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This up to date planning guide is presented in simple, easy to understand language. It shows you how to avoid probate and how to reduce and even avoid taxes, fees, and costs with proper planning. ... Read more

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<p>The <i>Aspen Code Book</i>, edited by faculty familiar with student needs and course requirements, is an economical and efficient solution to a student's statutory needs. The code book organizes in one place all of the state and federal statutes which a law student taking a specific course would like to have readily available for consultation.</p><p>Key Features:</p><ul><li>attractive, easy-to-read design</li><li>content and organization that mirror content of law school course</li><li>brief author commentary creating context for the statutory provisions in simplified terms will guide students through the more ambiguous and confusing statutes</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p> ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Friedman at his most lucid
Several times while I was reading this book, friends intrigued by the title asked me what it was about."Yes," I said, "it sounds like a novel, and it actually reads that well too."

Lawrence M. Friedman, the prolific popularizer of American legal history, has in Dead Hands written a fine, short book that should be accessible to anyone curious about succession law.From a policy standpoint, the most important chapters are probably those dealing with the fall of the rule against perpetuities and the rise of charitable foundations.But Friedman is a great storyteller, and there are some great stories to tell about the wackiness that sometimes ensues when people try to make or break wills, or worse, when they try to ignore planning for their deaths altogether. ... Read more

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A superb discussion of Christian estate planning
This book is excellent.It begins in the right place, that is, by laying out the REASONS for doing estate planning for a Christian family, then discusses the alternatives available for estate planning in easy to understand language (this is probably the BEST book in the field for defining the terms in real English, rather than legalese).Then the book discusses the important part of planning: deciding what you want to do to help your spouse, children, and plan for taxes, with alternatives explained and laid out.Finally, it has a realistic discussion about lawyer's fees and how to work with a lawyer to limit them, and how to call in other advisors to do some of the grunt work ... Read more

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This invaluable guide has helped thousands of single, married, divorced or co-habiting people to prepare their own wills. The book covers law procedures explaining how they differ in certain parts of the country. ... Read more

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This title is one of a set of resource materials which are for use on the Legal Practice Course. The whole syllabus is covered, including the optional subjects offered by The College of Law. New editions of all the books are published annually. The resource books are written in a clear, modern style. They combine statements on the law with practical comment and advice. Forms and precedents are used to illustrate practice, chapter summaries are provided as revision aids, and wide margins are provided for making notes. Practitioners seeking guidance on unfamiliar areas of practice should also find these books useful. This particular volume covers the areas of wills, probate and administration. It leads the reader through the typical steps involved, from taking instructions for a will to administration of the estate. It contains practical tips on will drafting and worked examples of inheritance tax calculations. Guidance is also given on how to complete the appropriate Inland Revenue forms and these forms are reproduced within the text. This edition is updated to take account of the Law and Reform (Succession) Act 1995. ... Read more

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The new editions of "Legal Practice Course Guides" mark a shift in focus, from the traditional book learning of the old course towards an emphasis on legal skills gained through practical exercises. Each guide explains the relevant substantive and procedural law and, where appropriate, contains sample precedents, documents and check lists, as well as excerpts from relevant practitioner texts. Sample questions and execises are included as a stimulus to further reading. The guides form a bridge between the notes and workbooks produced by each teaching institution and the raw material found in the practitioner texts. This guide explains the basic law and procedures with which a probate practitioner needs to be familiar. This edition has been updated to take account of recent developments, including the Finance Act 1996 and the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. It includes revised prints of the forms of Oath most commonly encountered in practice, and also new versions of some of the Revenue forms. The book also has a "Table of Cases" and a "Table of Statutes".The book begins with a review of essential elements of the law of testate and intestate succession, and of the taxation issues which very much impinge upon this area of practice. It then considers the basic principles of estate and tax planning and the drafting of wills. It concludes with a consideration of the various steps to be taken to obtain a grant of representation to a deceased's estate and, once this has been obtained, the process of winding up the estate. ... Read more

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Taking into consideration the emotional as well as financial aspects, this book is intended for those having to take up the role of executor of a will. Designed to give advice and guidance on every aspect of the task, the text guides the reader through the complexities and likely problems. ... Read more

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An easy-to-use guide designed for use by anyone intending to make a will. It also covers the procedures for probate and administration of an estate. Although it has been written for those who wish to "do-it-themselves", the book should also be helpful to those intending to consult a solicitor. ... Read more

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'Teach Yourself Wills and Probate' gives guidance for anyone needing to know about wills or the rules of inheritance. It also covers making a will and explains how to ensure that your property goes where you want it to. ... Read more

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This guide shows how to make a straightforward will, with advice when professional help is needed. It also goes step by step through probate. Including changes in the March 1999 budget, it covers the law in England and Wales with brief explanations of differences in Northern Ireland and Scotland. ... Read more

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Wills and Probate: how to make your will and how to administ
Explains the law and procedure in England and Wales, and, the main differences, which apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Elaborates how to make a will in a simple case, including a description of what not to do, what to include and how the will must be signed and witnessed. Describes the administration by the executors of the estate of someone who has died. ... Read more

