Understanding Living Trusts: How You Can Avoid Probate, Keep Control, Save Taxes, and Enjoy Peace of Mind

by Vickie Schumacher, Jonathan A. Mintz JD TEP (Editor)

Updated for 2019. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars an hour for an attorney to educate you, you can learn the basics of estate planning and living trusts in the comfort of your own home, on your own time, for just the cost of this book. Hailed as America’s best book on living trusts, "Understanding Living Trusts®" has been a favorite of consumers and professionals for more than 25 years, with sales now approaching 400,000 copies! It is a must-read for individuals and families with all size estates, and makes an ideal gift for friends and grown children. In these 304 easy-to-read pages, award-winning writer Vickie Schumacher explains in clear, conversational English how you can lose control when you have a will; when you have no plan; when you use joint ownership; when you give away assets; and when you rely on beneficiary designations. She then explains how a living trust can give you maximum control, both at incapacity and after you die; the many benefits beyond avoiding probate; and why a living trust meets the needs of today’s families far better than any other estate plan. This book is also your personal action plan for having a living trust. You will learn what a living trust is, how it works, and the steps you’ll need to take to set up one; what to consider when deciding how you want your loved ones to inherit from you; how to find the right attorney to prepare your living trust; how to organize information your family will need; and step-by-step instructions for your family if you become incapacitated and after you die. "Understanding Living Trusts®" is filled with charts, examples, and checklists, including a Personal and Financial Organizer that will help you prepare to meet with your attorney. All of this education and preparation will save you considerable time and money. Visit www.SchumacherPublishing.com/Consumers for a free special report!

305 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2015

Reviews

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for learning about the ramifications of most estate-planning decisions. No shocker in that it turns out to be way more complex than I prefer. Book makes a good case for not going the DIY route. One take away- being the successor trustee sucks so much, like a fart in the face from the deceased.