In order to make estate planning as painless as possible, Nolo presents Attorney Denis Cliffords new handbook, Estate Planning Basics. This book provides concise, straightforward and easy-to-read explanations of the major components of estate planning, so that regular folks don't have to spend hours wading through endless options (most of which apply to the wealthy). These explanations include: choosing beneficiaries - estate planning by parents with minor children - wills - living trusts - estate taxes, and tax reduction methods - trusts for people in second marriages, or for those leaving property to a disabled person - planning for the handling of medical and financial decisions if one becomes incompetent. The 4th edition is completely updated to reflect the latest in the law and estate taxes.