Help protect your family and your assets, and save on legal fees! Quicken WillMaker Plus Estate Planning Essential 2007 Edition provides the legal forms you need. So comprehensive, the CD-ROM assembles your forms from among 40,000 document possibilities -- but so easy to use, you'll have them finished in minutes.
Important documents for executors
The CD-ROM also provides forms you can use every day, such as authorizations and agreements, child and elder care forms, promissory notes and documents to help you repair your credit.
For each document, Quicken WillMaker Plus Estate Planning Essentials 2007 Edition takes you through a step-by-step interview. Your documents will automatically reflect the laws of your state. If you have any questions, simply check out the comprehensive onscreen legal manual. Expert tech support is also available.
Need to know more? Here are in-depth details about what you can do with Quicken WillMaker Plus Estate Planning Essentials 2007 Edition:
Your Will
Provide for family, friends and charities. Name a personal guardian to care for young children. Specify the executor (or "personal representative") of your estate. Select a trusted person to manage property left to young people. Revise and update your will whenever you like.
Your Living Trust
Make a basic trust, whether you're married or single. If married, you can create a AB trust (or bypass trust) and spare your heirs from potentially heavy estate taxes. Create subtrusts for minor children and young adults. Name custodians for property left to children. Change or revoke your trust at any time.
Your Health Care Directive lets people who care for you make important decisions about your life and health when you can't. Create a:
NEW! Health Care Power of Attorney Permit a loved one to make important medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself.
Living Will
Specify whether you want your life prolonged through artificial means. Appoint someone to make sure your wishes are carried out.
Your Financial Power of Attorney
Name someone to make your financial decisions, in case you are medically incapacitated. Don't worry, you can grant as much authority as you wish.
Your Final Arrangements
Plan a funeral or other ceremony. Clarify whether you want a cremation or burial. Select someone to oversee your final arrangements -- and more!
Documents for Your Executor
Make sure your executor ("personal representative" in some states) has all the forms and instructions he or she needs to do the job: Checklists, letters, notices, claim forms -- and more.
Personal Finance Documents
Over a dozen forms that let you handle financial situations you might face on any given day, such as disputing a credit card charge, lending or borrowing money to friends or family, creating bills of sale -- and more!
Home & Family Documents
Whether you need to authorize someone to travel with your child to another country, want to lend your car to a friend, or create an agreement with a trusted person to take care of your elderly parent, Quicken WillMaker Plus can handle all these family situations -- and many more!
Estate planning documents not valid in Louisiana.
Customer Reviews:
very thorough.......2007-09-25
Probably the best product available. I bought the book plus CD. The book is very detailed and covers most topics you would want to know about in case you pass on. I feel I have a good understanding of the process. Estate planning is somewhat complex and takes time. You must read the book before plugging in the software so you will understand the major decisions you must make.
This package will crank out straight forward, no nonsense wills and related paperwork that is valid and binding. You do not need a lawyer. However if you have anything complicated or involves many conditions, you better pay the lawyers fees.
It's OK but won't work on Mac.......2007-09-12
I have not used all the pieces of this and it has some limitations but it is a cheap way to get a will I guess. I am mostly annoyed that they don't make it for Mac which makes it a bigger hassle for me since I am a Mac user.
Very good if your needs are basic.......2007-08-24
My wife and I bought this product before we went on an out of the country vacation and left our toddler with relatives. We wanted to have the peace of mind that our intentions were documented and known. Our situation is not complex so we found the program and documentation to be very accommodating.
I would guess that someone who had a great deal of acquired wealth and assests, or a complex family system may want to invest in an attorney's assistance.
Easy to use product........2007-08-23
WillMaker was simple to use, and didn't take much time at all. It is a great way to get your affairs in order. It's not easy to think about death, but I think it is important, so those who survive you don't have as many difficult issues around one's death.
This program also has some other useful legal programs such as childcare contracts.
Lots of Reading but Well Worth It.......2007-08-08
I didn't want to go to a lawyer and spend lots of $ on the very little money I have. The software comes with a very detailed book and explains everything very well. I did actually write my will that day and living will as well.I just have to get it signed by witnesses and notarized. I didn't give it a perfect 5 b/c there is no such thing as perfect. That's just my own opinion. Well worth the money and the software goes through the will process step by step.
Book Description
This is an easy-to-use and fast way for you and other members of your household to create your own advance directive, also known as a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, living revocable trust, and all the other must-have documents you need to protect you and your family. It's as easy as 1-2-3—simply personalize, print, and protect.
Suze Orman and her own estate trust attorney have created the most state-of-the-art documents found anywhere. There are more than $2,500 worth of estate documents in this kit. Why pay thousands of dollars when you can get the same documents in this kit!
This kit includes:
• More than 50 state-of-the-art documents • Free automatic on-line updates • Verbal and written instructions taking you step by step through the four must-have documents • Password protection securing multiple users' information • A tutorial that shows you everything you need to know • 10 electronic books
PC and Macintosh Compatible . . . and good in all 50 states!
Customer Reviews:
simplistic.......2007-07-16
This is okay for people who have never been exposed to wills or trusts. Does not allow you edit easily or transfer docs to legal size etc like Willmaker. I'm sure it has to do with compromising their advice but you just don't have any leeway whereas other programs flat out tell you that if you modify their language it's your responsibility. Probably ok if you know NOTHING about trusts and still want to investigate doing them yourself. I expected more.
Looks good.. haven't gotten around to completing the will yet.......2007-07-06
Will know in a month or two when I do the actual Will papers.. and will probably update with more at that time.. looks pretty good so far..
A difficult job made do-able.......2007-06-09
It is more fun to eat live snails than to sit down and do trusts and wills, not to mention the dreaded Advanced Directive.
Everyone puts off this very necessary chore because they know that going to an attorney is expensive and that all this is necessary because of death, a subject we avoid when possible.
Now there are many software programs that promise to make it possible for many people to do this work at home and without the expense of an attorney. Be aware, though, that attorneys say that people trying to do it themselves can make expensive mistakes and that the fee for professional services is money well spent.
I suspect that many people with uncomplicated estates can probably do ok with a software program, but that complicated estates really need an attorney. The question of what is fairly simple and what is complicated can only be answered by the individual.
Even if you have doubts about doing it yourself, it makes sense to get a program and do it anyway. You will know the kind of questions you have to answer and generally get an idea of the process. Then you can go to an attorney with some backround that will make the process easier, maybe saving an hour or three of expensive attorney time.
The Orman program is heavily advertised and Suze herself is kind of a celebrity. It is also reasonably priced and the advertisements seemed realistic. I went with Suze and successfully filled everything out, got the appropriate forms witnessed and notarized and copies sent to relatives, doctors and hospitals. Felt a lot better afterward as I am sure most people do.
A will is like having a colonoscopy. Everyone knows they should have one, but put it off as long as possible. I was forced into action because I was facing a serious time in the hospital and thought that if I left feet first, that my wife and kids would have a terrible time dealing with stuff a will would make easier. All turned out well, but I am really glad I did the paperwork and do not have to think about it unless things change.
The advanced directive, in case some people don't know, is a legal document that allows a hospital to cut off life support when you are brain dead in case your spouse is not available to give the word. This is not an uncommon occurrence as you could both be dead or incapacitated in a crash, for example. You can be free to go without interference from politicians who think they can raise the dead or from relatives who can't make the decision. Doctors know when it is time.
The Orman program is probably about as simple as it can be, but it deals with legalities, life and death, money and real estate and other property. That is all hard stuff. Attorneys will likely charge close to $2000 to do this because it takes hours of work. So, it is not an easy even for professionals. I managed to complete everything in about five hours. Those that have used tax software will find the process familiar.
Suze gives you stuff to read and also does a voice-over in some cases. Other experts also chime in now and then. I thought this was going to be annoying, but actually found it to be useful. I do suggest earphones or decent speakers if you are forced to operate in a noisy environment.
In California, at least, some of the forms need to be witnessed and notarized. The witnesses cannot be beneficiaries, so you have to get two strangers to sign some ominous documents for someone they do not know. I was lucky to find a couple in the hair salon next door to the notary. This is not the fault of Orman, but still you have to line people up. You might call the notary for advice. Stupid requirement.
There are multiple forms, several pages each. You need to make copies for relatives, your doctor and hospitals. That adds up to a lot of copies and a lot of paper that needs to be accurately collated. I suggest you get a stapler and a bunch of manila mailers that are addressed.
You also need cover letters. For example, the copy of the advanced directive that goes to your doctors should have a cover letter explaining that you are sending the directive so it will be in their files in case the need should arise to use it some day.
I also emailed my relatives and told them their will and directive copies were coming and what my general expectations were. I guess it is more traditional to keep it a secret until the end. Depends, I suppose.
Oh, and one of the forms is a narrative that details the disposition of your property. For example, you could say that aunt Mary gets your collection of pornographic statues, Uncle Bill gets the tv and so on.
So, it took me all day to complete the program, get witnesses and notary, collate and mail everything. That is about as fast as possible I think. Afterward, I felt relieved and accomplished. I had more than one drink in celebration.
There is nothing as nice as getting nagging odious tasks done. And the colonoscopy saved my life, so there.
