A Matter of Life and Death: How to Handle Family Affairs During Illness and Death and Keep Probate Court Out of Your Business (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798218486976)

One thing unites all 8 billion people on this planet: our mortality.

Without superpowers, we can't predict when or how we'll leave this world. This uncertainty often leads families to probate court, struggling to manage a sick loved one's affairs or divide assets after someone passes away. We've seen it happen to celebrities in the headlines, but it also happens to average people every day. No one is exempt, regardless of their wealth. Unsuspecting families get entangled in public court proceedings, exposing their private matters for everyone to hear, resulting in thousands of dollars in attorney fees and, in the worst cases, families losing control over decisions for their loved ones.

The good news? You can avoid this. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn:

• What probate is and why you want to avoid it.
• The essentials of drafting a will and setting up trusts to reduce disputes.
• The importance of establishing a durable power of attorney and health care directives.
• How to correctly designate beneficiaries to accomplish asset transfer.
• Common pitfalls in estate planning and how to avoid them.

With real-life examples and anecdotes, this book provides an easy and relatable understanding of probate and estate planning. It is a must read for anyone who wants to protect their family from the stress, expense, and public exposure of probate court. Take control of your legacy and ensure your loved ones are taken care of, while keeping the court system out of your business.