Planning your estate is one of the most complicated endeavors you'll ever undertake, yet its results are also the most far-reaching; after all, it will continue to affect those you care about long after you no longer can. So it's worth understanding all the options and ramifications, being personally involved, and doing it right. This Nolo Press guide to estate planning is an excellent source of information on the many various details and considerations that you need to take into account--such as children and probate, estate and gift taxes, second marriages, and a wide variety of trust options (charitable, generation-skipping, spendthrift, living, and educational, for starters). It delves into the factors that affect married people versus single, the laws regarding children, types of beneficiaries and wills, plus joint tenancy, life insurance, retirement benefits, taxes, and organ donation. Showing a number of sample estate plans, explaining what hiring a lawyer can do for you (and how to choose a good one), how to do your own research, and including a glossary of estate-planning terms, Clifford and Jordan give you the tools to decide for yourself how you want your estate disposed of--and to make sure that's what your legal documents reflect. --Stephanie Gold


Money Magazine
Following Clifford’s advice in this laymen’s guide can save your heirs a bundle.


Washington Times
Probably one of the most comprehensive estate-planning books available to mature adults.


Los Angeles Times
Plan Your Estate is particularly helpful to the layperson... a clear, comprehensive and even charming book.


Eric Tyson, syndicated columnist and author of Personal Finance for Dummies
Among my favorite resources for explaining trusts and other aspects of estate planning...


Book Description
Plan Your Estate covers everything from the basics of wills and living trusts to sophisticated tax-saving strategies. The authors give you straightforward, plain-English explanations of every significant estate-planning option available, so you can make the best decisions for you and those you love. The book covers: *federal estate and gift taxes *trusts used to control property left to beneficiaries *charitable remainder trusts *durable powers of attorney *living wills *funerals and burials Completely updated, the 7th edition discusses new state estate tax rules, the new "disclaimer trust" for couples who aren't sure whether they need an AB trust, educational saving plans for kids, transfer-on-death deeds to avoid probate for real estate – and much more. Good for all states except Louisiana.


Download Description
Plan Your Estate covers everything from the basics of wills and living trusts to sophisticated tax-saving strategies. The authors give you straightforward, plain-English explanations of every significant estate-planning option available, so you can make the best decisions for you and those you love. The book covers: federal estate and gift taxes trusts used to control property left to beneficiaries charitable remainder trusts durable powers of attorney living wills funerals and burials The 6th edition is completely revised to cover new federal estate tax laws, gift tax rules, and information on Educational IRAS and 529 plans. It also provides and expanded discussion of retirement benefits. Good for all states except Louisiana.


About the Author
Denis Clifford, a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was an editor of The Law Review, is a lawyer who specializes in estate planning. He is the author of many Nolo titles including Quick and Legal Will Book, Nolo's Simple Will Book and Make Your Own Living Trust and co-author of Plan Your Estate and A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples. He has been interviewed by such major media as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Money Magazine. Cora Miner Jordan earned her law degree at the University of Mississippi. A trained mediator, she is the author of Neighbor Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries and Noise and co-author of Plan Your Estate.

ANNOTATION

The most comprehensive estate planning book available, from basic probate avoidance techniques to sophisticated tax saving strategies. ". . . excellent source of information on wills and estate planning."--The New York Times.

SYNOPSIS

Plan Your Estate covers everything from the basics of wills and living trusts to sophisticated tax-saving strategies. The authors give you straightforward, plain-English explanations of every significant estate-planning option available, so you can make the best decisions for you and those you love.

The book covers:*federal estate and gift taxes*trusts used to control property left to beneficiaries*charitable remainder trusts*durable powers of attorney*living wills*funerals and burials

Completely updated, the 7th edition discusses new state estate tax rules, the new "disclaimer trust" for couples who aren't sure whether they need an AB trust, educational saving plans for kids, transfer-on-death deeds to avoid probate for real estate – and much more. Good for all states except Louisiana.

FROM THE CRITICS

Plan Your Estate is particularly helpful to the layperson... a clear, comprehensive and even charming book.

Los Angeles Times

Plan Your Estate is particularly helpful to the layperson... a clear, comprehensive and even charming book.

Money Magazine

Following Clifford￯﾿ﾽs advice in this laymen￯﾿ﾽs guide can save your heirs a bundle.

Washington Times

Probably one of the most comprehensive estate-planning books available to mature adults. It is also written so that everyone can understand new and complex theories, laws, regulations, advantages and disadvantages, with issues ranging from basic estate planning to sophisticated tax-savings strategies.

U.S. News & World Report

How to protect your family and make an orderly exit even if your estate is small. Read all 10 "From The Critics" >

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