Wills and Estate Planning For Canadians For Dummies (eBook)

Margaret Kerr and JoAnn Kurtz are lawyers and authors. Together, they have written the bestselling Canadian Small Business Kit For Dummies as well as Facing a Death in the Family.

Introduction 1

Part I: Estate Planning Basics 5

Chapter 1: What Is Estate Planning, Anyway? 7

Chapter 2: What Are You Worth? Preparing an Inventory of Your Estate 17

Chapter 3: The Taxman Cometh: Taxes and Your Estate 23

Part II: Estate Planning Tools 53

Chapter 4: Money to Die For: The Mysteries of Life Insurance Revealed 55

Chapter 5: Free to a Good Home: Giving Away Your Things Before You Die 81

Chapter 6: Pass the Buck: Using Trusts in Estate Planning 93

Part III: Creating an Estate Plan 113

Chapter 7: A Crew for Your Ship of Estate: Beneficiaries and Executor 115

Chapter 8: Who's Minding the Kids? Planning Your Children's Future 129

Chapter 9: Giving Them the Business: What to Do with the Family Firm 143

Chapter 10: You Gave at the Office, But : Charitable Donations 159

Chapter 11: Goodbye to All That: Plan Your Funeral and Organ Donation 177

Part IV: Putting Your Plan into Action 195

Chapter 12: If There's No Will There's No Way: Why You Need a Will 197

Chapter 13: Will Power 209

Chapter 14: Powers of Attorney: Who'll Manage Your Money for You if You Can't? 239

Chapter 15: Living Wills: Caring for You if You Can't Care for Yourself 255

Chapter 16: Getting Professional Help 269

Part V: Readying Your Estate and Keeping It Up to Date 289

Chapter 17: Don't Leave a Mess Behind: Putting Your Affairs in Order 291

Chapter 18: It's Even Better the Second Time Around: Updating Your Estate Plan 303

Part VI: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 19: Ten Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Lawyer 321

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Using Your Computer for Estate Planning 325

Appendix A: Prepare to Meet Your Lawyer 329

Appendix B: Instructions for Your Executor 339

Appendix C: Inventory for Your Executor 345

Index 349