- Subjects
- Genres
- Law for laypersons
Handbooks and manuals - Published
-
Berkeley, CA :
Nolo.com
1996-
- Language
- English
- Corporate Author
- Corporate Author
- Item Description
- Published: Berkeley, CA : Nolo Press, 1996.
- Physical Description
- volumes : illustrations ; 23 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes index.
- ISBN
- 9781413331707
- Introduction
- Thinking About Probate Avoidance
- Is It Worth Your While to Avoid Probate?
- What Probate Avoidance Can't Change
- Comparing Probate Avoidance Methods
- A Lick of Common Sense
- 1. Set Up Payable-on-Death Accounts
- The Paperwork
- Adding a POD Designation to a Joint Account
- Choosing Beneficiaries
- If a Beneficiary Dies Before You Do
- If You Change Your Mind
- Claiming the Money
- 1. Name a Beneficiary for Your Retirement Accounts
- Choosing a Beneficiary
- Required Minimum Distributions From Retirement Accounts
- 3. Name a Beneficiary for Your Stocks and Bonds
- Transfer-on-Death Registration
- Registration of Government Bonds and Notes
- 4. Name a Beneficiary for Your Vehicles
- Transfer-on-Death Registration
- Joint Ownership With the Right of Survivorship
- Special Transfer Procedures for Vehicles
- 5. Name a Beneficiary for Your Real Estate
- Can You Use a TOD Deed?
- How It Works: An Overview
- Possible Drawbacks of TOD Deeds
- How to Prepare, Sign, and Record the Deed
- Three Ways to Cancel the Deed-And One Strategy to Avoid
- How the New Owner Claims the Property
- 6. Hold Property In Joint Ownership
- Types of Joint Ownership That Avoid Probate
- Joint Tenancy
- Tenancy by the Entirety
- Community Property
- Alternatives to Joint Ownership
- 7. Create a Living Trust
- How a Living Trust Avoids Probate
- Other Advantages of a Living Trust
- Why You Still Need a Will
- Do You Really Need a Living Trust?
- Creating a Valid Living Trust
- What Property to Put in a Trust
- Taxes and Record Keeping
- Amending or Revoking a Living Trust Document
- 8. Take Advantage of Special Procedures for Small Estates
- Why Even Large Estates Might Qualify
- Claiming Wages With an Affidavit
- Claiming Other Assets With Affidavits
- Simplified Court Procedures
- 9. Make Gifts
- The Federal Gift Tax
- Making Tax-Free Gifts
- Gifts That Could Land You in Tax Trouble
- What to Give
- Gifts to Children
- Thinking Before You Give
- 10. Putting It All Together
- Alice and Frank: A Simple Life
- Maria: Dealing With Widowhood
- Mike: Midlife Concerns
- Jim and Terry: An Unmarried Couple
- Esther and Mark: New Love, Old Money
- Linda and Tomas: Comfortable
- Glossary
- Appendix
- State Information
- Index