Editors of Nolo

Probate is the legal process that includes filing a deceased person’s will with a court, locating and gathering assets, paying debts and taxes and eventually distributing what’s left as the will directs.

To be clear: probate occurs with or without a will. Without one, the assets will be distributed according to whatever algorithm the state has adopted. With a will, assets still go through probate, but they’ll be distributed according to the wishes of the *deceased* person, and the distribution will be faster and with fewer court costs.

This product is both 1) an in-depth book about creating a will and other elder/end-of-life documents (e.g. a living will; medical and financial powers of attorney; final arrangements), and 2) a CD with software that takes you step-by-step through screens where (according to the requirements of your designated state) you name your assets, beneficiaries, guardians and executor, all of which is then formatted voila! into legal documents that you finalize with signatures, no attorney needed. The book also describes how to steer as many assets as possible away from probate, e.g. through the simple transfer-on-death provisions of financial accounts, or the more complicated living trust.

Regarding the content, I love the supplementary forms wherein you can give your executor (and anyone else you choose) helpful information (e.g. a list of people to be notified of your death, or contact info for assets and beneficiaries, or social-media sites/passwords) while keeping it out of the will that will eventually become public domain. Regarding the format, I love that the software and my data reside locally on my computer not the Internet (though software updates to the CD are available for download from the Internet).

It’s so easy! I have avoided making a will for far too long and am relieved finally to remedy that.

(Review based on a copy of the book/software provided by the publisher.)… (mer)