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If you die without making a will your wealth could go to the person you least want to have it and your loved ones could lose out, perhaps to the Inland Revenue. The practical, easy-to-follow advice contained in "Wills and Probate" has already helped thousands of people to make their wills. Whether you are single, married, divorced or co-habiting, it will show you how to write your will in such a way that your wishes can be carried out without complications. The book not only provides sample text but demonstrates how to change it at a later date. The second part of the guide covers probate: the administration of the estate of someone that has died. This book will enable you to decide whether you can execute the will confidently by yourself or whether you should call on professional help. A detailed case history runs through this section, including draft letters to exemplify the various points made. Covering the law and procedure in England and Wales, and outlining the main differences which apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland, this revised edition highlights changes in government policy towards inheritance and also describes what happens if there is no will. ... Read more

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A complete easy-to-follow guide to writing your own will plus how to administer the estate of somebody who has died. Covers the law and procedures in England and Wales and also outlines the differences that apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Contains sample forms and advice on ensuring your will can be carried out without complications. ... Read more

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No matter what your age or marital status, someone in your family will be affected by probate in one way or another. Julie Jason's Guide to Connecticut Probate: What Every Connecticut Family Needs to Know About Probate, gives you a lay of the land in an easy to understand form that you and your family members will enjoy reading. Acclaimed by experts in the trusts and estates field, this book will help you learn important lessons that your family can apply today to address uncertainties, save money, avoid unnecessary taxes, find and work with an experienced lawyer, and set up a family plan to organize affairs. Worth the price of the book alone is the reference section containing official Connecticut forms and publications and other valuable resources. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An estate planning book that has some content about Connecticut probate, but for some reason calls itself a "Guide to Probate."

This book was OK. It really should get a 3-star rating. But it is packed full of good information so I cannot bear to kill it with just a 3-star vote. For a couple of years now I have been reading just about everything I can find on the estate settlement process in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. And through my readings I have come to realize that there are no really good publications on estate administration, probating an estate, and/or calculating and paying estate taxes. The chief problem the writers have is they either confuse "estate planning" with "estate adminstration." Or they confuse "estate administration" with "probating an estate." Unfortunately, in my humble opinion, the author of the instant book being reviewed has confused all three topics when the book's title declares that the content will focus on "probating an estate."

If the book were to be true to its title, then it would have a Table of Contents that would look something like the following:

I. THE BASICS
1. What is probate?
2. When must an estate be probated?
3. How is probate affected if decedent dies with a will?
4. How is probate affected if decedent dies without a will?
5. Who is an executor?
6. What does an executor do with regard to probate?
7. How does an executor get appointed?
8. What is an executor's fiduciary duty?
9. To what or whom does an executor owe its fidciary duty?
II. THE PROCESS
10. The probate court
11. An overview of the probate court process
12. The specific things an executor must do to get through the probate court process
13. What property is subject to probate?
14. What property is not subject to probate?
15. What are the different property types a decedent could own?
16. The probate process and various tax returns
III. MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
17. Does the probate court have jurisdiction over real estate in a state other than the probate court's state?
18. The probate process and guardianships of minors
19. The probate process and conservators
20. The probate process and will contests
21. The probate process and problem executors
22. How to find an estates and trusts lawyer
IV. APPENDIX MATERIAL
A1. Text of State Probate Code
A2. The probate court forms or templates available to an executor
A3. Schedule of Probate Court Fees and Costs

Unfortunately, most of these topics are either not discussed or discussed in a cursory manner. And don't expect to see a copy of Connecticut's probate code or the forms you would need when probating an estate.

By definition "Probate" is the mechanism to transfer ownership of property AFTER the owner's death. A book about probate should not be providing estate planning advice which relates to a time BEFORE a property owner's death. With the exception of chapters 1, 4, 6, 9, and 20, the instant book's chapters address estate planning topics. Arguably Chapter 17 might also be relevant to the probate process, but I figure the reader is reading this book so she can avoid paying for legal help.

The book is split between its body (pages 1-142) and its appendix materials (pages 143-379). To me that is quite a lopsided split of pages. Is the book at 142 pages worth its cover price? Do the appendix materials help justify the book's cover price? Does the content in the body of the book address the subject matter of the book well? My answer to all three of these questions is "no." This is especially true for the appendix material since appendices 1B, 1C, 4A, and 12A (the bulk of the appendices that relate to probate) can be downloaded for free off the Internet.

I wish there were another book I could refer you to that covers the probate process well. Unfortunately I am not aware of one. Interestingly enough, the State of Connecticut has a pretty good Web site devoted to the subject and I recommend you find and study its contents if you are interested in the subject matter of the instant book. To find it just Google "probate court of connecticut." 4 stars!

PS. Examine the Search Inside feature Amazon provides for this book to see what the Table of Contents includes. My review may make a little more sense to you if you look at the TOC since I do not list chapter titles or appendix titles in my review. ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more