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