Description

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When a loved one dies, we want to know that their final wishes were carried out as they had hoped. Being entrusted to carry out these wishes is an enormous responsibility, and one you may not fully understand. The title of executor is given to those who have been named to administer a will and handle the specifics involved with settling an estate. Many times, a loved one dies before the executor has time to learn what the title entails.

If you have been charged with serving as executor to a simple estate, How to Settle a Simple Estate Without a Lawyer can bring you up-to-date quickly on everything you need to know about wills, trusts, probate, taxes, and much more. This book will help you assess whether the estate under your control can be settled without an attorney. Estates that involve guardianship of a child and complex trusts may require the assistance of a lawyer. Before paying expensive attorney fees to settle a rather straightforward estate, allow this book to explain all the basics you need to know to tackle this project on your own, saving you thousands in the process.

In this book, you will learn about identifying the different types of trusts such as charitable trusts, generation-skipping transfer trusts, living trusts, and Totten trusts as well as taking the first steps as an executor, navigating the probate process, paying the debts of an estate, and distributing bequests. This book will explain the duties you will perform as the executor, as well as how to set up a filing system for important documents involved with the estate, claim life insurance and social security benefits, read the will, manage assets and pay bills involved with the estate, and transfer property belonging to the estate. Settling a loved one's estate can be a taxing experience when also trying to cope with his or her passing, especially if the subject is foreign to you. Don't worsen the experience by throwing away your hard-earned money and hiring an attorney to settle a simple estate you can feasibly handle on your own.

The companion CD-ROM is included with the print version of this book; however is not available for download with the electronic version. It may be obtained separately by contacting Atlantic Publishing Group at sales@atlantic-pub.com

Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president's garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

About the Author

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Linda C. Ashar is a lawyer, educator, horse breeder, freelance writer, and artist. She has practiced law for more than 25 years before the Ohio and Federal Bars. She is a senior shareholder in the firm of Wickens, Herzer, Panza, Cook, & Batista Co. in Avon, Ohio. In addition to her Juris Doctor in law, she holds a Master of Arts in special education and a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is a professional writer and has authored 101 Ways to Score Higher on Your LSAT: What You Need to Know About the Law School Admission Test Explained Simply, The Complete Power of Attorney Guide for Consumers and Small Businesses: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply, an estate planning book series with Atlantic Publishing Group, poetry, and several magazine and journal articles, including a collection on Suite101.com. She is an adjunct professor at DeVry University and Keller Graduate School and a frequent speaker at law seminars. Reach her at ashar@hbr.net or lashar@wickenslaw.com.