I gave Suze five stars. I have not compared her program to any of the others. The legal requirements are the same and I figure Orman is in a position to hire competent legal and technical people. There is no way to know if everything will go smoothly for my heirs. One could hire an attorney to look it over and that shouldn't take too long.
The program does a good job of guiding you through a complex procedure. You still have to make decisions, of course, but the fact that this all went smoothly and everything printed was very impressive. This was done on a Mac, which is good since programs like this are usually ported to Windows first. Now that Macs also run Windows makes it even more likely to work for you on any computer.
I am impressed with this program and recommend it. I doubt that there is any way to make a will/trust/directive program any easier and I trust that the people behind it are competent. So, five stars.
Will and Trust Kit.......2007-05-07
Overall the Will and Trust kit is very easy to use. It is a bit glitchy on the Mac, but when I switched to the PC I was able to produce all the documents I needed. What I like most is that after creating the Trust document, the program walked me through funding the trust. It does not matter how much you know about Wills and Trusts, all you need to know is who you want to get what when you die. As a bonus you get the Living Will document. This is something I wish my father had when he was sick and finally died.
not enough info about what this software can offer.......2007-04-04
The software does not give enough info about what this software is capable of doing. For example, I found out in the middle of interview questions that the software can not do AB trust. THis makes this software totally useless.
Book Description
Here is the absolutely essential and totally comprehensive guide to wills, trusts, estate planning, and crafting a personal legacy.
Scrutinized for accuracy by AARP’s legal specialists, this indispensable volume covers every aspect of planning an estate and creating a will. A crash course in one handy volume, the book walks readers through the entire process, from understanding the distinction between probate and nonprobate property to delegating a durable power of attorney, and from resolving possible tax issues ahead of time to safeguarding your assets.
In these pages you will find:
• comparisons of wills and simple living trusts;
• advice on guardianship and advance medical directives;
• explanations of the role and powers of a trustee—and what steps to take in the case of suspected misconduct;
• a primer on marshaling and protecting retirement assets;
• help in planning for children with disabilities;
• ideas for making sure your money stays in the family in case a spouse remarries; and much, much more.
Customer Reviews:
The Good Estate.......2007-08-28
This is a well written, very readable treatment of the subject of estate planning. If one submits to the discipline of reading it thoroughly one will secure the necessary knowledge to ask and answer the pertinent questions of an estate planning lawyer.
Cuting planning costs.......2007-01-19
This book is a must for senions who need to understand the ramifacations of nursing home costs and related retirement issues. Attorney costs as high as $200.00 per hour and or flat fees of thousands of dollars, cause seniors to procasinate from getting their financial house in order. This book does a good job of explaining the need for proper planning and the ease in which it can be done withour having an attorney do ever phase, and prepare every document. Yet it does point out the need for an attorney in properly preparing the more difficult documents. I highly recoment this book for seniors and others also.
Don't Visit Your Attorney without Being Informed.......2006-09-28
As an estate planner and attorney, I know that presenting this kind of information in an easy-to-grasp way isn't, well . . . easy. But Michael Palermo has done it. In Crash Course in Estate Planning, he explains everything from wills to planning for children to protecting your investment interests. The fact that the AARP endorses The Essential Guide is a great indication of the value of the information. The "Hints" and "Warnings" that Michael gives throughout the book could only have come from a real life practicing estate attorney who has faced these problems with clients many times. In addition to having an estate planning practice, Michael is also a Certified Financial Planner and the combination of wisdom garnered from his financial background and legal background serves his readers well. Michael knows which issues take a little more effort to understand, and he provides more detail accordingly. This is a great book for anyone who is preparing to tackle the estate planning process. Palermo provides clear and direct answers to very difficult questions. I highly recommend his book. Be advised though, if you read the book you may, at least in some areas, find you know more than your attorney!
James Lange, CPA/Attorney and author of Retire Secure! Pay Taxes Later: The Key to Making Your Money Last as Long as You Do
This book is outdated........2006-06-21
It is difficult to understand how this book got the endorsement of AARP. It has only had three reviews and the last one was in October of 2005. Being published in 2004 puts the information behind the times, especially if you live in California. As the author of the book "Everything A Baby Boomer Should Know," published only weeks ago, I think AARP should reevaluate what it recommends to us Baby Boomers as a reliable resource to educate our need to know how the system works.
The best advice.......2005-10-28
This is not a "how to" book. It is an exhaustive discussion of all of the options people have in planning their estates. This includes what can go wrong and how to avoid these problems.
It covers all of the possible ways to minimize taxes for your estate and your heirs.
The writing style is concise.
Book Description
A favorite among law students and professors alike, the Examples & Explanations series is ideal for studying, reviewing and testing your understanding through application of hypothetical examples. Authored by leading professors with extensive classroom experience, Examples & Explanations titles offer hypothetical questions in the subject area, complemented by detailed explanations that allow you to test your knowledge of the topic, and compare your own analysis.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book By A Great Teacher.......2003-10-19
Gerry Beyer was my "Wills and Trusts" professor in law school. He was my favorite teacher, and the favorite of many of my fellow law students, for several reasons: first of all, he had an excellent command of the law. There wasn't an aspect of it he didn't know. Secondly, he taught in a clear and concise manner. Many of my law professors were "hide-the-ball" types: their clumsy use of the Socratic method left students lost and confused. When Professor Beyer lectured, you knew exactly what point he was trying to make. You didn't have to guess at it. Finally, he was a warm, friendly, humorous guy - very approachable and not at all intimidating, a rare trait in a lawyer. This book is everything Professor Beyer is: knowledgeable, approachable, and clear. And as a rookie attorney in the field of wills, trusts, and estate planning, this is the book I turn to first and foremost as a reference. That said, I believe this book is most appropriate for law students, paralegals, practicing attorneys, and others who need a serious grasp of wills, trusts, and estate planning law. Those who want a simple, cursory introduction may find themselves overwhelmed by all the legal jargon - as was mentioned by a previous reviewer.
explanatory but too much jargon.......2003-01-02
it's a good book but you should keep in hand a law dictionary.
Book Description
This expert, one-of-a-kind handbook shows you how to:
- Ensure that your inheritance instructions will he carried out -- the way you want them to be
- Protect your child's inheritance from creditors, ex-spouses, addictions, tax troubles, mismanagement, squandering, and other risks of loss
- Prevent family conflict that can arise when parents die and children divide the "family money"
- Leave more money to your children and grandchildren, and less to the IRS -- and understand the hidden cost of a "death tax" repeal
Customer Reviews:
Lots of mini-cases; Easy to read.......2007-09-28
Only estate book I've seen written in an easy-to-read, mini-case-study format. Very practical and thought-provoking advice. Tends to focus on little worst-case scenarios in an attempt to get people to plan properly for all the things that can go wrong in an estate.
For what it's worth, I thought the book was generally best-suited for estates with $100,000 to about $2,000,000 in assets. Don't get me wrong, there's something in here for all estate sizes - especially for people just starting the process of developing a plan. However, don't buy this book looking for technical discussions of advanced tax-minimizing strategies. If you or your clients have estates over this $2MM mark, this book can be a great thought-provoker, but some of the advice isn't really suitable for larger estates.
Do right by your kids...get this book.......2007-03-15
I have several estate planning books...the "how to" type and they are great. This is the book you need to read before you start filling in the blanks. I wish my parents had read this book. It would have saved my family relationships. This book gives you the basic information you need before drawing up your trust. Protect your beneficiaries and prevent family conflict by reading this book!
So good I bought 4 extra copies for friends.......2007-01-19
Estate planning is so important if you don't want your son in law running off with half your estate in the event of your kid's divorce. This book was a great asset to me ... and a real eyeopener as to what can happen at the reading of your will if you haven't equalized everything. the author even gives you his phone number that readers can call and ask questions free. The book is so good I bought 4 extra copies for friends.
Ditto of "janimac's on April 11, 2006".......2006-12-28
As strange as this may sound, my review is identical to janimac's on April 11, 2006 (except I merely *told* 3 friends about it).
The answer to my prayers.......2006-04-12
What a relief!!! I finally found a book that would help me help my parent plan their estate! Thank you so much for your wonderful, easy to read book. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down! This book has practical, real world examples of inheritance planning issues and considers the "human" side of inheritances. It's a must read if you need to do estate planning. I just came back and bought three copies to give to my friends. It's the best gift I could possibly give them!
Book Description
Estate planning is for everyone who wants to protect the ones they love.
The American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates, Second Edition, contains everything you need to know about planning an estate, preparing a will or trust, and minimizing inheritance taxes. Organized in easy-to-follow chapters with sidebars containing tips, checklists, and key information, this book will show you how to make plans that will be carried out exactly as you wish.
The ABA Guide to Wills & Estates will help you:
• Take steps to help your family now
• Determine what to put in your estate plan
• Decide whether to prepare a will, trust, or living trust
• Avoid or reduce estate taxes
• Change your plans if the law or your circumstances change
• Transfer property without a will with substitutes such as life insurance and joint tenancy
• Understand the benefits of living gifts and life insurance
• Choose an executor and trustee
• Ensure that your will won't be contested
Customer Reviews:
Not helpful.......2006-12-27
The ABA should be ashamed. This is not a book designed to inform but a list of reasons to see a lawyer. Interested in software to help. They cover that topic saying "since lawyers generally charge less for less complicated estates, you may be able to gain the benefits and flexibility of real legal advice for little more than the cost ofa computerized will kit." They let you know that "many alternative estate providers fail to inform you when there may be abetter (or cheaper) way to accomplish your goals" implying that the infallible lawyers always do so.
Want to use a statutory will - they'll tell you why you should use a lawyer instead.
Interested in learning about benificiary deeds they tell you "Your lawyer can explain the ins and outs of your state's law relating to beneficiary deeds."
Here's another very informative passage "Your lawyer can help you figure out which is which, so that you know what property you can transfer through estate planning."
Setting up a trust "you should surely use a lawyer to set one up. * If the trust is for the benefit of your minor children, ..."
How about this gem from page 44 "...should be coordinated with your estate plan, preferably with the assistance of your lawyer."
Or this one from page 46 "Check with your lawyer to see whether your state permits this arrangement and whether it's a good idea for your situation."
Want a well crafted will? Your infallible lawyer can help "craft your language so that no ambiguities remain that might invite a court challenge. Your lawyer can help you do that."
Don't ask practical questions, like which states allow statutory wills, those aren't answered.
Just What the Doctor Ordered.......2006-08-26
This is an excellent book. It answered all of my questions about handling my estate, and it answered many questions that never occurred to me. The writing is straightforward and easily understood. The title is THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION GUIDE TO WILLS AND TRUSTS, but it covers a good deal more: steps to help your family now; estate plans; avoiding or reducing estate taxes; transferring property without a will; securing long-term care help; and many other topics relating to managing your estate and passing it on to your heirs. This is a very useful book.
The American Bar Association wants you confused........2006-06-22
Don't be a sucker. The ABA is not going to help you understand the probate or non-probate system. I have been a lawyer for over twenrty years, and I can't understand what they are trying to say. They want you to give up rather than understand the tools of estate planning. I am the author of "Everything A Baby Boomer Should Know -- An Insider's Guide To Estate Planning." Compare it to the contents of this ABA book. The difference is that the ABA book is nothing more than another textbook that speaks over your head. Read my book and truly understand how the system works for you. I promise.
Good Guide to Estate Planning.......2006-02-18
Thorough and fairly easy to understand. It does a particularly clear discussion of trusts.
Excellent introduction to estate planning.......2003-12-20
This easy-reading book is a nice non-technical introduction to the world of estate planning. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to get a start in understanding this field.
Book Description
Regarded as one of the best casebooks available for any course, this comprehensive text combines interesting cases, well-tailored notes, and a clear organization into an excellent teaching tool.
The new Seventh Edition retains the late Jesse Dukeminier's unique blend of wit, erudition, insight, and playfulness and covers all the key topics in a logical, clear organization. Included are interesting cases that are not only fun to read, but fun for professors to teach as well. Cases are enhanced and connected to broader legal principles by well-written notes, questions, and problems and cartoons, illustrations, and photographs provide humorous interruptions and visual commentary at appropriate places within the text. New authors James Lindgren and Robert Sitkoff updated the book to reflect legal change while remaining careful to retain the same interesting mix of cases, engaging notes and flexible organization that makes this a highly successful casebook. Additions and improvements to the previous edition include due attention to new developments in law reform by the ALI and NCCUSL such as: Restatement Third, Trusts (2003, Uniform Trust Code (2000) including proposed 2004 amendments, Restatement (Third) of Property: Wills and Other Donative Transfers (2001, 2003)and Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act (2002. Attention is given to ongoing developments in the law such as inheritance rights of posthumously conceived children, standing of donors in suits against the trustees of charitable trusts, the rise of domestic offshore self-settled spendthrift trusts, the erosion of the rule against perpetuities and the rise of the perpetual, generation-skipping trust. There is enhanced coverage of increasingly important topics such as fiduciary administration and trust investment law (including modern portfolio theory, diversification, the principal and income problem, and measuring damages; and inheritance rights of same-sex partners, inheritance rights of children, with comparison to the other common law countries (which are far more generous to children). Also included is a more logical presentation of nonprobate transfers and their role in estate planning, fully updated tax chapter with attention to new developments such as the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Notes, questions, and problems have been revised throughout where appropriate in light of the foregoing and other developments.
Customer Reviews:
Very Effective and Illustrative of the Necessary Elements.......2007-09-12
Makes the seemingly not interesting topic of Wills & Trusts come alive and you can see the real life applicability of it.
Excellent purchase.......2007-09-08
This was an excellent purchase. It is the book that I needed and it's wear was accurately depicted.
Easy reading.......2007-01-13
This is a very well wrtten text for a very complicated subject. The chapters and sections are ordered logically. First it gives you a definition, then a basic description of a rule, system or method, then it explains exceptions to the rules, THEN you read a case. I wish all of my books were written this way! It was so easy to quickly access the information and know exactly what you are suppose to be getting out of the readings. I would even recommend it as a supplement to another, less accessable textbook.
