Nolo's Simple Will Book 6th Edition [Paperback]

Denis Clifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2005

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent source of information on wills that even helps people with complex financial affairs prepare for a lawyer." -- The New York Times

"Contains very clear instructions for using its forms as well as many filled-in examples as good as any I've seen." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"This is an excellent resource for those who want to go it alone ... This is quintessential Nolo fare..." -- Library Journal

About the Author

Denis Clifford, a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was an editor of The Law Review, is a lawyer who specializes in estate planning. He is the author of many Nolo titles including Quick and Legal Will Book, Nolo's Simple Will Book and Make Your Own Living Trust and co-author of Plan Your Estate and A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples. He has been interviewed by such major media as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Money Magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 6th edition (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413303609
• ISBN-13: 978-1413303605
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Law > Practical Guides > Wills

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and straightforward - includes CD with forms!, October 13, 2006

By 

Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nolo's Simple Will Book 6th Edition (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive legal guide to writing any kind of will. Don't put your estate planning off., April 5, 2007

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nolo's Simple Will Book 6th Edition (Paperback)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Basic Info, July 5, 2008

By 

Dolamyt (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nolo's Simple Will Book 6th Edition (Paperback)

THis book provides good basic information for completing a will. Therefore, do not rely soley on it. It would not hurt to have an attorney to review your completed will after following the guidelines outlined in the books.