| |
| |
| Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
| Probate:The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly | |
| |
| |
| Understanding the Probate Process | |
| |
| |
| Understanding when Probate is Necessary | |
| |
| |
| Property Subject to Probate | |
| |
| |
| The Role of Your Will in the Probate Process | |
| |
| |
| Disadvantages of Probate | |
| |
| |
| Advantages of Probate | |
| |
| |
| Conclusion | |
| |
| |
| |
| Probate Alternatives and Beneficiary Designations: | |
| |
| |
| Side Stepping the Probate Process | |
| |
| |
| Benefits of Probate Alternatives | |
| |
| |
| Dangers of Probate Alternatives | |
| |
| |
| Methods of Holding Title to Assets | |
| |
| |
| Community Property | |
| |
| |
| Transfers of Property by Contract | |
| |
| |
| Gifts | |
| |
| |
| |
| Estate and Inheritance Taxes: | |
| |
| |
| Is Uncle Sam a Beneficiary of Your Estate? | |
| |
| |
| Federal Estate Tax | |
| |
| |
| Planning to Reduce Your Estate Tax Burden | |
| |
| |
| |
| Living Trusts:The Nuts and Bolts | |
| |
| |
| Trusts | |
| |
| |
| Trust Types | |
| |
| |
| Parties to a Trust | |
| |
| |
| Living Trust Advantages | |
| |
| |
| Living Trust Disadvantages | |
| |
| |
| |
| Your Assets:What Do You Have and How Much Do You Have? | |
| |
| |
| Calculating Your Net Worth | |
| |
| |
| The Worksheet | |
| |
| |
| Identify Your Assets | |
| |
| |
| Retirement/Employment Related Plans | |
| |
| |
| Identify Your Liabilities | |
| |
| |
| Calculate Your Net Worth | |
| |
| |
| Net Worth Worksheet | |
| |
| |
| Net Worth Summary | |
| |
| |
| Personal Contacts Worksheet | |
| |
| |
| |
| Creating Your Living Trust:Putting It All into Action | |
| |
| |
| The Trustee | |
| |
| |
| The Beneficiaries | |
| |
| |
| Executing Your Living Trust | |
| |
| |
| Amending the Living Trust | |
| |
| |
| Revocation of the Living Trust | |
| |
| |
| |
| Funding Your Living Trust:If You've Got It, Fund It! | |
| |
| |
| Deciding which Property to Transfer | |
| |
| |
| Title | |
| |
| |
| Taxpayer Identification Number | |
| |
| |
| Asset Ownership | |
| |
| |
| Transferring Assets to Your Living Trust | |
| |
| |
| Living Trust Recordkeeping | |
| |
| |
| |
| Estate Tax and Probate Savings of Living Trusts: | |
| |
| |
| You Earn It, You Keep It! | |
| |
| |
| I Love You Wills | |
| |
| |
| Case Studies | |
| |
| |
| Estate Tax Planning with Living Trust | |
| |
| |
| Family Trust Appreciation | |
| |
| |
| Guardianships-the Living Probate | |
| |
| |
| |
| Ancillary Documents to Avoid Living Probate: | |
| |
| |
| Complete Your Planning with All the Documents You Need | |
| |
| |
| Powers of Attorney-Guardianship Alternatives | |
| |
| |
| Declaration of Guardian in Advance of Need | |
| |
| |
| Designation of Guardian for Minor Children | |
| |
| |
| |
| Administration of Your Living Trust after Your Death: The Final Steps | |
| |
| |
| Obtain Death Certificates | |
| |
| |
| Gather Personal Information | |
| |
| |
| Contact Social Security Administration | |
| |
| |
| Safe Deposit Box | |
| |
| |
| Obtain Tax Identification Number for Trust | |
| |
| |
| Contact Life Insurance Companies | |
| |
| |
| Inventory Assets | |
| |
| |
| Identify Debts of Decedent | |
| |
| |
| Final Income Tax Return | |
| |
| |
| Trust Income Tax Returns | |
| |
| |
| Distribution of Assets to Beneficiaries | |
| |
| |
| Epilogue | |
| |
| |
| Glossary | |
| |
| |
| |
| Tax Explanations and Charts | |
| |
| |
| |
| State-by-State Laws | |
| |
| |
| |
| The Design of the Forms | |
| |
| |
| |
| Blank Forms | |
| |
| |
| Index | |
| |
| |
| About the Author | |
