Title : Understanding Living Trusts: How You Can Avoid Probate, Save Taxes and Enjoy Peace of Mind
Author : Vickie Schumacher
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : It keeps gettin' better all the time...
I've recently had the privilage to read this fifth installment about estate planning from Jim and Vickie Schumacher, and I can honestly say it's the best they've turned out yet. Ever since their first edition (originally titled A Will is not the Way), these two have been giving us clear and concise information about the estate planning world in everyday, conversational English. This tradition is continued in their newest edition. What makes the fifth edition a must have, however, is all the new information they've included. Five months ago, President Clinton signed the Taxpayers Relief Act of 1997, seriously changing the "rules" on estate and capital gains taxes. Not only have the Schumacher's already incorporated this new information into their book and translated it from Washington's "legelese" into English I can understand, they've even told me how these changes pratically apply to my estate planning situation. This alone would make the book worth buying, but when you couple it with the state-specific estate planning information they've included (as a direct response from reader's requests), you've got a real steal.
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Title : Williams on Wills: Supplement to 7r.e
Author : Sir William J. Williams
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : The best book of its kind
I cannot recommend this book too highly. It combines a full account of the law relating to wills with a volume of precedents covering virtually every common situation.
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Title : A Step-by-step Guide to Wills and Probate
Author : A.K. Biggs
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : all the basics you need to knwo..
this is a good all round guide to drafting wills and dealing with the difficult task of what to do after a death in terms of winding up an estate. It doesn't go into very complex will drafting but in that instance as the book suggests you would really need to get a solicitor involved. However, it does allow you to draft most types of wills and certainly explains the proceedure following death in a clear and concise manner.
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Title : How to Settle an Estate: A Manual for Executors and Trustees
Author : Charles K. Plotnick
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : I'm buying it for my clients!
The best basic "how-to" guide I've seen for executors and administrators. Not "do-it-yourself" tear-out forms, just good, practical, up-to-date (in '98) advice. I'm sending complimentary copies to my executor and trustee clients (via Amazon.com, natch!)
Title : The Modern Law of Trusts
Author : David B. Parker
Rating : 1 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Who is this book written for?
This book is written in the style of a friendly guide to law rather than a textbook. This creates confusion as the book sets out to discuss in detail problems with trusts in the English common law but does so in a fudgy you know what I mean kind of a way. Discussion centres around conceptual, more abstract, aspects of trusts and equity but with inadequate reference to the technical nature of the law (you really need to be able to supply this for yourself). Worse still, Parker and Mellows do not address all issues relevant to law students and their tendancy to gloss over some of the more technical aspects of the law explains why their conclusions leave the reader feeling unsatisfied. I would only recommend this book to someone who has a good basic knowledge of trusts as a basis for discussion. It is not an accurate guide to the law and is likely to confuse the undergraduate and mentally damage the more general reader.
Title : 60 Minute Estate Planner Rev Expand B/CD: Fast Easy Illustrated Plans to Save Taxes, Avoid Probate and Maximize Inheritance
Author : Sandy F Kraemer
Rating : 3 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Complete summary, but little practical information
Sandy seems to cover all the bases, but the language is a bit too dense for the beginning reader, and there is little to no practical information about how to deal with a trust/trustee once the program is implemented. For example, how does a trust limit ones freedom of action wrt ones assets, before the first death as well as after. After reading, I still couldn't decide if I wanted a trust or not.
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Title : Principles of Equity and the Law of Trusts (Principles of Law S.)
Author : Alastair Hudson
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : excellent book- recommended reading for any law student
I completely agree with the previous review. The main points are well explained and succinct. The book will help any law student to understand the difficult and complicated nature of the law of Trusts. Having had the chance to read sections of other books, I found this one by far the easiest to understand. The writing style is clear and concise without being over elaborate and confusing. It is an excellent law textbook and I highly recommend it to any law student.
