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Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
History
The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section( Section) was formalized in 1950 at the same time the original Title Examination Standards were compiled and published by SBAND. The Section’ s primary activity was to update the Standards and provide continuing legal education to the members of the Section. In 1950, the annual Section dues for members were $ 5, and today the dues are $ 25.
The Section originally had three committees, the Real Property Committee, the Probate Committee, and the Trust Law Committee. The Real Property Committee later became the Title Standards Committee and the Mineral Title Standards Committee.
The original Title Examination Standards were updated in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967, and 1969. After 1969, the Title Standards Committee and the Section’ s activities were largely dormant until the Title Standards Committee was reconstituted in 1987 with the purpose of revising the Title Examination Standards and developing a practice guide to be included in the new Title Examination Standards.
The Purpose
The stated purpose of the Section is to consider all manner of SBAND approved forms, articles for The Gavel, conduct seminars, engage in the legislative process, propose and lobby in support of legislation important to the Section, mentor young lawyers in legal interests relating to the various subjects pertaining to real property, probate and trust law, and communicate with members of the Section and other members of the Bar respecting these matters. The Section conducts the various sub-committees, including the Title Standards Committee and the Mineral Title Standards Committee, and publishes written materials.
The Section’ s annual meeting and seminar has, at times, reached more than 200 attendees, and the proceeds of the seminar have provided funding for SBAND and the Section. The Section has provided funding
for scholarships to University of North Dakota( UND) law students and, more recently, made a major contribution to the SBAND offices and to the UND School of Law building project. The Section currently has 319 members, and any lawyer licensed in North Dakota can become a member by paying the annual dues.
An Active Section
The Section is currently led by Chairperson Grant Shaft, Vice Chairperson Morgan Reinke, and Secretary / Treasurer Jeffrey Leadbetter. The Section’ s Mineral Title Standards Committee is chaired by Shane Hanson, and Leadbetter chairs the Title Standards Committee.
The Section is very active and engaged in many areas of law that are of interest to the practicing bar, notes Shaft.“ There is considerable opportunity for interaction and mentoring with lawyers who have concentrated in these areas for many years,” he says.“ With our active committees and the seminar, there are many opportunities for participation in the Section.”
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