The Complete Book of Wills, Estates & Trusts, Third Edition [Paperback]

Alexander A. Bove Esq. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0805078886 | ISBN-13: 978-0805078886 | Publication Date: December 27, 2005 | Edition: 3rd

The best legal guide to wills and estates—with more than 80,000 copies sold—now updated to cover the current asset protection options and estate laws

Whether grappling with modest or extensive assets, The Complete Book of Wills, Estates, and Trusts has long been the indispensable guide for protecting an estate for loved ones. In this completely revised third edition, updated to cover the latest changes in estate law, attorney Alexander A. Bove, Jr., clearly explains
• how to use a will to avoid probate and legal complications
• how trusts work and how to use trusts to save taxes
• how to contest a will and how to avoid a contest
• how to settle an estate or make a claim against one
• how to establish a durable power of attorney
• how to protect assets from creditors
In his straightforward and humorous style, Bove shares easy-to-understand legal definitions, savvy advice on taxes, and pragmatic and simple sample forms, all illustrated with entertaining examples and actual cases. The Complete Book of Wills, Estates, and Trusts is the best guide available for defending your financial legacy

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the second edition:
“If only my own will were written in language as clear and sprightly as Alex Bove’s . . . I could go to my grave at peace with myself and my readers.”
—Robert J. Klein, former senior editor, Money

About the Author

Alexander A. Bove, Jr., is a prominent attorney with nearly thirty years of expertise in estate law. A former legal and financial columnist for The Boston Globe, he is also an adjunct professor of law at Boston University Law School. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 3rd edition (December 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805078886
• ISBN-13: 978-0805078886
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Law > Practical Guides > Wills

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4/5 of the book is excellent..., February 1, 2007

By 

Jonathan R. Rynd "seeker of quality" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Complete Book of Wills, Estates & Trusts, Third Edition (Paperback)

The problem seems to be that the author originally thought he was writing "The complete book of Wills and Estates" and would save Trusts for a followup book. The chapters on wills and estates are entertaining, informative, useful, and even easy to read (something I thought would never be possible in a legal book -- even a pop-level legal book). The author is able to make the legal concepts seem alive and useful through clever writing, amusing or relevant real-life scenarios, and thoughtful what-ifs.

Unfortunately, the chapter on trusts is lacking. It feels unorganized and rushed. Sections duplicate each other or sections from the previous chapters. There are no amusing anecdotes; the sample scenarios are contrived and make it harder rather than easier to pay attention -- it is at the level I expected from a pop legal book. The pacing is very poor. All of the similarly-named trusts blur into each other. There are quite a few spelling, wording, and other typographical errors in this chapter (I found none in the prior chapters).

Nonetheless, I would recommend the book for giving the details of an overview. A consultation with an actual attorney knowledgable about the laws of your state is still advisable, as the book is already out-of-date. But this will help you understand things better and have a more intelligent conversation. It will also help disabuse you of any notions that inheritance law comes close to making intuitive sense.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent primer on estate planning, April 25, 2010

By 

WendyBG "wendybg" (Sequim, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Book of Wills, Estates & Trusts, Third Edition (Paperback)

This is my favorite book on estate planning (and I have read several). It is complete, easy to read and even entertaining.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 15, 2007

By 

Scott C. Duncan (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Wills, Estates & Trusts, Third Edition (Paperback)

The book is full of practical and in depth legal concepts. Well written and organized, and even humorous with his many examples. The full course.