Thoughtfully written and thought provoking.......2007-01-11
Unlike other dry law school casebooks, Dukeminier captures the humanity in this study of Trusts & Estates. The editor footnotes and some of the case studies read anecdotally--giving the concepts a historical and personal dimension. The notes after the cases study the social implications of the courts' decisions. Especially interesting are Dukeminier's disucssions of the implications on the legal order caused by same-sex marriage and transgender issues. This book is thoughtfully crafted, a must read for law students or lawyers interested in this area of the law!
Don't Settle for Imitations.......2005-07-09
Whether you are the law student to whom the book is addressed, or just a savvy layman who needs to fill some gaps quickly, this book just may be all you'll ever need on wills, trusts, and estates. I ordered ten books to research my paper on inter vivos trusts and over half the footnotes reference Dukeminier. In each topical area, the general statutes are explained, often with ancillary explanations of tax treatment, then the authors dive into cases, explaining how the cases were argued and adjudicated. The text flows so well that you feel as though you are having a conversation with the authors. I particularly enjoyed the entertaining anecdotes drawn from pop culture. Do not let the cost of this book be a factor in your decision to purchase it; you may find yourself refering to it when you attend to your own will, trusts, and estate.
Average customer rating:
- Informative, helpful
- Comprehensive legal guide to writing any kind of will. Don't put your estate planning off.
- Simple and straightforward - includes CD with forms!
- Will writing is easy.
- mking a will made easy
|
Nolo's Simple Will Book 6th Edition
Denis Clifford
Manufacturer: NOLO
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ASIN: 1413303609 |
Book Description
Everyone needs a will sooner rather than later -- and Nolo's Simple Will Book is the all-in-one tool you need. For over 15 years, this bestseller had made it easy to:
*write a legally valid will
*leave property to family, friends or organizations
*name a personal guardian to care for your children
*safely leave property to young children
*arrange for the payment of debts and taxes
*name an executor to handle your affairs
*update your will as needed
Nolo's Simple Will Book lets you choose from seven different will forms, or to build a custom will to suit special situations. It also provides a detailed discussion of estate planning for those who may want more than a will.
Completely updated and revised, the 6th edition provides all worksheets and will forms on CD-ROM. It also includes new information on "ethical wills," which let you convey your feelings and values to loved ones. Good in all states except Louisiana.
Customer Reviews:
Informative, helpful.......2007-06-11
This book gives you a good overview of what your Will should say. I used it as reference only. I had my lawyer revise some verbage in my will.
Comprehensive legal guide to writing any kind of will. Don't put your estate planning off........2007-04-05
Nolo Press was founded on the principle that not all legal transactions require retention of a lawyer. A valid, legal will can be drafted with the help of Nolo's Simple Will Book. You will get far more utility than the cover price of $36.99 (regularly 30% off at Amazon) would get you from a lawyer for that cost. The author is quick to point out when specific family or estate situations are too complex to be addressed by a self-help title, and he directs the reader to professional legal help in dozens of specific scenarios.
For someone who has basic property and investments to leave in their will, this book offers a number of full-in-the blank or completely customizable options for writing your will. Despite the urge to skip right to the forms, the reader should take his or her time to read through the opening chapters to familiarize his/herself with the clauses, vocabulary, witness requirements, and potential pitfalls of drafting and finalizing a will. There are dozens of tables scattered throughout the book which break down the laws in every state, showing which are community property vs. not, which recognize civil unions, which have specific legal provisions, and so on.
This book is worth every penny and no adult should be without a legal, binding will. This book will show you how to draft your will in a matter of hours and at a cost of $37.
Simple and straightforward - includes CD with forms!.......2006-10-14
This book (6th edition) has taken a BIG weight off of my mind regarding writing a will. My husband and I currently don't have a will (and apparently have lots of company - reportedly 60% of Americans don't have wills), but I am in the process of changing that with the reassuring help of this book.
Yes, you CAN write your own legal will, and it truly isn't difficult. As this book points out, even lawyers use standard forms for wills which they customize to their clients. The NOLO CD that accompanies this book also contains standard forms which you can modify, and it walks you through the different parts of a will and the various decisions you need to make. It also flags decisions/areas that you need to give particularly careful consideration. And it flags more complications situations that might or do require a lawyer (such as, wanting to give more than 50% of your estate to someone other than your spouse).
I will say that our situation isn't complicated, our "estate" basically consists of our home and some savings/investment accounts, and we have young children to provide for. I feel very confident that a will written using this book/CD will be completely legal and appropriate.
