Living Trust Kit

October 15, 2004
A living trust is a mechanism used in estate planning to avoid the probate process in the event of the death or incapacitation of the grantor of the trust. Attorney Rolcik (How To Probate and Settle an Estate in Texas), an expert in estate practice, has produced a workbook for those who want to understand and create their own living trust. She explains the probate process and its alternatives in straightforward language and then reviews both the benefits of a living trust and the process for creating the document that sets it up. Funding the trust, understanding estate tax implications, and administering the trust after death are also covered. Numerous worksheets and a decent glossary round out the text. This work is comparable to Denis Clifford's revised and updated Make Your Own Living Trust, which includes tear-out forms, a CD-ROM with fill-in forms, and Nolo's always accessible explanations and illustrations. Libraries with self-help estate and trust collections should consider one of these titles, as they reflect recent legislative changes that affect planning devices. Recommended for most public libraries.-Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach, Rochester, NY

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.