How to Die Without a Lawyer: A Practical Guide to Creating a Will Without Paying Legal Fees

by Mary Clement

Clement guides readers through steps necessary to put affairs in order and maximize inheritance passed on to loved ones through simple, easy-to-understand advice. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312244010
• ISBN13: 9780312244019
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

An easy way to be sure things are done as you want.

For any of you who do not have the following documents, I highly recommend the purchase of this book which contains the forms that you can fill out on your own: Last Will and Testament Living Trust Living Will Health Proxy Durable Power of AttorneyThe author, Mary Clement, clearly states that there are conditions which do require a lawyer, and she advocates using one under the conditions she points out. However, by reading the book, you will know with certainty when you need a lawyer and when you don't. Furthermore, by reading the book, you will know exactly what the lawyer should be doing and your prior knowledge will save fees, if in no other way than saving the lawyer from having to explain all the legalise to you.As an example of when you should consult a lawyer, Ms. Clement clearly states that if a couple has an estate valued over $1,350,000 (per couple), one should consult an estate planning lawyer so as to minimize Federal and State inheritance taxes. But for most estates, the forms provided in the book will work just fine.Where State laws vary, there is a list covering each variance so that one need not worry about any of the documents not being valid in the state in which he or she resides.At the beginning of each chapter there is a brief statement of what that chapter covers which tells you whether you even have to read that chapter or not. In addition, simplified questions and answers make it very easy for anyone to follow the suggestions and plan what to do.There is an excellent, easy, method of evaluating your estate so that you know what you are dealing with and whether you will have any estate tax problems. This should be done by everyone, whether using a lawyer or not (it, again, saves much time with the lawyer).Most of us put off this sad chore. Doing so can lead to very unpleasant consequences, including having children raised by strangers; inability to access what we think are liquid funds as well as other assets; and most important in today's world, being kept alive by artificial means when you may not want to be kept alive (without proper documents you will be and nothing can change it.)Reading this book and following the simple instructions can give one peace of mind about their final days, and the days after their death.