Exam 39: Family Law, Wills, and Trusts

In the case of In the Matter of the Marriage of Joyner,the court had to determine when a divorce is actually finalized,in a situation where a husband purchased a winning lottery ticket after the final hearing,but before the divorce decree was issued by the court.The court said:

The trustee of a living trust may be the grantor.

In order for a common law marriage to be recognized,the parties need not hold themselves out as husband and wife.

A common law marriage is one in which the parties have obtained a valid marriage license.

Jan has two daughters,Ann and Betty.Each of these daughters has two sons.While all of these persons are living,Jan writes a will leaving her entire estate to her "lineal descendants,per capita." After Jan writes this will,the older daughter,Ann,dies.Jan dies next.If the value of Jan's estate is $120,000,how much does Ann's older son receive?

A(n)________ is an order of the court declaring that a marriage did not exist.

Approximately fifty (50)percent of divorce cases are settled between the parties prior to trial.

A document signed by a person that stipulates his or her wishes not to have his or her life prolonged indefinitely by artificial means is known as a "living will."