A Parent's Guide to Wills & Trusts is a 248-page soft-cover book written by an experienced estate planning attorney and homeschooling dad who has authored 11 legal and personal finance books. In a question-and-answer format, the book presents situations the reader can easily relate to and answers the questions in a straightforward, understandable style. The introduction stresses that readers should work with an attorney; this is not a do-it-yourself book but rather should be used as a guide before meeting with an attorney or other professional in the field of estate planning. Topics include myths about wills and trusts, how to avoid probate, the importance of your health, taxes, and more. The information is extensive and well explained, and the glossary is helpful.  

This book would obviously be very helpful for parents who wish to secure their children's financial future. But the book could also be used to educate older children about the legalities and formalities of the real world. The question-and-answer format would be easy for older high school students to understand.  

Though relatively small, A Parent's Guide to Will & Trusts is packed full of information. Don Silver does a tremendous job of educating the reader, while also making it clear that the matters discussed should not be handled without the help of a professional. You may not think you need to start thinking about a will until you near retirement, but such matters may be especially important for homeschooling parents. Because many homeschooling families rely on a single wage earner, the event of a death could be not only emotionally devastating but financially disastrous as well. This book provides a helpful checklist of essential documents for estate planning, a list of the 25 items to be kept in a safe deposit box, and a list of the 8 items to keep available at home. These tips will help every family be more prepared for one of the most difficult times in life: the death of a family member.  

Some readers may find the book depressing, as the topic of preparing for one's death is not pleasant, but it is necessary. We found some of the worldly aspects a little frustrating; using the phrase "the fox guarding the hen house" for a surviving spouse being named as trustee of a will seemed terribly negative and sad in my opinion. The book mentions many ways to avoid paying more taxes, avoid probate, or secure "strings" to the use of your assets for years to come, most of which seemed worldly and materialistic to me. On the other hand, those who are planning for the care of minor children in the event of a death have a very practical reason for making assets spread as far and for as long as possible. Tips include ways to keep assets only in a biological bloodline, to control where your assets will eventually end up, and to avoid allowing assets to go to spouses of children, all of which were parts of a larger discussion on keeping control of property long after death, which made me wonder how we should handle such matters biblically. The book did nothing to separate the necessity of wills and trusts from the materialistic aspects of the process. The only reference to the greatest gift you can leave your children was in regard to "an ethical will," a statement of the values you found most important, lessons you have learned, favorite sayings, etc., and a call to use your final statement to settle any unfinished business with loved ones. I personally believe the greatest gift we can leave our children is the knowledge of a relationship with Jesus Christ. All the money in the world cannot replace that. 

A Parent's Guide to Wills & Trusts offers a great deal of information in a very small package. The closing information regarding funeral arrangements, password planning, and after-death identity theft will benefit every reader and is a strong reminder about the importance of estate planning. I read the book in an effort to gain understanding prior to the eventual passing of my parents, but I was confronted with my need to get my own matters in order for the sake of my family. A Parent's Guide to Wills & Trusts will give every reader with an educated and informed perspective regarding estate planning.

Product review by Donna Campos, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March 2008