Here is the absolutely essential and totally comprehensive guide to wills, trusts, estate planning, and crafting a personal legacy. Scrutinized for accuracy by AARP's legal specialists, this indispensable volume covers every aspect of planning an estate and creating a will. A crash course in one handy volume, the book walks readers through the entire process, from understanding the distinction between probate and nonprobate property to delegating a durable power of attorney, and from resolving possible tax issues ahead of time to safeguarding your assets. In these pages you will find: comparisons of wills and simple living trusts; advice on guardianship and advance medical directives; explanations of the role and powers of a trusteeand what steps to take in the case of suspected misconduct; a primer on marshaling and protecting retirement assets; help in planning for children with disabilities; ideas for making sure your money stays in the family in case a spouse remarries; and much, much more.