Estate Planning from the Heart for Everyone

Ronald Farrington Sharp, Esquire, has practiced family and estate law since 1975 after attending the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law Schools. He has personally prepared over three thousand trusts and is the author of Settling Estates for Everyone, How to Probate for Everyone, Living Trusts for Everyone, and Winning the Divorce War (all from Allworth Press), as well as No Regrets, No Remorse (Poisoned Pen Press). An award-winning mystery writer and sculptor, Sharp is married to the artist Susannah Keith and has three children and three terrific granddaughters. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"Coping with the death of a loved one is a multi-faceted problem. The emotional and psychological issues can linger unresolved far longer than the myriad and mundane tasks of gathering together assets and disposing of them. The primary reason we take the time to write a will or trust is not for our sake. It is to be sure that the legal process for our heirs is simple, quick, and fair, reflecting not just our wishes but also being mindful of the expectations and needs of those we leave behind. There may be decisions to be made for a surviving spouse such as whether to maintain the marital home, down-sizing, or using senior living facilities. Estate Planning from the Heart for Everyone is a step-by-step guide on how to make and execute these decisions. The next analysis is the actions that must be taken after death. Planning ahead for procedures for distribution of clothing, household goods, family heirlooms, and such is a major problem. Decluttering is a good idea but it is difficult and most often falls on the family who may differing views on how to handle the 'stuff' we all accumulate. Interpersonal dynamics are addressed by family members and others who may second guess the actions and decisions of those in charge of the estate"