Explaining the Law, Empowering You

Essential Estate Planning is a must read for anyone who doesn’t already have a comprehensive estate plan. It will show you just why you need to have a comprehensive estate plan and how you can prepare one yourself.

 

You will be introduced to some of the ways in which you can plan your estate and the devices that you can use to do so such as last wills, living wills, living trusts, powers of attorneys, healthcare directives, probate free transfers of assets and so on. You will learn about the probate process, why people are so keen to avoid probate and lots of simple methods you can actually use to do so. You will learn about reducing estate taxes and how best to provide for young beneficiaries and children.

 

We’ll also talk to you about beneficiaries, children, disinheritance, incapacity, taxes, and much more. We will get you thinking about your own personal situation and how you would like to have your affairs organized – and by the end of the process, you will have a solid understanding of estate planning and the techniques involved.

We will show you how you can:-

Provide for the management of your property and affairs during incapacity

Understand the means by which you can distribute your assets

Reduce estate taxes

Simple ways to avoid probate

Easily make property management arrangements for young beneficiaries

And much more……..

 

 

		List Price: $34.95 Our Price: $17.95   Add to Cart   Amazon Price: $24..95

Act Now - Take The Time To Make An Estate Plan - And Protect You, Your Family and Your Assets!!

AN INTRODUCTION TO ESTATE PLANNING

CHAPTER 1: ESTATE PLANNING BASICS
What is Estate Planning?
What’s Included in Your Estate?
How to Plan Your Estate
Do I Need to Plan My Estate?
Children and Guardians
Choosing Beneficiaries
Last Will and Testament
Revocable Living Trusts
Executors and Probate
Assets that Don’t go Through Probate
Planning for Incapacity – Power of Attorney for Finance and Property
Planning for Incapacity – Advance Healthcare Directives
Living Wills
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Reducing Taxes on Your Estate
Funeral Arrangements
Conclusion

CHAPTER 2: CHILDREN, GUARDIANS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
What is a Guardian?
Sole and Joint Guardians
Alternate Guardians
Appointment of a Guardian
Who Can be a Guardian?
Should You Appoint Guardians for Your Minor Children?
What to Consider When Choosing a Guardian for Your Child
What Happens When No Guardian is Named in Your Will?
Management of Children’s Property
Options for Property Management
Appointment of a Property Guardian
Uniform Transfer to Minors’ Act
Individual Child Trusts
Children’s Pot Trusts
Providing for Children with Special Needs
Whom Should You Choose as a Trustee?
Trustee’s Duties

CHAPTER 3: GIFTS AND BENEFICIARIES
Gifting Your Assets
How to Make a Gift
Types of Gifts
Specific Item Gifts
Cash Gifts (also known as monetary or pecuniary legacies)
Gift of the Residuary Estate
Types of Beneficiaries
Specific Gift Beneficiary
Alternate Beneficiary
Residuary Beneficiary
Who May Not be a Beneficiary?
Changing Beneficiaries
Gifts to Spouses
Community Property States
Common Law States
Gifts to Minors
Unmarried or Same-Sex Couples
Gifts to Charities
Failed Gifts
Imposing Conditions on the Receipt of Gifts
Disinheritance
Disinheriting a Spouse
Disinheriting a Child
Matters Affecting the Distribution of Your Assets
Simultaneous Death
Homestead Allowance
Family Allowance for Support
The Exemption for the Benefit of the Family
Right to Remain in the Family Home
Right to Receive Family Residence
Right to Automobiles
Right to Reimbursement of Funeral Costs
Abatement of Assets
Disclaimed Inheritances
Finalizing Your Plan
Lawsuits by Spouses
Disinheriting Your Children

CHAPTER 4: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
About Wills
Principal Components of a Will
Types of wills
Making a Valid Will
Age of Majority
Mental Capacity and Undue Influence
Why Make a Will?
Executors
Alternate Executors
Overview of Executors’ Duties
Who Should be Your Executor?
Executing a Will
Matters that can Impact Wills
No Contest Clauses
Challenging a Will
Intestacy
Apportionment and Distribution of Assets on Intestacy
Share of Surviving Spouse
Share of Descendents
Share of Parents
Share of Other Relatives
Do-it-Yourself Wills
Do I Need a Lawyer

CHAPTER 5: EXECUTORS & PROBATE
What is an Executor?
What is Probate?
Who can be Your Executor?
An Overview of an Executor’s Duties, Powers and Risks
Powers of an Executor
Executor’s Liability
Protecting Your Executor from Liability
Protection Under the Terms of Your Will
Obtain the Consent of Beneficiaries
Take out an Executor’s Insurance Bond
Obtain the Consent of the Probate Court
Compensating Your Executor

