"Covers the basics of estate planning, including wills, trusts, and health care directives. It prepares readers to start planning their estate, with or without an attorney. The 6th edition is updated with the latest laws and tax information"--Provided by publisher.

"Elder Law Estate Planning" is a niche area of law which combines the features of elder law and estate planning that pertain most to the needs of the middle class. In 1991, AARP published a "Consumer Report on Probate" concluding that probate was a process to be avoided. That marked the end of traditional will planning and started the "living trust revolution." Since then, millions of people have set up trusts to: * Save time and money in settling the estate * Avoid legal guardianship if they become disabled * Avoid having their personal and financial matters made public * Reduce the chance of a "will contest" * Keep control in the family and out of the court system By 1990, the field of elder law also emerged to help people navigate the increased complexity of state Medicaid rules and regulations, the soaring costs of nursing home stays, and the fact that people were living considerably longer. Elder law and estate planning continue to grow independently of each other, sometimes to the detriment of clients. Estate planning lawyers are of little value when the estate plan to avoid probate fails to prevent a nursing home stay consuming all of the assets, because the lawyer is unfamiliar with elder law. On the other hand, elder law attorneys often protect assets but overlook basic estate planning issues such as saving taxes and keeping assets in the blood. The practice of Elder Law Estate Planning means: * Getting your assets to your heirs, in the best possible way, with least amount of taxes and legal fees * Keeping those assets in the blood for your grandchildren, and * Protecting your assets from the costs of long-term care and qualifying for government benefits available to pay for care. Middle class clients today need an "elder law estate planning attorney" to address their estate planning needs as well as to help with long-term care, disability and Medicaid issues as they arise.

Written in clear, conversational English, this book can help anyone understand how a living trust avoids the complications, expenses, and delays of probate at times of incapacity and death.

What happens to your estate after you are gone is very much within your control. Estate planning is not only for the wealthy; it is for everyone. It is simply the process of deciding where your assets are to be distributed after your death. For those people who wish to preserve their assets for designated purposes such as family or special charities it becomes necessary to make special advance preparations. Your estate plan should also allow for the possibility of your own disability. It should detail what you own and whom you want to leave it to at a time of your choosing and the way you want. Your estate plan should include fully disclosed, controlled costs for you and your loved ones. The last thing you want to worry about is having your estate drained of value through taxes and legal costs. The right plan can protect the value of your estate and spare your loved ones unnecessary hassles and legal conflicts. The Complete Guide to Planning Your Estate in New York will help you glide through this complicated process. This new book has been adapted to offer New York residents state-specific advice for estate planning. Co-authors Margo Pierce and Linda C. Ashar, attorneys at law, have crafted an estate planning primer, allowing New York residents to become more informed and more involved during the process. Many books on estate planning indicate you do not need the services of an attorney, but this book highly recommends using an attorney versed in this area: You should not go through the process alone. This book is intended explain the complicated issues, terminology, and planning strategies of estate planning so when you do meet with a qualified attorney, you will be well prepared. New York-specific information is offered throughout this book, including: New York's probate code; New York rules, regulations, and laws specific to estate planning; elements of a valid New York will; planning your living will in New York; explanations of New York laws regarding durable health care power of attorneys, do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, and directives to withhold CPR. Estate planning should be a positive experience. It involves reviewing your situation and planning for your future. Other books offer a non-state-specific overview of estate planning, causing many readers to be misinformed about rules and regulations particular to their state; but, this new book provides information New York residents need to know. Do not get outdated or wrong information that does not pertain to you specifically. Use this new book to craft an estate plan that is not only legally sound but also fully carries out your last wishes and protects your loved ones. Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company presidentâe(tm)s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

Excerpt from The Care of Estates, Practical Questions and Plain Answers Concerning To obtain information it is necessary not only to ask questions, but also to know what questions to ask. Sometimes the inquiry which sounds too sim ple is the very one which ought to be propounded. This catechism (largely suggested by the repeated inquiries of clients) does not pretend to add any thing to the sum total of legal knowledge, or to ex haust the subjects touched upon. It does not aim to raise nice legal points, but merely to rehearse, in a simple manner, well-settled ones. Neither does it attempt to make laymen their own lawyers. The layman who essays to manage an es tate without legal advice will sooner or later surely come to grief. The main purpose of these questions and answers is to direct the inquiries of Executors and like officials into proper channels, and to afford a working knowledge of the everyday duties and dangers of their Trust. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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