/administration steps (inventory, claims, distribution) the course specifically requires — the rubric typically wants that full estate-administration process shown, not the will alone.

How GradeEssays helps with LGST 316

Share your estate scenario and rubric, and your writer will build a full estate plan covering both will drafting and the administration process.

Prerequisites and course context

LGST 316 requires Legal Writing (LGST 201). Note: students may receive credit for only one of LGST 316, PLGL 216, or PLGL 316.

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