Nolo's Simple Will Book
Don't let your aging parent leave you without a will. Don't leave your family without a Will either. Not having a written legal will can cause all your property to be held up in probate -- a process that can drag on for years, and the costs -- including lawyer's fees, appraisal fees, court fees -- can easily eat up thousands of dollars that would otherwise go to your family.

With the help of this book and the CD-ROM enclosed, you'll find step-by-step methods, and easy to fill out forms that let you create a completely legal will without expensive lawyer fees.

Written in plain English by a lawyer who walks you through each step of what you need to consider in making out a Will: leave property or cash gifts to whom you please, name a personal guardian to care for your children, create a trust for property left to children, arrange the payment of debt and taxes, name an excecutor to handle your affairs, and the final steps you must take to make your will valid.320 pages, 8-1/2 x 11, $34.99

Contents

1: Making Your Own Will
What You Can Do in Your Will
Dying Without a Will
The Human Element
How to Get The Most From This Book
Will You Need a Lawyer?
A Look at a Basic Will

2: An Overview of Wills
Basic Legal Requirements for Making a Valid Will
Types of Wills
What Happens to Your Property After You Die


3: Special Property Rules for Married People
Community Property States
Common Law States
If You Move to Another State

4: Taking Inventory of Your Property
List and Describe Your Property
State How Your Property is Owned
List Your Percentage of Shared Property
Estimate the Net Value of Your Property
Your Property Worksheet

5: Your Beneficiaries
Types of Beneficiaries
Putting Restrictions on Beneficiaries
Deciding How to Leave Your Property
Naming Beneficiaries to Share Gifts
Naming Alternate Beneficiaries
Naming Residuary Beneficiaries
Explaining Your Gifts
Survivorship Periods
Simultaneous Death
Using the Beneficiary Worksheet
Disinheritance
Property You no Longer Own at Your Death

6: Choosing Your Executor
Responsibilities of an Executor
How to Choose Your Executor
Naming a Successor Executor
Naming an Executor for Another State
Executor Worksheet

7: Children
Providing for Your Minor Children
Custody of Your Minor Child
Choosing How to Manage Property Left to Your Children
How toUse the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act in Your Will
How to Create a Family Pot Trust or Child's Trust
Choosing a Property Guardian
Leaving Property to the Children of Others


8: Debts and Taxes
When to Bother About Debts and Taxes
Who Pays Debts After Your Death?
Choosing Specific Assets to PAy Debts
State and Federal Death Taxes

9: Choosing the Right Will Form
Basic Form Wills
What You Can Accomplish With a Basic Will
Making a Customized Will
After You've Prepared Your Will


10: Making a Fill-in-the-Blanks Will
Getting Started
Filling in the Will Form
Sample Filled-in Basic Will
Preparing Your Final Will

11: Making a Customized Will
How to Prepare Your Will
Will Clauses

12: Formalities of Will Drafting
Signing and Witnessing Your Will
"Self-Proving" Wills
After Your Will is Completed

13: Changing or Revolking Your Will
Revising Your Will or Revoking it
Making Simple Changes in Your Will by Codicil
Revoking Your Will

14: Estate Planning
Probate
Why Wills Are Necessary
Probate Avoidance Methods
Estate Taxes
Placing Controls on Property
Planning for Incapacity: Durable Power of Attorney

15: Lawyers and Doing Your Own Legal Research
Working With a Lawyer
Doing Your Own Research
Legal Information Online

Glossary

Index

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