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The Wall Street Journal Complete Estate Planning Guidebook: A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Legacy

Emmett Mitchell

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Published in The Wall Street Journal Complete Estate Planning Guidebook (Wall Street Journal Guides)

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Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. A well-crafted estate plan can help you protect your assets, provide for your family after you are gone, and avoid unnecessary taxes and probate costs.

The Wall Street Journal Complete Estate Planning Guidebook is the most comprehensive guide to estate planning available. This book will help you create an estate plan that will meet your specific needs and goals.

Estate planning is the process of creating a plan for the distribution of your assets after you die. This plan can include a will, trust, and other legal documents.

The Wall Street Journal Complete Estate-Planning Guidebook (Wall Street Journal Guides)

by Rachel Emma Silverman

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2348 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	186 pages

A will is a legal document that states how you want your assets to be distributed after you die. A trust is a legal entity that can hold your assets for the benefit of your beneficiaries.

There are many different types of estate planning documents, and the best type of plan for you will depend on your specific circumstances.

There are many reasons why estate planning is important. Some of the most important reasons include:

To protect your assets. A well-crafted estate plan can help you protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, and other threats.
To provide for your family. An estate plan can help you ensure that your family will be provided for after you are gone.
To avoid unnecessary taxes and probate costs. A well-crafted estate plan can help you avoid unnecessary taxes and probate costs.

Everyone needs an estate plan, regardless of their age or wealth. If you have any assets, you need an estate plan to ensure that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes.

Creating an estate plan can be a complex process, but it is important to take the time to create a plan that meets your specific needs.

The first step in creating an estate plan is to gather your information. This includes information about your assets, your family, and your goals.

Once you have gathered your information, you can begin to create your estate plan. You can do this yourself, or you can work with an estate planning attorney.

If you decide to work with an estate planning attorney, it is important to find an attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in estate planning.

Your estate plan should include a number of different documents, including:

A will. A will is a legal document that states how you want your assets to be distributed after you die.
A trust. A trust is a legal entity that can hold your assets for the benefit of your beneficiaries.
A power of attorney. A power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf.
A living will. A living will is a legal document that states your wishes regarding medical treatment in the event that you become incapacitated.

Your estate plan should be updated regularly to reflect changes in your circumstances. Some of the events that may trigger the need to update your estate plan include: