The American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates, Second Edition : Everything You Need to Know About Wills, Estates, Trusts, and Taxes

Rating:
Summary: A "help" book which will discourage and confuse
Review: I have been using a few different books to complete a simple legal will and a few simple trust funds. This book is terrible! I was irritated enough to want to write a review to steer people away from this book. The book is filled with examples of things people can do wrong, loads of complicated variations and options and cross references which never quite allow the completion of any single task. Most of the sections end with "it is recommended that you consult with a lawyer....". The only user friendly information in this book is the dozens of ways to find a lawyer, but no useful information on how to complete a will or trust.

Rating:
Summary: This is a great little reference guide
Review: I read the previous review and decided to order the book myself. I am a Financial Planner, looking for information I can give to my clients to help them understand the complexities of trusts. I found this book to be a great little quick reference guide. It details in plain english various trusts that are appropriate in different situations. The bottom line is, a person should consult a professional when creating a trust. The possibility of making an error is too great. The consequences can far exceed the cost of paying a couple thousand now to save potentially hundreds of thousands later. I highly recommend this book to help you understand what might be appropriate in your situation and facilitate the discussion with your attorney.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to estate planning
Review: This easy-reading book is a nice non-technical introduction to the world of estate planning. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to get a start in understanding this field.