The Wills And Trusts Kit: Your Complete Guide To Planning For The Future

by Godbe, Douglas E.

• ISBN13: 9781572485181
• ISBN10: 1572485183
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-01
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc

Summary

When a simple will is not enough.

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books	vii
Introduction	xi
An Overview	1	(16)
What is a Will?
What is a Trust?
What is Probate?
Finding the Law
Community Property
Marital Property
Quasi-Community Property
Income Taxes
Estate Taxes
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Assets	17	(8)
Assets Subject to Disposition by a Will
Property Subject to Disposition in a Will, but Passing without Probate to a Surviving Spouse
Small Estate Distribution
Assets Not Subject to Disposition by a Will and Passing without Probate
Deciding Which Plan Best Meets Your Goals	25	(18)
Coordinating Your Estate Plan
Inter Vivos Trusts
Funding Your Inter Vivos Trust
Using a Will to Create a Trust at Your Death
Tax Planning
Inter Vivos Trusts and the Pourover Will
Health Care Powers of Attorney and Directives
Financial Power of Attorney
Living Wills
Final Caution
Beneficiaries	43	(10)
Who and What Can Inherit?
Who and What Cannot Inherit?
Special Limitations on Bequests to Minors
Disqualified Beneficiaries
Family Changes After Execution of the Will
Who Can You Disinherit?
Who Can Contest Your Will or Your Inter Vivos Trust?
Bequests	53	(10)
Specific and Residual Bequests
Conditional Outright Bequests
Life Estates
Testamentary Trusts
Charitable Trusts
Fiduciary Positions	63	(8)
Guardian
Executor
Trustee
Custodian
Conclusion
Execution, Safekeeping, and Revocation of Wills and Inter Vivos Trusts	71	(8)
Will Execution
Execution of Inter Vivos Trust
Keeping Your Will Safe
Keeping Your Inter Vivos Trust Safe
Revocation
Changing Your Will or Inter Vivos Trust	79	(4)
Changes before Execution
Changes after Execution
Anatomy of Your Will or Inter Vivos Trust	83	(10)
Will
Inter Vivos Trust
Conclusion
Glossary	93	(10)
Appendix A: Forced Shares Statutes	103	(8)
Appendix B: Asset Roadmap	111	(6)
Appendix C: Step-by-Step Instructions with Sample, Completed Forms	117	(22)
Appendix D: Blank Forms	139	(250)
Index	389