Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started with Your Will or Trust 5Chapter 1: Ensuring That Your Last Wishes Are Honored 7Chapter 2: Making Crucial Decisions 25Chapter 3: Gathering Pertinent Information 41Chapter 4: Planning Your Bequests 53Chapter 5: Providing for Your Children and Dependents 77Chapter 6: Dipping into Your Pocket: The Tax Man (and Others) 87Part 2: Everything You Need to Know about Wills 107Chapter 7: Writing and Signing a Will 109Chapter 8: Navigating the Land Mines 127Chapter 9: When You Already Have a Will 145Chapter 10:Estate Administration: What Happens in Probate Court 157Part 3: Trust Me! How Trusts Work 171Chapter 11: The Anatomy of a Trust 173Chapter 12: Dead or Alive: Picking Your Trust 187Chapter 13: When You Already Have a Trust 209Part 4: Carrying Out the Intent of Your Will and Trust 219Chapter 14: Planning for Your Incapacity 221Chapter 15: Those Cushy Retirement Funds 245Chapter 16: Life Insurance: Making Sure It Doesn't Backfire 259Chapter 17:Your Castle: How It's Owned Makes a Huge Difference 271Part 5: The Part of Tens 285Chapter 18: Ten Common Will Mistakes 287Chapter 19: Ten Reasons to Have a Trust 295Chapter 20:Ten Tax Traps to Avoid When Planning Your Estate 303Part 6: Appendixes 313Appendix A: State Signing Requirements 315Appendix B: State Inheritance Taxes 341Appendix C: Estate Planning Worksheet 345Index 373
Aaron Larson is an attorney practicing law in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He formerly worked for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, where he developed professional education programs for lawyers in areas including estate planning. He operates the ExpertLaw website.