Of all the services provided by lawyers, the most common is estate planning. This book contains over 40 chapters on all aspects of estate planning from Wills and Living Trusts to business succession planning, charitable planning, tax planning, Social Security benefit timing, Medicaid planning, and most things in between. It addresses healthcare directives and related documents and planning issues related to powers of attorney. There is even a chapter dealing with second marriages and planning around son-in-law and daughter-in-law concerns. Everyone will find this book a valuable resource for his, her or their family’s particular situation. All areas of discussion also note the changing role of the attorney in the estate planning process, including the impact of non-lawyer individuals and entities and how they are reshaping the way estate planning services are offered and delivered. Contrary to the book’s title, it is not about getting rid of all lawyers, just the inefficient ones or those that practice in areas or charge for services that can be obtained more efficiently from other professionals or by other means. While the target audience is consumers of estate planning services, it also will serve as a great resource for financial advisors and attorneys practicing outside the estate planning field who desire to expand their understanding and expertise in this important area. Mr. Hargrove and his longtime law partner and contributing author, Roger Madden, have over 50 years of combined estate planning, legal, and tax experience and have been nationally recognized in their field.
