Nolo's Simple Will Book (Paperback)

by Denis Clifford (Author) "This book enables you to write your own will, valid in every state except Louisiana..." (more)
Key Phrases: family pot trust, shared specific gift, shared residuary gift, Minors Act, Uniform Transfers, New Jersey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This book will enable most people to write their wills, valid in any state except Louisiana. Clifford, a lawyer, explains the importance of having a will and discusses relevant considerations such as executors, beneficiaries, treatment of children, and property ownership laws. There is also some coverage of basic estate planning, utilization of lawyers, and requirements for executing a valid will. Throughout, Clifford flags complex situations in which legal advice should be obtained. To some extent this is a workbook, with fill-in-the-blank, perforated pages. If it can be kept intact, it is an excellent source for public libraries. Jack Ray, Loyola/Notre Dame Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
... This is quintessential Nolo fare... -- Library Journal

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 5th edition (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087337939X
• ISBN-13: 978-0873379397
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #835,876 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No need for a lawyer, December 15, 2002

By	Mark D. Wolfinger (Evanston, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nolo's Simple Will Book (Nolo's Simple Will Book, 4th ed) (Paperback)

This book shows how easy it is to write your own will. Unless your situation is complex, you will find there is no need to hire a lawyer. The author assures you that if you follow directions, the will is valid and will be duly executed when the time comes. Be sure to read the text, as it offer good guidance. Resist the temptation to jump directly to filling out one of the many sample wills provided.

13 of 13 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to follow, complete, practical, many examples, July 3, 1999

By A Customer

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

I was pleased with this book as it is written in straightforward, clear language with easy to follow steps. The only thing I wished it had was a disk containing the forms that you must otherwise type out (however, I believe another Nolo book has this). It seems to cover all the basics and even has a chapter on wills as an extra bonus. The book contains sample forms that you can use which is helpful.