Estate Planning For Married Couples

A step-by-step to getting financial and legal affairs in order. Worksheets and forms included.

This book is a step-by-step estate planning guide for married couples. There are individual chapters about estate plans for married couples with minor children; married couples with adult children; married couples without children and married couples with blended families. If you already have an estate plan, use the book to evaluate if your plan is up-to-date or if changes are necessary. Some of the topics included are: wills don't avoid probate; beneficiary designations supersede wills; a power of attorney terminates at your death; always name an alternate power of attorney; estate taxes (updated to reflect 2013 estate tax changes); a properly funded living trust will avoid probate; how to pick an estate planning attorney; and how a living trust differs from living wills. Forms There are no do-it-yourself legal forms, but there are 10 forms and checklists you can download (included in the price of the book) which make estate planning comprehensive, efficient and easy. A Personal Note from the Author "Although I've been an estate planning and probate attorney for 30 years, I'm really in the peace of mind business. Once your affairs are in order, you and your spouse will have made things as easy as possible for your family and you will achieve peace of mind. But there's an even better reason - when you have your affairs in order, you've also made things as easy as possible for your spouse."

The legal landscape concerning same-sex relationships is changing. It is vital for lawyers to stay on top of these changes. Attorneys who represent lesbian and gay clients must provide creative estate planning that protects both parties to the relationship, their children and their future. This new book provides estate planning lawyers with an introduction to the issues faced by lesbian and gay clients. Also provided are forms and documents on CD-ROM that lesbian and gay clients need to prepare as part of a complete estate plan.

Few couples realize that when the first spouse to die leaves his or her estate outright to the surviving spouse, without more, the surviving spouse can always change the ultimate beneficiaries of the couple's estate. Such changes may be intentional or unintentional, and the children of the first to die, or even the children of both spouses, may be disinherited. Traditional estate planning for a married couple who desire to assure an ultimate inheritance by contingent beneficiaries (such as children) on the second death usually involves creating an irrevocable trust on the first death for the benefit of the surviving spouse. On the death of the surviving spouse, the remaining trust assets are distributed to the contingent beneficiaries of the first to die.This book discusses the current problems with such trust planning, including the income tax disadvantages, the added expenses and additional tax returns, the control problems, and the inability to control the survivor's estate. This book also discusses why such survivor trust planning for smaller estates is usually ineffective in accomplishing the desired goal of protecting an inheritance for the contingent beneficiaries.As discussed herein, the Contract to Will is frequently a superior planning technique in protecting the rights of contingent beneficiaries when compared to the credit shelter trust or marital trust. If such trust planning is still desirable, the Contract to Will can significantly augment such planning to properly provide for contingent beneficiaries.Although this book was specifically written for estate planning attorneys to use in their practice, the concepts presented are equally important to any financial professional advising clients on estate planning matters.

Targeting parents in second marriages who want to provide for their current spouse and their children from both marriages, the author provides sample estate plans and covers such topics as estate and gift taxes in a second marriage, choosing executors and trustees, the latest federal and state laws, and much more. 15,000 first printing. Original.

Finally, an Estate Planning Guide for Californians Every Californian’s Guide to Estate Planning helps you understand the basics of leaving money and property to loved ones and charities, and naming a guardian for children—with a special focus on issues unique to California, like: how community property rules affect inheritance and taxes how to minimize capital gains for those inheriting high value real estate legal and tax rules that apply to non-citizens and U.S. permanent residents important issues for international guardians, trustees, and executors how to understand the impact of “Prop 19,” and make sure your heirs don’t lose a low (“Prop 13”) property tax rate, and how to avoid California’s slow and expensive probate system through options such as transfer-on-death deeds. With Downloadable Worksheets Includes access to essential worksheets that help you get started on writing a will, preparing a trust, choosing a guardian, leaving money to kids, naming beneficiaries, choosing agents for your health care directive and power of attorney for finances, doing a personal inventory, and more.

The NEW 6th edition to be released late 2015 Since it was first published ten years ago, You Can't Take It With You has been a trusted source of advice on estate planning, and it is more relevant today than ever. The Canadian population is aging, billions of assets are set to be transferred to the next generation over the coming decade, and estate planning is quickly becoming the single biggest financial planning issue of the next ten years for baby boomers and their parents. Estate planning is everybody's issue. If you don't plan for what happens to your money, your children, your house and other assets upon your death, the government will make those decisions for you. In these turbulent financial times, planning for the future is more important than ever, especially when it involves the financial security of those you love. Completely revised and updated in its fifth edition, this national bestseller continues to be the definitive resource on the financial, legal and human issues around estate planning. * Covers all areas of estate planning: financial and tax planning, wills and powers of attorney, life insurance, guardianship of your children, trusts and living wills, and funeral planning, as well as new information on current legislation and emerging trends such as estate mediation, and much more. * Prepares you for dealing with your financial adviser or lawyer--and may even help you to save hundreds of dollars in professional fees and taxes. * Features practical examples, tips, and question-and-answer boxes.