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The American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates, Second Edition: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Estates, Trusts, and Taxes (American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates) (Paperback)

~ American Bar Association (Author) "Things couldn't be better for Mark and Lea..." (more)
Key Phrases: estate planning for business owners, planning your estate, plan your estate, Harold Pskowski, Tax Management, Lena Barnett (more...)

2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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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.

Product Description

Estate planning is for everyone who wants to protect the ones they love.

The American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates, Second Edition, contains everything you need to know about planning an estate, preparing a will or trust, and minimizing inheritance taxes. Organized in easy-to-follow chapters with sidebars containing tips, checklists, and key information, this book will show you how to make plans that will be carried out exactly as you wish.

The ABA Guide to Wills & Estates will help you:
• Take steps to help your family now
• Determine what to put in your estate plan
• Decide whether to prepare a will, trust, or living trust
• Avoid or reduce estate taxes
• Change your plans if the law or your circumstances change
• Transfer property without a will with substitutes such as life insurance and joint tenancy
• Understand the benefits of living gifts and life insurance
• Choose an executor and trustee
• Ensure that your will won't be contested

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Random House Reference; 2 edition (February 17, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0609809342
ISBN-13: 978-0609809341
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces

Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,719 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#12 in Books > Business & Investing > Accounting > Taxes > Tax Planning
#35 in Books > Nonfiction > Law > Practical Guides > Wills
#58 in Books > Nonfiction > Law > Taxation > Estates & Trusts

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Things couldn't be better for Mark and Lea. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
estate planning for business owners, planning your estate, plan your estate, estate for estate tax purposes, living trust, cohabitation agreements, property guardian, will maker, successor trustee, joint tenancy, residuary clause, marital trust, several beneficiaries, residuary estate, probate procedures, alternate agents, exemption amount, ask your lawyer, professional trustee, marital deduction, bypass trust, original trustee, revocable trust

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Harold Pskowski, Tax Management, Lena Barnett, Silver Spring, Minors Act, Social Security, New York, John Wiley, Nolo Press, Uniform Probate Code, Uniform Transfer, Nancy Cruzan, University of Oregon School of Law

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 21 books:

Estate Planning Text 7th Edition by Kaplan Financial on 4 pages
The Living Trust : The Failproof Way to Pass Along Your Estate to Your Heirs by Henry Abts on page 123, and page 310
Plan Your Estate (Plan Your Estate National Edition) by Denis Clifford on page 191, and page 325
Long-Term Care by Dearborn Financial Services on page 202, and page 210
The Complete Book of Trusts, 3rd Edition by Martin M. Shenkman on page 100

See all 21 books this book cites

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Executor's Guide by Mary Randolph

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Plan Your Estate by Denis Clifford

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A Practical Guide to Estate Planning and Administration (West Legal Studies Series)

A Practical Guide to Estate Planning and Administration by Michael Gau

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The Complete Book of Trusts, 3rd Edition by Martin M. Shenkman

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	57% buy the item featured on this page: The American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates, Second Edition: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Estates, Trusts, and Taxes (American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates) 2.8 out of 5 stars (8)
	14% buy Kiplinger's Estate Planning: The Complete Guide to Wills, Trusts, and Maximizing Your Legacy 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) $14.93
	11% buy The Complete Book of Trusts, 3rd Edition 4.4 out of 5 stars (11) $16.47
	10% buy American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates, Third Edition: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Estates, Trusts, and Taxes (American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates) 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) $11.55

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

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2.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

176 of 190 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A "help" book which will discourage and confuse, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: ABA Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes (The American Bar Assoc) (Paperback)

I have been using a few different books to complete a simple legal will and a few simple trust funds. This book is terrible! I was irritated enough to want to write a review to steer people away from this book. The book is filled with examples of things people can do wrong, loads of complicated variations and options and cross references which never quite allow the completion of any single task. Most of the sections end with "it is recommended that you consult with a lawyer....". The only user friendly information in this book is the dozens of ways to find a lawyer, but no useful information on how to complete a will or trust.

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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not helpful, December 27, 2006

By	David Annis - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The ABA should be ashamed. This is not a book designed to inform but a list of reasons to see a lawyer. Interested in software to help. They cover that topic saying "since lawyers generally charge less for less complicated estates, you may be able to gain the benefits and flexibility of real legal advice for little more than the cost ofa computerized will kit." They let you know that "many alternative estate providers fail to inform you when there may be abetter (or cheaper) way to accomplish your goals" implying that the infallible lawyers always do so.

Want to use a statutory will - they'll tell you why you should use a lawyer instead.

Interested in learning about benificiary deeds they tell you "Your lawyer can explain the ins and outs of your state's law relating to beneficiary deeds."

Here's another very informative passage "Your lawyer can help you figure out which is which, so that you know what property you can transfer through estate planning."

Setting up a trust "you should surely use a lawyer to set one up. * If the trust is for the benefit of your minor children, ..."

How about this gem from page 44 "...should be coordinated with your estate plan, preferably with the assistance of your lawyer."

Or this one from page 46 "Check with your lawyer to see whether your state permits this arrangement and whether it's a good idea for your situation."

Want a well crafted will? Your infallible lawyer can help "craft your language so that no ambiguities remain that might invite a court challenge. Your lawyer can help you do that."

Don't ask practical questions, like which states allow statutory wills, those aren't answered.

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33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great little reference guide, June 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: ABA Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes (The American Bar Assoc) (Paperback)

I read the previous review and decided to order the book myself. I am a Financial Planner, looking for information I can give to my clients to help them understand the complexities of trusts. I found this book to be a great little quick reference guide. It details in plain english various trusts that are appropriate in different situations. The bottom line is, a person should consult a professional when creating a trust. The possibility of making an error is too great. The consequences can far exceed the cost of paying a couple thousand now to save potentially hundreds of thousands later. I highly recommend this book to help you understand what might be appropriate in your situation and facilitate the discussion with your attorney.

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