This 368-page handbook contains everything an attorney needs to perform estate planning services in any state. It covers the estate planning needs of all types of persons, including the elderly and persons with modest estates. It also contains 26 professionally drafted model wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other estate planning documents, including up-to-date HIPAA release forms.

This handbook covers the use of simple and complex wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, IRAs, disclaimers, annuities, charitable and noncharitable gift making, durable powers of attorney, living wills, custodial gifts to minors, joint tenancy, and the distribution of retirements benefits. This handbook:

• Contains an explanation of estate tax changes made by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.
  
• Contains 9 model wills and 5 model trusts for typical clients.
  
• Contains current summaries of the estate planning laws of every state, including the will signing requirements.
  
• Contains understandable explanations of the federal estate and gift tax laws.
  
• Covers the use of living wills and health care directives and HIPPA releases.
  
• Covers the professional responsibility requirements of attorneys in performing estate planning services. 
  
• Provides checklists and worksheets for use in obtaining the information needed to provide estate planning services.
  
• Provides alternatives to trusts for persons with modest estates.
  
• Covers the preparation of simple and complex wills.
  
• Covers the preparation and use of intervivos and testamentary trusts.
  
• Covers the use of annuities in estate planning.
  
• Covers the preparation and use of durable powers of attorney for health care and asset management.
  
• Covers the estate planning needs of single persons, the elderly, and persons wit minor children.

Chapter One - PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ESTATE PLANNING AND WILL DRAFTING
Chapter Two - LIMITATIONS ON THE RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTE AN ESTATE AT DEATH
Chapter Three - ESTATE DISTRIBUTION TAXES
Chapter Four - OBTAINING THE NECESSARY INFORMATION
Chapter Five - METHODS OF ESTATE DISTRIBUTION OTHER THAN WILLS AND TRUSTS
Chapter Six - THE PREPARATION AND DRAFTING OF WILLS
Chapter Seven - THE USE OF TRUSTS IN ESTATE PLANNING
Chapter Eight - LIVING WILLS AND HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
Chapter Nine - CHARITABLE GIVING
Chapter Ten - ESTATE PLANNING FOR PERSONS WITH MODEST ESTATES

Harvey J. Williamson, Attorney at Law. Harvey is a graduate of Skidmore College and the University of Colorado School of Law. He is a practicing attorney in Lakewood, Colorado.

Format: 8.5x11" Softcover
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 368
ISBN: 1-880730-36-7
Publisher: Argyle Publishing Company