We all want to make sure our loved ones are provided for after we are gone. But where to begin? Do you need a will or a trust? How do retirement accounts fit into your plan? Do simple estates require a will? The fact is that if you want to protect your heirs--and ensure they aren't burdened with unnecessary taxes--you need an estate plan. But creating it doesn't have to be painful or complicated. Attorney Michael T. Palermo explains everything you need to know about wills, trusts, and more in plain, easy-to-understand English, including:

Wills and the probate processThe pros and cons of living trustsTaxes--and how to pay lessNaming a guardian for your minor childrenLiving wills and other advance medical directivesa primer on marshaling and protecting retirement assetsideas for making sure your money stays in the family in case a spouse remarries; and much, much more
With a foreword by consumer finance guru Ric Edelman and a handy glossary of terms, the AARP Crash Course in Estate Planning offers expertise you can trust--from the 35-million-member association dedicated to addressing the needs of older Americans.