Professor Gerry W. Beyer
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Beyer, Gerry W. Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law, 2005 (806) 742-3990 x302 Fax: (978) 285-7941 Email: gwb@professorbeyer.com Web Site, Blog |
Admitted to practice in Texas, Illinois (inactive), Ohio (inactive) and before the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Professor Beyer received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the Ohio State University and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. After practicing law in Columbus, Ohio, he received his LL.M. and J.S.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. Both his master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation topics involved estate planning issues.
Professor Beyer joined the faculty of the Texas Tech University School of Law in June 2005 as the Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law. Previously, Prof. Beyer taught at the St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas from 1981 to May 2005 and has served as a visiting professor at several other law schools including Boston College, Southern Methodist University, the University of New Mexico, and Santa Clara University.
Prof. Beyer has received numerous awards for his classroom work including the following awards within the past seven years: President’s Excellence in Teaching Award (Texas Tech University) (2007); Faculty Member of the Year – Texas Tech University School of Law Student Bar Association (2007-2007); Outstanding Professor of the Year-Texas Tech University School of Law (presented by Phi Alpha Delta) (2007); Outstanding Professor Award - Phi Alpha Delta (Texas Tech University Chapter) (2006); Professor of the Year Award -- Tartlon Inn (St. Mary's University) of Phi Delta Phi (2004-2005); Student Bar Association Professor of the Year Award -- St. Mary's University (2002-2003); Most Outstanding Professor Overall Award -- Tarlton Inn (St. Mary's University) of Phi Delta Phi (2003); Student Bar Association Professor of the Year Award – St. Mary’s University (2001-2002); and the Russell W. Galloway Professor of the Year Award – Santa Clara University (2000).
Prof. Beyer is a frequent contributor to both scholarly and practice-orientated publications and has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles focusing on various aspects of estate planning. In 1993, he received the Probate & Property Excellence in Writing Award for Best Cutting Edge Article for Probate and Trust as well as the 2001 Probate & Property Excellence in Writing Award for Best Overall Article in Probate and Trust. He has been the Keeping Current Probate editor for Probate & Property magazine since 1992. Prof. Beyer is an Academic Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and maintains membership in numerous organizations including the American Bar Foundation, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the College of the State Bar of Texas.
You may follow this link for a more detailed vita.
Degrees
B.A., summa cum laude, Eastern Michigan University, 1976
J.D., summa cum laude, Ohio State University, 1979
LL.M., University of Illinois,1983
J.S.D., University of Illinois, 1990
Selected Publications
Texas Estate Planning Statutes with Commentary (2008) (Aspen Publishers).
Wills, Trusts, and Estates: Examples & Explanations (4th ed. 2007) (Aspen Publishers).
Texas Trust Law -- Cases and Materials (2007) (AuthorHouse).
Wills, Trusts, and Estates for Legal Assistants (2d ed. 2006) (co-authored with John C. Hanft) (Aspen Publishers).
Texas Wills and Estates: Cases & Materials (5th ed. 2006).
Texas Estate Planning Statutes -- 2006 Student Edition (2006).
Teaching Materials on Estate Planning (3d ed. 2005) (American Casebook Series) (Thomson—West).
Wills, Trusts, and Estates — Examples and Explanations (2d ed. 2002) (Aspen Law & Business).
Texas Law of Wills — Volumes 9 & 10 of Texas Practice Series (3d ed. 2002).
Texas Estate Planning Statutes -- Student Edition (2004) (Aspen Publishers).
Sum & Substance CDs and Audiotapes: Wills & Trusts (3d ed. 2004); Trusts (3d ed. 2004); Wills & Succession (3d ed. 2004).
West’s Texas Forms — Administration of Decedents’ Estates and Guardianships — Volumes 12, 12A, & 12B (2d ed. 1996) (co-authored with Aloysius Leopold) (Thomson—West).
Wills, Trusts, and Estates for Legal Assistants (2002) (co-authored with John C. Hanft) (Aspen Publishers).
West’s Legal Forms – Real Estate Transactions – Residential – Volumes 19 & 19A (3d ed. 2002) (Thomson—West).
West’s Texas Forms — Real Property — Volumes 13, 14, & 15 (2d ed. 2001) (Thomson—West).
Modern Dictionary for the Legal Profession (3d ed. 2001) (co-authored with Kenneth R. Redden) (William S. Hein & Co., Inc.).
Wills & Trusts, 57 SMU L. Rev. 1293 (2004).
Wills & Trusts, 56 SMU L. Rev. 2071 (2003).
Pet Animals: What Happens When Their Humans Die?, 40 Santa Clara L. Rev. 617 (2000).
Probate and Trusts, 53 SMU L. Rev. 1229 (2000) (co-authored with Jerry Frank Jones).
The Fine Art of Intimidating Disgruntled Beneficiaries With In Terrorem Clauses, 51 SMU L. Rev. 225 (1998) (co-authored with Rob G. Dickinson & Kenneth L. Wake).
Statutory Fill-in Will Forms — The First Decade: Theoretical Constructs and Empirical Findings, 72 Ore. L. Rev. 769 (1993).
Simplification of Inter Vivos Trust Instruments — From Incorporation by Reference to the Uniform Custodial Trust Act and Beyond, 32 S. Tex. L. Rev. 203 (1991).
Pay to the Order of Whom? The Case of the Ambiguous Multiple Payee Designation, 21 U. Tol. L. Rev. 685 (1990).
Enhancing Self-Determination Through Guardian Self-Declaration, 23 Ind. L. Rev. 71 (1990).
Statutory Will Methodologies — Incorporated Forms vs. Fill-in Forms: Rivalry or Peaceful Co-Existence?, 94 Dick. L. Rev. 231 (1990).
Ante-Mortem Probate: A Viable Alternative, 43 Ark. L. Rev. 131 (1990) (co-authored with Aloysius Leopold).
Videotape and the Probate Process: The Nexus Grows, 42 Okla. L. Rev. 43 (1989) (co-authored with William R. Buckley).
The Will Execution Ceremony — History, Significance, and Strategies, 29 S. Tex. L. Rev. 413 (1988).
Videotaping the Will Execution Ceremony — Preventing Frustration of Testator's Final Wishes, 15 St. Mary's L.J. 1 (1983).
You may follow this link for a comprehensive publication list.
Texas Tech University School of Law, 1802 Hartford Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409
(806) 742-3990
(806) 742-1629
