Your Living Trust and Estate Plan: How to Maximize Your Family's Assets and Protect Your Loved Ones [Paperback]

Harvey J. Platt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581152175 | ISBN-13: 978-1581152173 | Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Edition: Third Edition

This completely up-to-date guide explains the latest strategies for using a living trust to create a flexible estate plan. The author clearly and concisely discusses the effects of The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the fundamentals of estate, financial, and tax planning in easy-to-understand terms, mapping out effective techniques for saving money and property, and including important subjects not covered in other books (such as estate planning for the HIV positive). Readers will learn strategies for reducing probate costs, creating flexible estate plans, and planning for disability. This valuable planning tool will make its readers more informed participants in the estate-planning process, pointing out the dangers of the “do-it-yourself” guides and reducing the risks involved in establishing a living trust. A glossary of significant legal terms is included.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"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 . . . . Platt's treatment of the topic is expansive and timely. He devotes entire chapters to unique problems of people with AIDS and for those with children with special needs. There is a solid glossary and a worksheet for determining new worth. Recommended for subject collections."
(Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press; Third Edition edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581152175
• ISBN-13: 978-1581152173
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,558,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a good introduction, January 25, 2006

By 

David C. Rudolph (Needham, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your Living Trust and Estate Plan: How to Maximize Your Family's Assets and Protect Your Loved Ones (Paperback)

This book seemed to be written more as a reference manual than a user's guide. It has lots of detail (probably more than I really want) on many different kinds of trusts, but it never attempts to put everything together to give you any idea how to start coming up with a comprehensive plan. I realize that I need an adviser to come up with an actual plan, but I was hoping that reading this book would give me some ideas of where to start. Unfortunately, that was not the case. It describes each tree in the forest in (sometimes excruciating) detail, but I still need a map of the forest. Ideally, I would like some examples of paths that people in different situations might take through the forest.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Material is good, but dated., September 3, 2007

By 

James Lee (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your Living Trust and Estate Plan: How to Maximize Your Family's Assets and Protect Your Loved Ones (Paperback)

This is a pretty good book, but like any text providing legal information, it's quickly becoming outdated - at least with respect to the generation-skipping transfer tax system (GST).

The book lists the GST exemption as $1.1 million (which was correct waaaaay back in 2002), yet it's currently at $2 million. In 2009, the exemption will be $3.5 million, and in 2010, the tax will be repealed. For more updated information, readers should search the Internet for "The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001." Either that, or consult an attorney (who would be familiar with such information).

If you want general information, this book is certainly worth buying used, but it's time for a re-release.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK, July 28, 2000

By 

Andrew Mercer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Your Living Trust & Estate Plan (Paperback)

This book gives a easy to understand look into estate planning and Living Trusts. The authors point out great information about both