Estate-planning

Ably and knowledgeably written by an experienced attorney-at-law Daniel Sitarz, Basic Wills Simplified is a straightforward and thoroughly "user friendly", do-it-yourself instructional guide to preparing a standard will without the help and expense of a lawyer. Simple, easy-to-follow, step-by-step, instructions (enhanced with sample forms and a glossary of legal terms) make Basic Wills Simplified strongly recommended not only for those who choose to write their own wills, but also for those looking to educate themselves on the process before seeking potentially costly legal counsel.

The authors clearly present the factors that, on one hand, allow industrial and commercial property eyesores to exist, and on the other hand, those factors that can redevelop them into valuable modern real estate. The NST/Engineers, Inc. reviewers have participated in brownfields remediation designs and in the development of estimated costs for remediation, sometimes extending decades into the future. Brownfields are, according to an EPA definition, "...abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial sites where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination that can add cost, time and uncertainty to a redevelopment project."

A few decades ago industrialists eyeing real estate for acquisition would be concerned about the use they could foresee, the asking price, zoning potential, the neighborhood, and a few other particulars. Rarely were they deeply concerned about what had gone on at the property in past years. Now, one of the first things a prospective buyer wants to know is "what might have gone on here in past years that has resulted in contamination of structures, the grounds, subsurface, or any water bodies." Property owners have similar concerns, but they have more information. So that both buyers and sellers wonder what magnitude of environmental remediation costs would be required for various redevelopment projects. The authors take the reader through the major considerations of both buyer and seller. They treat both the private and municipal redeveloper.

Their case studies, though largely drawn from their Chicago experiences, emphasize the careful planning and execution steps required in redevelopment anywhere. Based on data from less than 200 sites, the cost of brownfields redevelopment has been estimated to be just under $60,000 per acre. Cleanup of contamination, where it occurs, has been estimated at 8% of the total cost of redevelopment. The authors make an excellent point that much more cooperation is needed between interested parties to expand brownfields redevelopment. Venture groups are needed consisting of environmental scientists and engineers, capital providers, insurance specialists, real estate experts, and an experience project management team. Not to be forgotten is "due diligence". For a brownfields purchaser this means an in-depth analysis of the physical, economic, and legal conditions of any property in question. The authors describe how this analysis must have much more depth to it than the due diligence involved with purchase of an uncompromised industrial property. Federal, state, and local environmental officials, and governmental officials must appreciate the importance of rejuvenating unused brownfields as opposed to converting more fertile farms to industrial properties. And finally those officials must have the will to find ways to make a remediation happen. Individuals in all of the above occupations are well-advised to read this book.

As a model of an up-to-date state initiative to hasten brownfields remediation, the authors provide the details of the Illinois Pollution Control Board's Tiered Approach to Corrective Action Objectives ("TACO").

This book is excellent. It begins in the right place, that is, by laying out the REASONS for doing estate planning for a Christian family, then discusses the alternatives available for estate planning in easy to understand language (this is probably the BEST book in the field for defining the terms in real English, rather than legalese). Then the book discusses the important part of planning: deciding what you want to do to help your spouse, children, and plan for taxes, with alternatives explained and laid out. Finally, it has a realistic discussion about lawyer's fees and how to work with a lawyer to limit them, and how to call in other advisors to do some of the grunt work

I am searching for another book written by Jonathan Blattmachr in the 1980s with a title similar to "Carryover Basis". If anyone has a copy, please contact me at 404-588-7763.

Would recommend that everyone read this book. I never understood estate planning until now. This book has been so helpful. Thanks.

Now in a newly updated, revised, and expanded edition, Disinherit The IRS by chartered financial consultant E. Michael Kilbourn (President of Kilbourn Associates and Chairman of the Wealth Protection Network, Naples, Florida) is a very practical and "user friendly" guide to minimizing or eliminating personal estate taxes in order to ensure that the money and possessions left to the people and causes intended is not unfairly or unnecessarily eroded by estate taxes or any other form of taxation. Solid and practical advice for protecting personal finances against claims from lawsuits and divorce actions also fill the pages of this useful and informative compendium. Other chapters address such financial planning issues as life insurance, the usefulness of trusts, and sound steps anyone can take to protect their assets. If you have amassed a lifetime of wealth and wish to lawfully minimize the tax man's demands upon it, then acquire and carefully give a serious reading to Michael Kilbourn's Disinherit The IRS!

Finally, a book on money management that speaks my language! Don't Die Broke! (A Guide to Secure Retirement), by Melvin Jay Swartz, is the original handbook that cuts through all the garbage put out by self-proclaimed financial gurus who sell their 10-steps-to-greater-wealth nonsense on TV infomercials, audio cassettes, and the Internet. Swartz writes for the average person who just wants to make the most of what he or she has and avoid unnecessary costs when making plans for retirement. He seems to care sincerely about the reader. He's not trying to push a product, or even his own service. In fact, he encourages people to seek financial, tax and legal advice only from local professionals who are credentialed, licensed and certified to practice in their areas. Don't Die Broke! is an eye-opener. It warns of the real dangers of taking bad advice that can literally cost people their life savings. Swartz is a straight shooter who avoids jargon and legalese. What a breath of fresh air in this age of canned self-help programs.

I loved this book! The author is enthusiastic about sharing his ideas about making the rest of your life exciting. There are numerous ideas in this book that would suit anyone's taste in sharing one's life with others. Great organizational tools are shared in this book. The author suggests you take risks in doing things "that you have always wanted to do!" I encourage you to enjoy this "quick read book" and start your list of 50 things to do with the rest of your life.

I found that this author was very thorough and that the book addressed the many tax law changes that directly affect estate planning.

This is the best book out there on Estate Planning Basics. Armed with this book and Quicken Personal Lawyer I was able to do our living trust, wills, life insurance and other estate planning documents and save the legal bills. Even if you end up using a lawyer, you should get this book first to get informed.