The Wills & Trusts Kit: Your Complete Guide to Planning for the Future »

Douglas E. Godbe received his JD from the University of San Diego. He is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in probate, estate planning, and trust law. Godbe has been a speaker for several California Bar Continuing Education programs focusing on Basic Trust Drafting. He has practiced in the areas of probate and estate planning for more than twenty-five years, most recently in Laguna Hills, California.

The Wills and Trusts Kit covers everything from the basics of wills and trusts to general estate planning. Tax-saving strategies as it relates to family businesses and protection of individual assets are explained in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. Topics such as avoiding probate, providing for children, minimizing gift and estate taxes, protecting your business, dealing with subsequent marriages and understanding the differences between a will and a trust are covered. When it’s time to plan for your family’s future, this is the book for you.

Using Self-Help Law Books
Introduction
Chapter 1: An Overview
What is a Will?
What is a Trust?
What is Probate?
Finding the Law
Community Property
Marital Property
Quasi-Community Property
Income Taxes
Estate Taxes
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Chapter 2: Assets
Assets Subject to Disposition by a Will
Property Subject to Disposition in a Will, but Passing without Probate to a Surviving Spouse
Small Estate Distribution
Assets Not Subject to Disposition by a Will and Passing without Probate
Chapter 3: Deciding Which Plan Best Meets Your Goals
Coordinating Your Estate Plan
Inter Vivos Trusts
Funding Your Inter Vivos Trust
Using a Will to Create a Trust at Your Death
Tax Planning
Inter Vivos Trusts and the Pourover Will
Health Care Powers of Attorney and Directives
Financial Power of Attorney
Living Wills
Final Caution
Chapter 4: Beneficiaries
Who and What Can Inherit?
Who and What Cannot Inherit?
Special Limitations on Bequests to Minors
Disqualified Beneficiaries
Family Changes After Execution of the Will
Who Can You Disinherit?
Who Can Contest Your Will or Your Inter Vivos Trust?
Chapter 5: Bequests
Specific and Residual Bequests
Conditional Outright Bequests
Life Estates
Testamentary Trusts
Charitable Trusts
Chapter 6: Fiduciary Positions
Guardian
Executor
Trustee
Custodian
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Execution, Safekeeping, and Revocation of Wills and Inter Vivos Trusts
Will Execution
Execution of Inter Vivos Trust
Keeping Your Will Safe
Keeping Your Inter Vivos Trust Safe
Revocation
Chapter 8:Changing Your Will or Inter Vivos Trust
Changes before Execution
Changes after Execution
Chapter 9: Anatomy of Your Will or Inter Vivos Trust
Will
Inter Vivos Trust
Conclusion
Glossary
Appendix A: Forced Shares Statutes
Appendix B: Asset Roadmap
Appendix C: Step-by-Step Instructions with Sample, Completed Forms
Appendix D: Blank Forms
Index