Before buying a new car, you probably read the reviews, take a test drive, and talk to a number of different people about what you should choose. Your estate plan may have a huge impact on the important people in your life. It may also affect how you are remembered. Whether you have your estate planning documents drafted by an attorney or use a do it yourself approach, you will probably invest a significant amount of time and money into planning your estate. An essential part of making wise decisions is understanding what you don't know. Reviewing an estate planning book is an easy way to gain a quick summary of the issues you need to consider. It may also go a long way to ensuring you are not taken advantage of by a lawyer.
Related Estate Planning and Probate Issues
If you need a book on wills, living trusts, probate, estate administration, trust administration, final arrangements, financial planning, long term care or a related topic, see our estate planning books and software index for a directory of materials.
Plan Your Estate by Denis Clifford. The gold standard in estate planning books for consumers. This guide is easy to read, yet covers the entire spectrum of estate planning concerns. Whether you prepare your own documents or use an attorney, begin your estate plan with this guide to save time and money.
The Mom's Guide to Wills and Estate Planning by Liza Hanks. Regardless of whether you can afford an attorney, you want to ensure your children are cared for if you can't be there. This affordable guide covers important topics of interest to every mother, such as wills, guardianship, and life insurance.
The Right and Wrong Way of Leaving Money to Your Children by Gerald M. Condon. One of our favorite estate planning books, this guide covers essential issues for parents, such as leaving unequal shares, how your children will share inherited property, loans your children have not repaid, and other real life scenarios that can complicate your estate.
. This comprehensive and up to date guide covers essential estate planning topics such as defining your estate planning objectives, making a will or living trust, probate, estate planning for parents, estate and gift taxes, estate planning for small business owners, stepfamilies, disinheriting children and other heirs, community property, life insurance, pay on death accounts and other non-probate transfers, social security and retirement accounts, estate planning devices used to maintain control over property, making a power of attorney, planning for incapacity, leaving instructions for your funeral and other memorial preferences, and working with an attorney.
Written by an estate planning lawyer, 
to make basic estate planning documents at home. However, 
by Denis Clifford. 
