Program Overview:
This program allows graduates to be fluent in the laws of succession (wealth transfer), trust law (wealth management and preservation), and related fields. Students who complete the trust law certificate will have a strong understanding and sense of the rapidly evolving state of trust laws . They will develop drafting , interpretative, and client counseling/communication skills. They will learn about common and recurring client objectives and different ways in which those objectives can be achieved through advanced planning. Students will master agency law and the rules of entities commonly owned by and managed by trusts. They will have particularized knowledge relating to the federal estate and gift tax, fiduciary obligations, and trustee administrative functions.
Delivery: On Campus
Application Requirements
This program is only available to students enrolled at the Knudson School of Law. Students must meet all admission requirements to the JD program.
Click here to find admissions information.
Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs
This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.
USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.
Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.
Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.
For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.
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