Every Californian's Guide To Estate Planning: Wills, Trust & Everything Else

Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Introduction: What’s So Special About Estate Planning in California?
	What Will I Get Out of This Book?
1. What’s in an Estate Plan and Why Do You Need One?
	Getting Started
	Understanding Probate
	The Workhorses: Wills and Trusts
	Preparing a Personal Inventory and a List of Beneficiaries
	Special Estate Planning Issues When You Own Real Estate
2. Wills
	Making Your Will Legal and Enforceable
	A Will Is Just One Part of Your Estate Plan
	Right of Survivorship: Property You Own With Others
	Choosing an Executor
	Choosing Guardians and Managing Money for Children
	Planning for Pets
	Preparing a Will Worksheet
	Making a Will: A DIY Project or Not?
	Once You’ve Done Your Will
	What Happens If You Don’t Make a Will?
3. Living Trusts
	What Is a Living Trust?
	Creating a Living Trust: The Settlor’s Job
	Casting the Play: Selecting Trustees and Beneficiaries
	Preparing a Trust Worksheet
	Creating a Living Trust: DIY Project or Not?
	Transferring Assets Into the Trust
	Pour-Over Wills
4. Estate Planning and Your Minor Children: Choosing a Guardian
	Get It Done
	What Guardians Are (and Are Not) Responsible For
	Court Approval and Oversight of Guardians
	Picking the Right Guardian
	Common Problems and Some Solutions
	After You’ve Chosen a Guardian: Talking It Over
	Giving Guardians Some Written Guidance
	Congratulate Yourself on Choosing a Guardian!
5. Leaving Money to Children
	Money and Kids: The Basics
	Custodial Accounts
	Children’s Trusts
	Your Backup Plan: Appoint a Property Guardian
	Pull Your Plan Together
	Life Insurance Primer
6. Estate Planning Across Borders
	Estate and Gift Taxation of Non-U.S. Citizens (Resident and Nonresident Aliens)
	Taxes on Assets in Other Countries Held by U.S. Taxpayers
	Naming International Trustees and Executors
	Naming Guardians for Minor Children Who Don’t Live in the U.S.
	Estate Planning for a Noncitizen Spouse
7. Yours, Mine, and Ours: Estate Planning for Blended Families
	Community Versus Separate Property
	Community Property and Taxes
	Planning Strategies for Blended Families
	Planning for Children of Different Ages
	Putting It All Together
8. Estate Planning and Property Tax: What You Need to Know
	Property Taxes in California
	What Really Matters: Change in Ownership of Your Home
	Exclusions From Reassessment That You Have to Request
	Automatic Exclusions From Reassessment
	Reporting a Change of Ownership
9. Death and Taxes: Income, Gift, and Estate Taxes
	Some Background on Death and Taxes
	Income Taxes
	Gift Tax
	The Estate Tax
	Estate Tax Planning Strategy If You Are Single: Philanthropy
10. Naming the Right Beneficiaries: Retirement and Life Insurance
	Alphabet Soup: Retirement Plans Explained
	What Beneficiaries Have You Already Named?
	Retirement 101: The Basic Rules of Choosing Beneficiaries and Withdrawing Money
	Naming Beneficiaries for Retirement Plans
	A Little Housekeeping: Cleaning Up Your Retirement Plans
	Filling Out the Forms Naming Beneficiaries
	Naming Beneficiaries for Life Insurance
11. Advance Health Care Directives & Powers of Attorney for Finances
	Health Care Directives
	Durable Power of Attorney for Finances
12. Managing Your Plan and Keeping It Current
	What’s in Your Plan
	Storing Your Estate Plan
	Digital Estate Planning Issues
	Who Should Have Copies of Your Estate Planning Documents
	Keeping Your Plan Current
	How to Make Changes to Your Estate Plan
13. Finding a Lawyer and Help Beyond the Book
	Start With Referrals
	Do Some Research
	Make Contact
	Ask Questions
	Trust Yourself
Appendix: How to Use the Downloadable Forms on the Nolo Website
	Editing RTFs
	List of Forms Available on the Nolo Website
Index
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