Submission Guidelines

The Journal publishes scholarly articles of both academic and practical importance on topics related to the fields of estate planning, community property, estate planning, probate, and trust law. Also, we consider for publication legal articles in related fields. The guidelines are as follows:

THE ESTATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY PROPERTY LAW JOURNAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS

This is a guide for authors who wish to submit articles for publication in the ESTATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY PROPERTY LAW JOURNAL.

PURPOSE & PERSPECTIVE
The Journal publishes scholarly articles of both academic and practical importance on topics related to the fields of estate planning, community property, estate planning, probate, and trust law. Also, we consider for publication legal articles in related fields.

STYLE
We accept and edit articles written in traditional law review style. While length may vary, submissions are typically 25-50 double-spaced typed pages and present a scholarly discussion with full citation to authority in footnotes. Our editors conform to the most recent editions of The Bluebook—A Uniform System of Citation and the Among others, these areas include intestate succession, wills, trusts, testamentary substitutes, powers of attorney, inter vivos gifts, powers of appointment, joint tenancies, multi-party accounts, retirement accounts, annuities, life insurance, probate courts, probate proceedings and alternatives to formal proceedings, personal representatives, administrators, executors, trustees, trust and estate creditors, trust and estate beneficiaries, heirship proceedings, fiduciary litigation, income taxation of trusts and estates, federal and state transfer taxes (gift tax, estate tax, and generation-skipping transfer tax), alternative reproductive technologies, guardianships, medical powers of attorney, directives to physicians, anatomical gifts, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, elder abuse, marital property in community property jurisdictions, homestead and similar statutory asset protections, and historical, social, economic, international, ethical, professional responsibility and professional malpractice analyses related issues.

Texas Law Review Manual on Style. For general writing style, refer to William Strunk, Jr. & E.B. White, The Elements of Style.

SUBMISSION
The Journal welcomes article submissions from all nations and states and particularly encourages the various community property countries, states, and regions to submit for publication. Additionally, the Journal welcomes articles from all levels of practice, including law professors, judges, practicing lawyers, solicitors, students, etc. We accept all articles in electronic format. Please e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
The Journal publishes two times a year. The following table summarizes the publication schedule and the respective deadlines for article submission. Submitted articles are reviewed on a “first submitted, first accepted” basis, and specific Journal issues are sometimes full in advance of their respective deadlines, so there is an advantages to early submission. We cannot hold space “open” in an issue forpromised articles or promised redrafts of articles.

Issue     Publication Date     Deadline for Article Submission
Fall        Late December        August 1
Spring     Late June              December 1


ARTICLE SELECTION
The Executive Board selects articles for publication based upon a number of objective factors. These factors include the article’s: (1) subject-matter compatibility with the Journal’s purpose and goals; (2) clarity, style, and substantive accuracy; (3) Submission Guidelines: level of thoroughness for each topic treated; (4) adequacy of citation; (5) level of demand regarding particular topics or issues; and (5) level of uniqueness or scholarly inquiry. We will also consider the independence of the author and possible conflicts of interest, whether real or apparent, that may hinder objectivity.

EDITORIAL PROCESS
All accepted articles are edited by the Journal’s editorial board at the Texas Tech University School of Law and reviewed and edited by at least two members of the Executive Board to ensure accuracy of content and clarity of style. Upon completion of editing, we return the edited article to its author for suggestions and comments before publication. Any author who has a question about Journal editorial policy while preparing an article is encouraged to contact any member of the Executive Board.

COMPLIMENTARY REPRINTS FOR AUTHORS
The Journal provides authors with 25 complimentary copies. Authors may order additional reprints at cost after the edited article is returned to the editor-in-chief immediately prior to publication.