Planning how to pass your estate on doesn t have to mean complications, legal jargon and huge bills. Wills, Probate and Inheritance Tax For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes you through the process step-by-step and gives you all the information you need to ensure that your affairs are left in good order. It shows you how to plan and write your will, minimise the stress of probate, and ensure that your nearest and dearest are protected from a large inheritance tax bill. Discover how to: Decide if a will is right for you Value your assets Leave your home through a will Appoint executors and trustees Choose beneficiaries Draw up a DIY will Work out how inheritance tax works and if you re liable to it Find out what can and can t be taxed

Planning how to pass your estate on doesn't have to meancomplications, legal jargon and huge bills. Wills, Probate andInheritance Tax For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes you throughthe process step-by-step and gives you all the information you needto ensure that your affairs are left in good order. It shows youhow to plan and write your will, minimise the stress of probateand ensure that your nearest and dearest are protected from a largeinheritance tax bill.Discover how to:* Decide if a will is right for you* Value your assets* Leave your home through a will* Appoint executors and trustees* Choose beneficiaries* Draw up a DIY will* Work out how inheritance tax works and if you're liableto it* Find out what can and can't be taxed

Introduction 1Part I: Planning Your Will 7Chapter 1: Preparing for the Inevitable 9Chapter 2: Recognising the Benefits of Making a Will 19Chapter 3: Totting Up the Value of Your Estate 35Chapter 4: Deciding Who Gets What 51Chapter 5: Leaving Your Home in Your Will 63Part II: Writing Your Will 75Chapter 6: Choosing the Right People to Follow Your Wishes 77Chapter 7: Getting It in Writing: Drawing Up Your Will 93Chapter 8: Fine-Tuning Your Will 103Chapter 9: Ringing the Changes: When and How to Change a Will 119Chapter 10: Making Clear Your Funeral Wishes 135Part III: Managing Probate 143Chapter 11: What To Do When Someone Dies 145Chapter 12: Pro-what? The Basics of the Probate Process 153Chapter 13: Dealing with the Estate: First Steps 163Chapter 14: Distributing the Estate 175Part IV: Taxing Times: Inheritance Planning 197Chapter 15: Introducing Inheritance Tax 199Chapter 16: Simple Steps to Reduce Inheritance Tax 207Chapter 17: Rolling Out the Big Guns: Understanding Trusts 223Chapter 18: Using Trusts to Help Your Family 241Chapter 19: Taking Care of Business: Inheritance Tax and Your Firm 251Part V: The Part of Tens 261Chapter 20: Ten Items to Keep with Your Will 263Chapter 21: Ten Problem Wills to Avoid 269Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Getting Your Estate into Tax-Saving Shape 275Appendix 283Index 287