I want to read general articles on Estate Planning.

• “Four Ways To Botch Estate Planning” – MarketWatch
• “Estate Planning In A Down Market” – BusinessWeek
• “Why You Need A Will” – Forbes

I want to read general articles on Estate Planning Tax Tips.

• “Obama Plans To Keep Estate Tax” – MarketWatch
• “Stayin' Alive: How To Cheat The Estate Tax” – Wall Street Journal
• “Many Taxpayers Stand To Gain From New Laws” – Wall Street Journal
• “Tax Benefits Of Inheriting A Home” - Bankrate

I want to find helpful Non-Profit organizations.

• Aging with Dignity believes Americans must safeguard the rights of the sick, aging or dying with the same enthusiasm we show for the young and healthy. The non-profit Aging with Dignity was established in 1996 because you and your family deserve better. In 1997 Aging with Dignity introduced the Five Wishes advance directive in Florida, and a year later, to the nation.
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over. AARP is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age by leading positive social change and delivering value to members through information, advocacy and service.
• The American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary professional association in the world. With more than 400,000 members, the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.
• The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a nonprofit association of lawyers established in 1949. Its members are elected to the College by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors. All ACTEC members have made substantial contributions to the field of trusts and estates law through writing, teaching and bar leadership activities.
• The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is the worldwide resource and advocate across all facets of funeral service dedicated to high ethical standards and helping members provide meaningful service to families. NFDA members stand for credibility, ethics, excellence and trust.
• The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding access to hospice and palliative care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones. NHPCO continues to break new ground in professional leadership, consumer and caregiver services, research, legislative advocacy, communications, international development, and issues related to quality care at the end of life.

I want to find helpful For-Profit organizations.

• ElderLawAnswers supports seniors, their families and their attorneys in achieving their goals by providing the best information on the Internet about crucial legal issues facing seniors, a network of highly qualified elder law attorneys nationwide and online practice tools for elder law attorneys.
• FindLaw.com a Thomson Reuters business, is the leading provider of online legal information for consumers and Internet marketing solutions for law firms. FindLaw.com remains the most popular site for free legal information on the Internet with more than four million legal consumers visiting each month and the largest legal directory available.
• FreeAdvice.com seeks to provide the most useful, easy-to-understand, comprehensive and balanced legal information to consumers and small businesses, and to help people and businesses find answers to their legal questions and solutions to their legal problems. The easy-to-understand legal content on FreeAdvice.com has been prepared and is updated by nationally renown specialists at dozens of leading American law firms, and by other capable attorneys and legal professionals on the Company's highly qualified legal and editorial staff.
• The National Academy of Elderly Law Attorneys, LLC (NAELA) is comprised of attorneys in the private and public sectors who deal with legal issues affecting seniors and people with disabilities. Members also include judges, professors of law, and students. The primary focus of the Academy is education. The Academy sponsors continuing legal education programs on elder law for attorneys throughout the year, and provides publications and educational materials to its members on a wide range of elder law topics.
• Nolo is the nation's oldest and most respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses. Since 1971, Nolo has offered affordable, plain-English books, forms and software on a wide range of legal issues, including wills, estate planning, retirement, elder care, personal finance, taxes, housing, real estate, divorce and child custody.

I want to find helpful Government organizations.

• Federal Citizens Information Center (FCIC) is focused on answering citizens’ questions about the Federal government and everyday consumer issues. FCIC watches emerging consumer issues and topics and regularly reviews new information coming from Federal agencies and consumer organizations.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy. The FTC pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement; advances consumers’ interests; develops policy and research tools; and creates educational programs for consumers and businesses.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) retirement planning site provides America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities while planning and during their retirement.
• USA.gov is the official information and services website from the U.S. government. As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web.
• The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission and maintains a website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about personal finance. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401(k), the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you.

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I want to find helpful Estate Planning Glossaries.

• About.com – Glossary of estate planning terms
• Bankrate.com – Estate planning glossary
• ElderLawAnswers.com – Estate planning glossary - useful legal terms
• Nolo.com – Wills & estate planning glossary

I want to learn about End-of-Life Issues.

• AARP.org – End of life
• AgingWithDignity.org – 5 wishes
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Last acts
• USA.gov – End of life issues

I want to understand Probate Process.

• American Bar Association – The probate process
• FreeAdvice.com – Probate
• USA-Probate.com – General probate process and information

I want to understand Estate Planning Tools.

• AARP.org – Care giving planning ahead
• American Bar Association – Estate planning overview
• CNN Money.com – What is estate planning?
• FCIC – Estate planning
• IRS.gov – Frequently asked questions on estate taxes
• Nolo.com – Wills & estate planning
• SeniorResource.com – Finance for seniors
• SmartMoney – Estate planning

I want tips on how to hire an Estate Planning Attorney.

• AARP.org – Legal issues
• American Bar Association – Consumers guide to legal help
• American Bar Association – Important – Before you hire an attorney
• Lawyers.com – Trusts & estates – selecting a good lawyer
• Legal Connection – How to hire an attorney

I want to find Legitimate Non-Profit Organizations to name as a beneficiary in my estate.

• CharityNavigator.org – Finding a charity you can trust
• CharityWatch.org – The American Institute of Philanthropy
• Give.org – The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
• Guidestar.org – Provides information on charities
• NetworkForGood.org – Partnership between the AOL Time Warner Foundation and charitable groups

I want to find helpful Estate Planning Calculators.

• Bankrate Estate Planning Calculator can help estimate estate tax liability for 2008. Use this calculator to project the value of your estate, and the associated estate tax, for the next 10 years.
• Fidelity Investments Estate Planning Calculator can help you illustrate potential estate planning strategies, understand the relationship between goals, strategies and products, and get more value from your meetings with estate planning professionals.
• SmartMoney Estate Tax Exposure Meter allows you to understand where you may possibly stand with estate taxes and even provides you some suggestions that apply to your situation.

I want to find helpful Life Insurance Calculators.

• AOL Money and Finance life insurance calculators can help take the guesswork out of purchasing life insurance decisions. Use the life insurance calculators to decide between term and whole life, term and universal life and other important calculations.
• Bankrate life insurance calculator helps you determine the right type of life insurance for you based on a series of questions.
• Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) life insurance needs calculator helps determine how much investment capital your family will need at the time of your death.

There are countless personal finance self-help “gurus” trying to convince you they alone offer the most insightful, sincere and helpful solutions. They hope you will buy their latest self-help book, workbook, newsletter, or whatever else it is they are offering.

However, a handful have written books or offer guidance on ESTATE PLANNING in a manner that may be more beneficial, more affordable, or less annoying than their peers.  Following are gurus and books you may enjoy.*

• Mary Randolph, 8 Ways to Avoid Probate
• Michael Palermo and Ric Edelman, AARP Crash Course in Estate Planning
• Nolo Press Editors, Quicken Willmaker Plus: Estate Planning Essentials
• Rebecca Sharp Colmer and Todd Thomas, The Senior's Guide to End-of-Life Issues
• Suze Orman, Suze Orman's Will and Trust Kit: The Ultimate Protection Portfolio
• Thomas Dennis Clifford, Estate Planning Basics; Your Estate Plan

* Note: The Site Creator has not been compensated in any way for referencing any “gurus” or books on this site.

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