ACCT 4815 - Estate Planning
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41193,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Course Description
4815. Estate Planning. A study of estate and gift tax law including tax return preparation. Emphasis on the importance of estate planning and the devices available for use in such planning, and effective uses of lifetime gifts, trusts, life insurance, pension plans, profit sharing, and other fringe benefit plans. The effects of state inheritance tax and property laws upon estate planning will be included. Prereq.: ACCT 4813 (C or better), 2.5 GPA. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Estate Planning, 14th Edition | Michael A. Dalton and Thomas P. Langdon | 978-1-957511-35-1 paper; 978-1-957511-36-8 ebook |
Using an earlier edition of the text may be possible, as many larger concepts have not changed from year to year. However, using an older edition will require extra caution when learning new laws and annual exemption amounts that do change from year to year.
This is intended to be a face-to-face course. We will only meet via Webex if circumstances beyond our control intervene and require this. I plan to email you periodically, using your YSU email account and/or Blackboard, to provide supplemental information.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Course Schedule
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Chapter 1 - Introduction to estate planning | Basic framework of this course. | Read chapter before class; prepare to discuss it, syllabus, and semester project. |
| Thu | 8/27 | Chapter 2 - Basic estate planning documents | When and why various estate planning documents can be used. | Read chapter before class. Discussion emphasis will be placed on the four basic estate planning documents. |
| Tue | 9/1 | Chapter 2 - Continued | Bring a Will to class and be prepared to discuss it. | |
| Thu | 9/3 | Chapter 3 - Types of property interests | Discuss how legal titling of property affects the disposition of the asset in an estate. | Read chapter, selection an ownership type and explain example to class. Discussion of Stanley Pigeon example will be assigned for next class. |
| Tue | 9/8 | Chapter 3 - Continued | Discuss Shayla Sapia and Stanley Pigeon examples in class. | |
| Thu | 9/10 | Chapter 4 - The probate process | What happens if there is no plan? | Read chapter. How do assets end up in Probate? Should we avoid Probate? Ted and Alice discussion example will be assigned. |
| Tue | 9/15 | Chapter 4 - Continued | Ted and Alice recap discussion in class. Review for Test #1. | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Test #1 | Today's classtime will be spent in completing the first test of the semester, in class. | Review all materials to date, including Chapters 1-4 of textbook. |
| Tue | 9/22 | Chapter 5 -The gift tax | Lifetime giving to individuals and trusts | Read chapter. At what point, and by whom, will gift tax be paid on a gift? |
| Thu | 9/24 | Chapter 5 - Continued | Be prepared to explain gift tax to a client. | |
| Tue | 9/29 | Chapter 6 - The estate tax | Estate tax is the tax that may be levied on a decedent's assets that are owned at date of death | Read chapter. Think about how to plan in an everchanging tax environment. |
| Thu | 10/1 | Chapter 6 - Continued | Be prepared to explain what happens to digital assets at death. | |
| Tue | 10/6 | Chapter 7 - Transfers during life and at death | When is the best time to transfer a particular asset? | Read chapter. Is there any type of asset that does not require estate planning? |
| Thu | 10/8 | Chapter 7 - Continued | Be prepared to explain Medicaid planning. | |
| Tue | 10/13 | Chapter 8 - Trusts | Implementing trusts during life and at death | Read chapter. Who needs a trust? |
| Thu | 10/15 | Chapter 8 - Continued | Be prepared to discuss a variety of types of trusts. | |
| Tue | 10/20 | Chapter 8 - Continued | Continued discussion of trusts. Review for Test #2. We will discuss semester projects. | |
| Thu | 10/22 | Test #2 | Today's classtime will be spent in completing the second test of the semester, in class. | Review Chapters 5-8, review concepts from earlier chapters. |
| Tue | 10/27 | Chapter 9 - Charitable giving | Charitable giving during life and at death | Read chapter. We will discuss the chapter and outside examples of charitable giving strategies. |
| Thu | 10/29 | Chapter 9 - Continued | Be prepared to discuss which charities you would recommend supporting and why. | |
| Tue | 11/3 | Chapter 10 - The unlimited marital deduction | A powerful deduction that can eliminate estate tax at the passing of the first spouse | Read chapter. We will discuss the risk and reward of a double step up in basis. |
| Thu | 11/5 | Chapter 11 - Life insurance | Uses and types of life insurance used in estate planning | Read chapter. We will discuss examples of viatical settlements. |
| Tue | 11/10 | Chapter 11 - Continued | Be prepared to discuss when life insurance is needed and why. | |
| Thu | 11/12 | Continued discussion of materials | Semester project presentations may begin | Teams of 1-2 students will present an estate plan for a real or fictitious client. |
| Tue | 11/17 | Chapter 12 - Special elections and postmortem planning | Planning that can be undertaken after the passing of a client to obtain a better result for the family | Read chapter. Semester projects continue. We will discuss the topics covered in the chapter. |
| Thu | 11/19 | Chapter 12 - Continued | Semester projects continue. We will discuss Disclaimers and when to use them. | |
| Tue | 11/24 | Chapter 13 - Generation skipping transfers | Can we make gifts to "skip people" to avoid estate tax at each generation? | Read chapter. Semester projects continue. We will discuss the most common aspects of generation skipping transfers encountered in planning. |
| Thu | 11/26 | Thanksgiving Day - NO CLASS | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Chapter 13 - Continued | Semester projects continue. We will discuss how trusts provide ways to avoid the generation skipping transfer tax. | |
| Thu | 12/3 | Review for final exam | Semester projects continue. Wrap-up discussion for course. | |
| Tue | 12/8 | Final exam - Test #3 | Official time is 3:15 to 5:15PM | Review Chapters 9-13, review concepts from earlier chapters. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.