Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Your Will or Trust 7 Chapter 1: Ensuring That Your Last Wishes Are Honored 9 Chapter 2: Making Crucial Decisions 25 Chapter 3: Gathering Pertinent Information 39 Chapter 4: Planning Your Bequests 49 Chapter 5: Providing for Your Children and Dependents 67 Chapter 6: Dipping into Your Pocket: The Tax Man (and Others) 75 Part II: Everything You Need to Know about Wills 93 Chapter 7: Writing and Signing a Will 95 Chapter 8: Navigating the Land Mines 111 Chapter 9: When You Already Have a Will 127 Chapter 10: Estate Administration: What Happens in Probate Court 137 Part III: Trust Me! How Trusts Work 149 Chapter 11: The Anatomy of a Trust 151 Chapter 12: Dead or Alive: Picking Your Trust 163 Chapter 13: When You Already Have a Trust 183 Part IV: Carrying Out the Intent of Your Will and Trust 193 Chapter 14: Planning for Your Incapacity 195 Chapter 15: Those Cushy Retirement Funds 217 Chapter 16: Life Insurance: Making Sure It Doesn't Backfire 229 Chapter 17: Your Castle: How It's Owned Makes a Huge Difference 241 Part V: The Part of Tens 257 Chapter 18: Ten Common Will Mistakes 259 Chapter 19: Ten Reasons to Have a Trust 267 Chapter 20: Ten Tax Traps to Avoid When Planning Your Estate 273 Part VI: Appendixes 281 Appendix A: State Signing Requirements 283 Appendix B: State Inheritance Taxes 307 Appendix C: Estate Planning Questionnaire 311 Appendix D: About the CD 333 Index 337.