Full Description

This book provides all the information necessary to estate planning, including inter vivos trusts, wills, guardian assignments, powers of attorney, and more. Blank forms are included on the accompanying CD-ROM disc, and the book itself contains sample, filled-in forms to guide the reader in preparing his or her own estate planning documents.

Table of Contents

Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books

Introduction

Chapter 1: An Overview -
- What is a Will?
- What is a Trust?
- What is Probate?
- Finding the Law
- Community Property
- Marital Property
- Quasi-Community Property
- Income Taxes
- Estate Taxes
- Do You Need a Lawyer?

Chapter 2: Assets
- Assets Subject to Disposition by a Will
- Property Subject to Disposition in a Will, but Passing without Probate to a Surviving Spouse
 - Small Estate Distribution
- Assets Not Subject to Disposition by a Will and Passing without Probate

Chapter 3: Deciding Which Plan Best Meets Your Goals -
- Coordinating Your Estate Plan
- Inter Vivos Trusts
 - Funding Your Inter Vivos Trust
- Using a Will to Create a Trust at Your Death
- Tax Planning
- Inter Vivos Trusts and the Pourover Will
- Health Care Powers of Attorney and Directives
- Financial Power of Attorney
- Living Wills
- Final Caution

Chapter 4: Beneficiaries -
- Who and What Can Inherit?
- Who and What Cannot Inherit?
- Special Limitations on Bequests to Minors
- Disqualified Beneficiaries
- Family Changes After Execution of the Will
- Who Can You Disinherit?
- Who Can Contest Your Will or Your Inter Vivos Trust?

Chapter 5: Bequests
- Specific and Residual Bequests
- Conditional Outright Bequests
- Life Estates
- Testamentary Trusts
- Charitable Trusts

Chapter 6: Fiduciary Positions
- Guardian
- Executor
- Trustee
- Custodian
- Conclusion

Chapter 7: Execution, Safekeeping, and Revocation of Wills and Inter Vivos Trusts -
- Will Execution
- Execution of Inter Vivos Trust
- Keeping Your Will Safe
- Keeping Your Inter Vivos Trust Safe
- Revocation

Chapter 8: Changing Your Will or Inter Vivos Trust -
- Changes before Execution
- Changes after Execution

Chapter 9: Anatomy of Your Will or Inter Vivos Trust Will
- Inter Vivos Trust

Conclusion

Glossary

Appendix A: Forced Shares Statutes

Appendix B: Asset Roadmap -

Appendix C: Step-by-Step Instructions with Sample, Completed Forms

Appendix D: Blank Forms

Excerpt

Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

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