Estate Planning FAQs

I) Estate Planning Overview

What is Estate Planning?

II) An Introduction to Wills

What Happens if You Die Without a Will?

What a Will Does

What a Will Does Not Do

How to Execute a Will

Types of Non-probate Property

•               Jointly Owned Property

•               Trusts

•               Annuities and Retirement Benefits

•               Life Insurance

III) Revocable Trusts

What is a Revocable Living Trust

IV) Power-of-Attorney

Power of Attorney

Who Should Be Your Agent

How the Agent Should Sign

Beyond Signing Checks

State Laws Vary

State Laws Vary

What if I Move?

Will My Power of Attorney Expire?

V) Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Advance Health Care Directives

Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Advance Health Care Directives

LivingWills

Health Care Proxy

Why Have Health Directives?

Obtaining_Living_Wills

Organ and Tissue Donation

Communication is the Key

VI) The Probate Process

What is Probate?

Should You Avoid Probate?

VII) Planning With Retirement Benefits

Planning With Retirement Benefits

Income Taxation of Qualified Plans and IRAs

Distribution of Plan Assets to the Participants

Distribution of Plan Assets After Participants Death

Estate Tax Considerations

Planning Considerations

VIII) Guidelines for Individual Executors and Trustees

Guidelines for Individual Executors and Trustees

Understanding the Will

Is Probate Necessary?

Managing Estate Assets

Handling Debts & Expenses

Funding the Bequests

Trust Administration

Closing the Estate

Common Questions

IX) The Lawyer's Role

•               What is the Lawyer's Role?

X) Tax Changes from 2001

•               Changes to Federal Estate Taxes 2004-2010

For more information, go to http://njwillsprobatelaw.com/estate_planning_faqs.html?id=387&a=