This law school textbook explores the basic doctrines and planning techniques that modern lawyers must master to assist clients with estate planning, draft implementing documents, and advise fiduciaries and clients on the proper administration of estates and trusts. A hypothetical client family is used to explore the human aspects of estate planning and to illustrate estate planning issues most likely to arise at particular stages of a client's life. Textual material is designed to be self-explanatory, so that teachers are free to use classroom time to explore planning and drafting techniques and policy considerations more fully.