In The Family (NAPSA)—The easiest way to protect your assets and make sure they are passed on to your family when you die is to draw up a Last Will and Testament. Right? Wrong! Regardless of how clearly they are drawn up, most wills are subject to probate, which means less money going to the family and more money going to pay attorney fees. And according to the National Center for the Avoidance of Probate (NCAP), these “unnecessary” legal fees add up to approximately $15 billion per year. A living trust can be a simple, inexpensive way to makesurethat your estate goes to your friends and relatives—not lawyers. In his book How to Avoid Pro- bate by Creating a Living Trust (Barnes & Noble Books, $12.95), NCAP Founder Gordon Mead Ben- nett explains that these costs are the result of mistaken perceptions, misinformation and simple igno- rance of the law. Meadreveals in easy-to-understand, layman’s language how quickly and inexpensively almost anyone can privately establish a legal, foolproof, probate-avoiding, tax-saving living trust—without the assistance of a lawyer. How to Avoid Probate by Creating a Living Trust is available at Barnes & Noble stores and online at www.bn.com.
