ABA Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes (The American Bar Assoc) [Paperback]

American Bar Association (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 081292536X | ISBN-13: 978-0812925364 | Publication Date: October 10, 1995 | Edition: 1

Written by a group of America's top lawyers, this book deals with those two certainties of life--death and taxes--providing expert, rock-solid legal counsel at a fraction of what it would cost to go to a lawyer. Aming the topics covered are living wills and how to avoid inheritance taxes.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There has been so much public interest in estate planning that it is no surprise that three new books on the subject have emerged at the same time. Each takes a different approach and addresses different goals. The American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates overviews the law of estate planning. It provides explanations of wills, trusts, and living trusts and covers essential information like choosing an executor, dealing with taxes, and planning for disability. An estate-planning checklist allows readers to evaluate their own situation to create or update their estate plan. Important concepts appear in shaded boxes; there is also a helpful section on where to get more information. The most basic of the three titles, this is a good choice for those getting started or looking for an organized review of the issues. Written for those who want to draft their own wills, Anosike's volume is in workbook style with text, forms, and worksheets that provide an outline of things to consider and procedures for constructing the instruments necessary for an estate plan. The author also provides forms for constructing a living will for each state as well as the legal requirements for a valid will in every jurisdiction. There are useful details in this book, including a sample letter of instructions to an executor. The writing and layout could use some polish, but the information is current and complete. Do-it-yourselfers will want to compare this to Denis Clifford's Nolo's Simple Will Book, 2d ed. (Nolo Pr., 1989; updated in later printings), which is somewhat cleaner in style. Attorney Platt has designed his book to prepare the reader to become better informed to participate in the planning process with estate professionals. He is clearly an advocate of the living trust, the popular device that allows individuals to place their assets in trust while they are still alive. The trustor retains control of the assets during his or her lifetime, with heirs avoiding expensive and time-consuming probate procedures after the trustor's death. Platt's treatment of the topic is expansive and timely. He devotes entire chapters to the unique problems of people with AIDS and for those with children with special needs. There is a solid glossary and a worksheet for determining net worth. Recommended for subject collections.?Joan Pedzich, Harris, Beach & Wilcox, Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

Written by a group of America's top lawyers, this book deals with those two certainties of life--death and taxes--providing expert, rock-solid legal counsel at a fraction of what it would cost to go to a lawyer. Aming the topics covered are living wills and how to avoid inheritance taxes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference; 1 edition (October 10, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081292536X
• ISBN-13: 978-0812925364
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,239,200 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

178 of 193 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A "help" book which will discourage and confuse, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: ABA Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes (The American Bar Assoc) (Paperback)

I have been using a few different books to complete a simple legal will and a few simple trust funds. This book is terrible! I was irritated enough to want to write a review to steer people away from this book. The book is filled with examples of things people can do wrong, loads of complicated variations and options and cross references which never quite allow the completion of any single task. Most of the sections end with "it is recommended that you consult with a lawyer....". The only user friendly information in this book is the dozens of ways to find a lawyer, but no useful information on how to complete a will or trust.

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great little reference guide, June 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: ABA Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes (The American Bar Assoc) (Paperback)

I read the previous review and decided to order the book myself. I am a Financial Planner, looking for information I can give to my clients to help them understand the complexities of trusts. I found this book to be a great little quick reference guide. It details in plain english various trusts that are appropriate in different situations. The bottom line is, a person should consult a professional when creating a trust. The possibility of making an error is too great. The consequences can far exceed the cost of paying a couple thousand now to save potentially hundreds of thousands later. I highly recommend this book to help you understand what might be appropriate in your situation and facilitate the discussion with your attorney.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to estate planning, December 19, 2003

By 

James W. Fogal (Port Orange, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ABA Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes (The American Bar Assoc) (Paperback)

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.