The purpose of estate planning is to help a person build a large estate during life and to pass as much of it as possible to the loved ones upon death. This website and links, attempts to present the various types of available estate planning for the average estate.
An estate plan is the procedure by which a person attempts to preserve the assets of his estate during life and distribute them after death. The main considerations in estate planning are avoiding probate, reducing estate and inheritance taxes and quickly distributing the estate to the designated heirs.
A complete estate plan will consider methods for preservation of the estate during life by maximizing income while reducing income taxes that must be paid. The costs of probating a will are large. An old joke: If the person was not already dead, the cost to probate his estate would kill him.
Probate costs include court fees, appraisal fees, attorney fees and executor fees. Court costs and appraisal fees are modest: a couple of hundred dollars for an average estate. The real costs are the attorney and executor fees. Click here to view the rest of the article on Lawyeratlarge.com
Consumer Links
P.J. Hoskins, Esq. Site on Estate Taxes Contesting a will or trust
CA State Bar - Do I need Estate Planning?
Free Advise.com ESTATE PLANNINGAsset ProtectionEstates Legalese
Free Advise.com Elder Law, , , , Wills Estate Tax Law, Gift Tax Law,
Does a family member have "Special Needs?" Delany Law Office
California Courts - Self Help Site
Unclaimed Property (Escheat) with the State of California?
Term Life Proposals
Estate Planing Center.com
Law Help.org Life & Estate Planning
Wills, Funerals, Conservatorships
IRS site on Estate & Gift Taxes
IRS Publication 950,
IRS FAQ's
2004 Estate Tax Rates
FAQ's from Free Advise.com
Attorney Referral
Simplified Issue, No Medical Exam, Full Benefits payable immediately Blue Cross LifeBenefits Brochure and Application 03/06
