First steps. Why you should plan your estate : how you can save money and be sure you've done it right ; Getting started : don't procrastinate

Transferring property without a will : you have many ways of getting money to people without fuss or delay. Lots of little "wills" : your guide to will substitutes ; Life insurance : an old standby has lots of uses ; Joint tenancy : it's easy and cheap

but watch out for pitfalls

Wills : what should be in yours? Wills 101 : the basics ; What goes in the will : what to put in and what to leave out ; After the will is written : follow these steps to be sure your will does the job

Trusts and living trusts : they can do a lot

but they're not for everyone. How trusts work : a quick look at a misunderstood tool ; Do you need a trust? : as usual in the law, it depends ; Living trusts 101 : the basics ; Setting up a living trust : your guide to doing it right

Putting the tools to work : some tips for people with particular needs. Providing for the kids : tips for every age of offspring ; Married, with or without children : most of us want to see that our spouse is taken care of, but how? ; Splitting up : divorce and remarriage ; Beyond convention ; no two families are the same ; Estate planning for business owners : the law gives you lots of options

but you have to use them well ; Providing income for your final years : estate planning and retirement ; Controlling costs in your final years : paying for long-term care

Death and taxes : strategies for holding on to as much as you can. Death and taxes : trying to make sense out of rules that keep changing ; Tax planning 101 : trusts ; Tax planning 102 : the benefits of living gifts and life insurance

When you can't make the decision : confronting your biggest fear now can make a big difference later. Delegating decisions : advance directives ; Planning for end-of-life decisions : living wills and organ donation

Putting the plan into action after your death : steps you can take now to help your survivors. Easing the burden on your family : there's a lot you can do to help

now ; Choosing the executor : some tips on getting the right person ; Trustees : you can choose a person or a company to get the job done ; Probate : a quick primer on how it's done

Where do you go from here?

Appendix A. Estate-planning checklist

Appendix B. Sample basic will (annotated)

Appendix C. Health-care advance directive.

Why you should plan your estate

Getting started

Lots of little "wills"

Life insurance

Joint tenancy

Wills 101

What goes in the will

After the will is written

How trusts work

Do you need a trust?

Living trusts 101

Setting up a living trust

Providing for the kids

Married, with or without children

Splitting up

Beyond Ozzie and Harriet

Estate planning for business owners

Providing income for your final years

Controlling costs in your final years

Death and taxes

Tax planning 101

Tax planning 102

Delegating decisions

Planning for end-of-life decisions

Easing the burden on your family

Choosing the executor

Trustees

Probate.