Part One - First Steps

Ch 1. Why You Should Plan Your Estate   How You Can Save Money and Be Sure You've Done It Right
Ch 2. Getting Started   Don't Procrastinate (This Means You)

Part Two - Transferring Property Without a Will
You Have Many Ways of Getting Money to People Without Fuss or Delay

Ch 3. Lots of Little "Wills"   Your Guide to Will Substitutes
Ch 4. Life Insurance   An Old Standby Has Lots of Uses
Ch 5. Joint Tenancy   They're Easy and Cheap—But Watch Out for Pitfalls

Part Three - Wills
What Should be in Yours?

Ch 6. Wills 101   The Basics
Ch 7. What Goes in the Will   What to Put in and What to Leave Out
Ch 8. After the Will Is Written   Follow These Steps to Be Sure Your Will Does the Job

Part Four - Trusts and Living Trusts
They Can Do a Lot--but They're Not for Everyone

Ch 9. How Trusts Work   A Quick Look at a Misunderstood Tool
Ch 10. Do You Need a Trust?   As Usual in the Law, It Depends
Ch 11. Living Trusts 101   The Basics
Ch 12. Setting up a Living Trust   Your Guide to Doing it Right

Part Five - Putting the Tools to Work
Some Tips for People with Particular Needs

Ch 13. Providing for the Kids   Tips for Every Age of Offspring
Ch 14. Married...with or Without Children   Most of Us Want to See That Our Spouse Is Taken Care of, but How?
Ch 15. Splitting Up   Divorce and Remarriage
Ch 16. Beyond Ozzie & Harriett   Straight Talk and Otherwise
Ch 17. Estate Planning for Business Owners   The Law Gives You Lots of Options--but You Have to Use Them Well
Ch 18. Providing Income for Your Final Years   Estate Planning and Retirement
Ch 19. Controlling Costs in Your Final Years   Paying for Long-Term Care

Part Six - Death and Taxes
Strategies for Holding On to as Much as You Can

Ch 20. Death and Taxes   Trying to Make Sense Out of Rules That Keep Changing
Ch 21. Tax Planning 101   Trusts
Ch 22. Tax Planning 102   The Benefits of Living Gifts and Life Insurance

Part Seven - When You Can't Make the Decision
Confronting Your Biggest Fear Now Can Make a Big Difference Later

Ch 23. Changing Your Mind   Changing, Adding to, or Revoking Your Will or Trust
Ch 24. Delegating Decisions   Advance Directives
Ch 25. Planning for End of Life Decisions   Living Wills and Organ Donation

Part Eight - Putting the Plan into Action After Your Death
Steps You Can Take Now to Help Your Survivors

Resources

Appendix A. Estate-Planning Checklist
Appendix B. Sample Basic Will (Annotated)
Appendix C. Health-Care Advance Directive