Product Description
A Family Guide to Wills, Funerals & Probate is an essential guide for someone planning an estate or for a family confronted with legal and financial issues in the wake of a death. It explains wills and how they function, how to plan for probate and death taxes, planning for arrangements and negotiating with funeral directors, settling assets and closing the estate, and much more.

Also included are:
State requirements covering wills and funeral practices
Alternatives to funerals
How to assign guardianships for your children
Tips on avoiding estate taxes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Simple, but practical, estate planning counsel
I'm glad I read this introductory book on the topic of estate planning "and more." I found it in the reference section of the Westfield Pubic Library (NJ) along with its companion book: The Executor's Handbook (ISBN: 0816044260). This book was written for a person who should write a will, and the companion book is written for someone who performs the work of an executor pursuant to a will.

The edition of the book I read was hardbound and very pretty. There was an index of terms in the back of the book. However, I would have liked it better if there had been a glossary of terms back there, too. Don't worry that the book doesn't have your state in its title. It is written so it is applicable to residents in all 50 states.

Most, if not all, the books I've read on estate planning are written for people with lots of assets. Larger estates usually required some "fancy footwork" in order to minimize estate taxes, and that fancy footwork is what estate planning authors typically describe in their books. This book is different. It is written for the little guy who needs to do some "estate planning" so his or her death does not create a hassle for his loved ones - and so his or her estate hopefully is not eaten up by legal and other fees. The book also covers some issues about planning so a small estate is not eaten alive by medical and nursing home expenses. Interestingly, most estate planning books don't cover funerals and planning them, but this one does. A very nice touch.

I think this book is something a person doing a simple job of planning for his death should read. Most books on this subject have "estate planning" in their title. The title to this book is different from most estate planning books because it's not about estate planning techniques per se, but instead is about why and how to do basic planning for the time when death arrives. I recommend that anyone who wants to learn about estate planning and to consult an attorney for estate planning advice read this book first. It will be time well spent.
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Product Description
Planning how to pass your estate on doesn’t have to mean complications, legal jargon and huge bills. Wills, Probate and Inheritance Tax For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes you through the process step-by-step and gives you all the information you need to ensure that your affairs are left in good order. It shows you how to plan and write your will, minimise the stress of probate, and ensure that your nearest and dearest are protected from a large inheritance tax bill.

Discover how to: 

• Decide if a will is right for you
• Value your assets
• Leave your home through a will
• Appoint executors and trustees
• Choose beneficiaries
• Draw up a DIY will
• Work out how inheritance tax works and if you’re liable to it
• Find out what can and can’t be taxed
  

Customer Reviews (2)

Buyer Be Ware
Just a Hint. I Bought this book in a rush last January. Opened it up Sept 10. It appears to be a well written book, if you intend to move to England. The little icon on the cover indicates it is the UK Edition and is based on british tax law.I some how missed it with my small screen, internet surfing mentality.

Sonya Armfield's law library
This book is a great resource for any law library.It makes a usually difficult subject easy to understand.

Sonya Armfield ... Read more

Product Description
The book may have numerous typos or missing text. It is not illustrated or indexed. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website. You can also preview the book there.Purchasers are also entitled to a trial membership in the publisher's book club where they can select from more than a million books for free.Volume: 2 Original Publisher: Bancroft-Whitney Co. Publication date: 1909Subjects: Probate law and practice; Forms (Law); Inheritance and transfer tax; Law / General; Law / Estates ... Read more