But I think this book would be quite valuable even to people planning to use a lawyer for more complicated estate planning needs, as it explains wills and their components in clear, concise terms.
Will writing is easy........2005-09-23
I bought this book mostly because I wanted my daughter in the right hands if something were to happen to both my husband and I. Peace of mind knowing that she will indeed end up with the people we select is worth a million and we didn't to have to spend much money to set this up. This book is great to have your wishes put down so everything is distributed how you want it. Much more convenient then going to a lawyer and saves you a lot of money.
mking a will made easy.......2005-07-07
This subject is presented in a logical and easy to follow way. I appreaciated that all bases were covered. I would recommend Nolo`s Simple Will Book as a good investment.
Book Description
Finish well. That is what we are called to do in Scripture, but where will our money and possessions finish? The Bible has the principles that provide answers to the challenge of parenting and passing along an in heritage. Within the next decade, over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS will change hands from one generation to the next. Individuals with adult children will need to transfer that wealth without ruining their heirs' lives.Ron Blue, an authority on personal and business finance, will help:~Identify exactly how much money would be transferred were the reader to die today~Identify the need for creating a will~Identify tax-wise financial planning~Teach the way to leave money without creating an unhealthy dependence
Customer Reviews:
A seasoned financial planner talks with a religious bias about the tedious process of determining the beneficiaries of your will.......2007-09-26
This book was OK. I didn't particularly like it, but I didn't dislike it either. It certainly could have been a little more straightforword in the early chapters with regard to what it was actually about. What this book is about is how a religious Christian can evaluate her options when considering to whom or what to leave her wealth upon her death. This book is about choosing beneficiaries to your estate - not about how to minimize estate taxes that will be due if you leave your wealth to something other than a church or other tax-exempt entity.
The author apparently likes to write about things that are on his mind. He describes in the book how at different periods in his life he wrote certain books that seemed to coincide with what he was doing professionally at the time. In 2004 when this book was published the author was in his 60s and he was in the process of changing his will. Clearly he had a lot on his mind because the instant book resulted at 200+ pages.
I think the instant book could have been really good if the author had kept his Christian values out of the mix. It can be a very challenging process to figure who to name as beneficiaries of your estate and how much to leave each beneficiary. And good coverage of such a topic could easily go far beyond 200+ pages and be well worth the read. However, this book comes across as preachy and relies on Scripture too much for support of the author's point of view.
The author seemed to be pushing the concept of leaving one's wealth to the church instead of to one's kids. He makes a lot of arguments why you shouldn't be leaving your wealth to your kids. Unfortunately, all the arguments fall flat because the reader can see (or should be able to see) the author's agenda: give to God.
People typically leave their wealth to those they love or causes they cherish, OR BOTH. Of course, any sane person does not want to waste their wealth unncessarily. And if the kids don't need it, then the church can greatly benefit from those funds. And if the kids will squander their inheritance, then the church or some other worthy charity can greatly benefit from those funds. But to promote giving your estate to the church to the exclusion of your kids to me is ludicrous. 3 stars!
Want a quick summary of this book? Here ya go ..........2004-08-24
Leaving money to kids is stupid. It will make them lazy and profligate. Instead, leave your money to charities. Like the ones run by the people who write glowing endorsements of this book. Whatever you do, don't leave money to any wicked organizations that promote abortion or free thought.
There. I've just saved you a couple of hours' reading time and a lot of aggravation. You're welcome. LOL
Recommended but not without its problems.......2004-05-03
"Splitting Heirs" is an appropriate title for this book and the problems it deals with. So often people fail to plan for their eventual death and everything they have spent years accumulating ends up in the hands of the court system, lawyers, and others. Even when they do plan it often ends up in the hands of their children who may or may not be mature enough to handle the windfall. The parable of the prodigal son often comes to mind as children squander their inheritance.
What can you do to make sure that your interests and your desires are foremost when it comes to passing on your inheritance? That is the subject of this book. How do you provide for children and grandchildren while still teaching them the value of money and the responsibility that comes with it? How do you deal with the expectations of in-laws, stepchildren, and grandchildren, provide for church and ministries, avoid family conflict and avoid sibling jealousy?
