Customer Reviews

Nolo's Simple Will Book 6th Edition

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book gives you a good overview of what your Will should say. I used it as reference only. I had my lawyer revise some verbage in my will.