If I don't have an estate plan, what will happen when I die? Can I plan my own estate, or should I work with an estate attorney? How can I make sure that my estate isn't whittled away by state and federal taxes?

In Kiplinger's Estate Planning, financial expert and attorney John Ventura offers straightforward guidance on all of the tools of estate planning, from wills, trusts, and custodial accounts to insurance, employee benefits, and durable power of attorney for finance and health care.

In this easy-to-read guide, learn:

• What you can and can't do with a will
• How a living trust works
• Your options for transferring assets to your spouse or partner
• How to give your assets away while you are alive
• How to use a durable power of attorney for health care--and what will happen if you become incapacitated without one
• Controlling your death with a living will
• How to leave a personal legacy
• How to complete the process on your own or work with an estate attorney