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Abstract

The author, an active probate lawyer, believes much of an attorney's time is wasted in present probate practice. Too much time is spent in attempting to cut the red-tape requirements of "make-work" probate procedures that serve no purpose in all but a very few cases. Therefore, it is worthwhile to call to the attention of the practicing bar the need for probate reform, and the attractive vehicle for reform which is now available.

This vehicle, the Uniform Probate Code, was prepared as a sevenyear project of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, with the assistance of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association. Its final version was approved by the Commissioners and endorsed by the American Bar Association in August, 1969, over four years ago, and is part of the legislative program of the Commissioners for submission to the legislatures of the 50 states. It is now in effect in Alaska and Idaho; it has been adopted and will soon be in effect in Arizona, Colorado and North Dakota; and its more important provisions have been adopted in Maryland and Wisconsin.' Its more important provisions have also long been in force in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. Thus, there are now 11 states, both large and small, urban and rural, where its substance has found legislative approval,

While these reforms may appear attractive when viewed in the abstract, their value to both practicing lawyers and their clients is more clearly revealed in the results they achieve. This article will illustrate some of these results.

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