Wall Street Journal Guides: The Wall Street Journal Complete Estate-Planning Guidebook

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You can't avoid death or taxes, but you can create an estate plan that eases the burden on your loved ones and ensures your assets are passed to your heirs according to your wishes. In this guide, Wall Street Journal personal-finance reporter Rachel Emma Silverman provides a step-by-step approach to estate planning. Filled with practical advice on essential tools like wills, trusts, life insurance, guardianship papers, and powers-of-attorney documents, this resource aims to simplify the estate-planning process. You'll learn to clarify your goals, understand key documents, and decode the jargon often used by estate planners. The guide also offers strategies to minimize estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes, ensuring more of your wealth goes to your heirs rather than the tax man. Additionally, it addresses how to fairly divide assets among heirs, discuss sensitive issues with family, and maintain your estate plan over time, including storage and updates. With updated information on navigating the 2011 estate tax legislation and advice for various personal situations, this guide is essential for anyone seeking peace of mind about their estate, regardless of age. Silverman emphasizes that starting early is crucial, making this guide valuable for anyone wanting their wishes respected and their legacy secured.