Author Ron Blue delineates a clear process for dealing with these issues. The process is basically to first determine why you should want to transfer your wealth, then to whom you want to transfer it, how much you want to transfer, when you want to do it, what you want to transfer, how you can do it, and communicating all the above to the appropriate people. The advice is sound and he makes several good points that any financial planner would also advise you to do. The only real problem with the book is that parts of it appear to be inconsistent with each other. For example, on page 45 and again on page 154 under the heading of Tools and Techniques he notes the "Trust Principle" which he states is "Never use a trust because of a lack of trust". However, he never really defines what he means by that comment. If it is "never use a trust because you really can't trust the trustee to do what you want" then that is not consistent with his suggestions on pages 167 through 174 where he suggests the use of a marital trust, an insurance trust, and possibly charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, etc. On the other hand if he means that you should not use a trust as a vehicle to control a child's access to money because you don't trust the child then that is different but still not necessarily consistent with the basics of the rest of the book. If the child is not mature enough to handle money then having it in a trust with someone who can is responsible stewardship. Items like this make parts of the book questionable simply because the reader can't really tell what Mr. Blue is trying to say much less determine if it is sound advice.
Another problem with the book is some of the people he holds out as examples. On page 50 he mentions Andrew Carnegie as an example of a person determined to give. While this is factual and he did give away most of his fortune and supported many charities, he amassed his fortune through ruthless business practices that can hardly be considered as respectful of others. To be fair to Mr. Carnegie most of his practices were not inconsistent with others of his day and it is unfair to compare his work ethics with those of a more worker sensitive environment of today. I'm sure that Mr. Blue would not want people to draw the conclusion that it is okay to abuse others if the resulting income is given away to charities. There are just better examples, some of which he does include (such as S. Truett Cathy).
Along a similar vein, it would have been better if the quotes used on the inside and dust cover were not from people who stood to benefit from increased contributions to charities and churches (a position highly promoted throughout the book). Of the 13 people quoted only three of them are not directly connected with an organization that would benefit directly if more people contributed to charitable organizations or churches in their wills. This does not make the advice any less sound; it just establishes a credibility gap. The people quoted are all from Christian organizations and so one would hope that they can rely on an honest assessment of the book, but it still raises questions of independence. The book is good enough that there should be ample positive reviews from people who are not officers or founders of charities or churches.
Although I obviously have some problems with this book, taken as a whole it is one of the best basic guides to Christian oriented planning and wealth transfer. The advice includes all the basic guidance you would receive from most competent financial planners - give it to your heirs while you are alive, use marital trusts if appropriate, use life insurance trusts, plan to use your wealth in ways that are consistent with your beliefs and goals in life. He also does a good job of pointing out that the tools and techniques should be near the end of the process instead of at the beginning of the planning process. It just makes more sense to first determine your goals and then to use the tools and techniques that get you there. While I believe it could be better with better writing and more carefully chosen examples, the basic tenets of the book are financially solid and Biblically sound. "Splitting Heirs" is one of the best books available to understand the problems of wealth transfer from a Christian perspective.
Best book I've read about true wealth.......2004-04-16
This book can be read in a night but contains wisdom for a lifetime. Expecting another book about estate planning, I was pleased to find only the essential data needed to introduce the subject and the bulk of the content about thoughtfully (and prayerfully) making the six decisions about wealth transfer. This is the first book I have read by Ron Blue but I suspect it is one of his best. Intertwined between the chapters teaching us about the six decisions of wealth transfer are sole searching questions, historical examples of heros in philanthropy, and humorous cartoons introducing each chapter. But the real treasures in this book are the biblical references with reminders of the definition of stewardship in nearly every chapter - "God owns it all"
Average customer rating:
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Wills, Estates & Trusts (Lq-Paralegal)
J.D., Jay Gingrich
Manufacturer: Thomson Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0827365608 |
Book Description
Comprehensive coverage of wills, estates, and trusts that incorporates principles and techniques specific to the legal assistant or paralegal student. Coverage includes discussion of important features that can make the legal assistant student more employable, as well as material that makes this a valuable reference in the workplace. ALSO AVAILABLE INSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENTS CALL CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO ORDER Instructor's Manual, ISBN: 0-8273-7477-1 Computerized Test Bank (1996), ISBN: 0-8273-7978-1
Books:
- Quicken Willmaker Plus 2007 Edition: Estate Planning Essentials (Book with CD-ROM)
- Retire Secure!: Pay Taxes Later The Key to Making Your Money Last as Long as You Do
- Retire Secure!: Pay Taxes Later The Key to Making Your Money Last as Long as You Do
- Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad's Advisors)
- Risk Management Handbook for Health Care Organizations, 3 Volume Set (American Society for Healthcare Risk Management)
- Securing Your Organization's Future: A Complete Guide to Fundraising Strategies (Securing Your Organization's Future)
- Smart Couples Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner
- Stop Sitting on Your Assets: How to Safely Leverage the Equity Trapped in Your Home and Transform It Into a Constant Flow of Wealth and Security
- Stop Sitting on Your Assets: How to Safely Leverage the Equity Trapped in Your Home and Transform It Into a Constant Flow of Wealth and Security
- Tax Havens Today: The Benefits and Pitfalls of Banking and Investing Offshore
Books Index
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