CHAPTER 6: POWER OF ATTORNEY
What is a Power of Attorney?
Types of Powers of Attorney
General Power of Attorney
Limited Power of Attorney
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Ordinary and Durable Powers of Attorney
Springing Powers of Attorney
Mutual Powers of Attorney
Cascading Powers of Attorney
Capacity to Make a Power of Attorney
What Does “being incapable or incapacitated” Mean?
Should I Make a Power of Attorney?
What Happens Without a Power of Attorney?
What if You Don’t Think You Need a Power of Attorney?
Marriage
Living Trusts
Joint Tenancy
The Relationship Between Principal and Agent
Who Can be an Agent?
Joint or Joint and Independent Agents
Alternate Agents
Scope of an Agent’s Powers
Duties and Responsibilities of an Agent
Choosing an Agent
What Laws Govern My Power of Attorney?
Witness to a Power of Attorney
Commencement of a Power of Attorney
Revocation of a Power of Attorney
Important Points & Recommendation

Chapter 7: Advance Medical Directives
What is an Advance Medical Directive?
Why do I Need an Advance Medical Directive?
Living Wills and Their Background
How Living Wills Work
What is a Terminal Condition?
What is a Persistent Comatose Condition?
What is a Persistent Vegetative Condition?
What Life Support Choices Do I Have Within My Living Will?
Should I Make a Living Will?
State Requirements for Life Sustaining Medical Treatment
Witness Requirements
Appointing an Agent to Revoke or Enforce Your Living Will
Finalizing Your Living Will
Terminating Advance Directives
Family Discussions
Making Your Wishes Known - Legal Vaults™ Wallet Cards
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Choosing a Healthcare Agent
Alternate Healthcare Agent
Do I Need a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will?
Conclusion

CHAPTER 8: PROBATE AVOIDANCE MEASURES
Probate Avoidance
Pay on Death or Transfer on Death Accounts
Transfer on death securities
Retirement accounts
Joint Accounts
Custodial Accounts
Savings Bonds
Life Insurance Proceeds
Joint Ownership of Property
Joint Tenancy
Tenancy by the Entireties
Tenancy in Common
Community Property
Revocable Living Trust
Gifts During Your Lifetime
Probate Free Transfers of Assets
Simplified Transfer Procedures for “Small Estates”

CHAPTER 9: REVOCABLE LIVING TRUSTS
What are Living Trusts?
Advantages of Living Trusts
Disadvantages of Living Trusts
The Role of the Initial Trustee
Appointing a Co-Trustee
Successor Trustees
The Role of the Successor Trustee
Role of Successor Trustee During the Incapacity of the Grantor
Role of Successor Trustee Following the Death of the Grantor
Fiduciary Duties of the Successor Trustee
Changing Trustees
The Beneficiaries of Your Living Trust
Types of Living Trust
Living Trust for an Individual
Living Trusts for Couples
Conclusion
Transferring Assets to Your Living Trust
What Assets Should be Put in Your Living Trust?
Title to Assets Transferred to a Living Trust
Transferring Property to Your Trust
Real Estate
Cars, Boats and Other Vehicles
Cash Accounts
United States Savings Bonds
Broker Accounts
Publicly Quoted Stocks and Bonds
Retirement Plans
Other Property
Revocation of your Living Trust
Pour-Over Wills

CHAPTER 10: ESTATE TAXES
Estate Taxes
Federal Estate and Gift Tax
Everyone’s “Coupon”
What is the “Coupon” Amount?
How to Determine the Estate Tax?
State Death Tax
State Death Taxes are Paid by the Estate
The Recipient Pays State Inheritance Taxes
“Pick-Up” Taxes
Marital Deduction
Non-Citizen Spouses
Charitable Deductions
Charitable Remainder Trust
Charitable Lead Trust
Other Ways to Reduce Estate Taxes
Lifetime Gifts
QTIP Trust
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
Family Limited Partnerships
Special Use Real Estate Valuation
Conclusion

CHAPTER 11: FINALIZING YOUR PLAN
Deciding What Should be in Your Estate Plan
Management of Your Property and Finances During Incapacity
Making Healthcare Decisions During Incapacity
Appoint Guardians for Your Children
Assemble a List of Your Assets and Liabilities
Decide Who Will Receive Your Assets
Decide How and When Your Beneficiaries Will Receive Your Assets
Choosing People to Be in Charge
When to Do-it-Yourself and When to Include Lawyers
Storing Your Documents
Updating Your Estate Plan
Finally

The following forms are included with this book:-

Estate Planning Worksheet

Estate Planning Worksheet

Will Forms

First will - Unmarried with no children, single beneficiary

Second will - Unmarried with no children, multiple beneficiaries

Third will - Unmarried with children

Fourth will - Married with adult children (for husband)

Fifth will - Married with adult children (for wife)

Sixth will - Married with minor children (for husband)

Seventh will - Married with minor children (for wife)

Self-Proving Affidavits

Self-proving affidavit – Type 1

Self-proving affidavit – Type 2

Windows

1GHz or faster processor

Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 (Service Pack 3 recommended) or Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (certified for 32-bit Windows XP and Windows Vista)

1GB of RAM

3.5GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on flash-based storage devices)

1,024x768 display (1,280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card

CD-ROM drive

QuickTime 7.1.2 software required for multimedia features

Broadband Internet connection required for online services*

Windows 7 compatibility