San Rafael, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2014 -- There’s no way to sugarcoat it; millions of Californians lack a solid estate plan, with their families turning to attorneys like Michelle C. Lerman to pick up the pieces after they pass. The outcome is often dismal and, while the estate ends up legally disposed of, much of the individual’s net worth and assets have been swallowed up in taxes, legal fees, court costs and needless spending that a bullet-proof estate plan could have preserved. At a time when laws are rapidly changing and forcing those with and without estate plans to re-think their strategies, Lerman clearly and simply explains the entire process in a ground-breaking new book.

“Create Your Best Legacy: What Every Homeowner, Real Estate Investor and Parent Must Know About Estate Planning, Living Trusts and Probate: 4-Step ... Effective Strategies for Today's Laws” uses the author’s fascinating life story to present a compelling case for why everybody needs an estate plan (regardless of net worth), how to put one into action and how to do so without spending thousands of dollars. In short, it’s the book every Californian needs to read while they still have time.

Synopsis:

This 4-Step Action Guide explains estate planning, probate, trusts and current laws in an entertaining style that's easy to understand...even if you have no financial background. Read this book and you will learn:

-How you could save up to tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees
-Why virtually everybody, regardless of net worth, needs a good estate plan
-Why recent changes in the law require you to re-think (and perhaps revise) your estate plan
-When you need a Living Trust... and when it's a waste of money
-Whether you need a lawyer and when you can do it yourself
-What you must ask before hiring an attorney

The book takes a unique multi-disciplinary approach for readers with differing learning styles. Short “TAKE AWAY” sections summarize each chapter for those who prefer facts, while those learning best through stories will enjoy diving into the book’s vignettes and “Life Lessons” from real-world case studies.

Visual learners will make great use of the book’s wealth of diagrams, charts and checklists. Plus: Free resources for California residents and what they must know to avoid property tax increases at death.

Whether you decide to read this 4-Step Guide from page 1 to the end, or to look at the table of contents to determine which topics will be most helpful, you will find what you need to CREATE YOUR BEST LEGACY.

“The main problem is that most people don’t have an estate plan until things reach panic point, and then the plan has huge holes, omitting critical provisions needed to protect assets and loved ones as it was rushed,” explains Lerman. “When they die, their hard earned money is wasted with thousands of needless dollars going to the IRS. But I don’t blame them – estate planning isn’t exactly a walk in the park, which is why I am making it entertaining and easy, at a time when radical law changes mean almost everyone must either get an estate plan put together fast, or drastically revise their existing one.”

Continuing, “Everyone will leave a legacy after they die, but it is the decisions they make during their life that will determine if it is one of confusion, high costs and legal battles – or one that promotes familial harmony with the seamless transfer of assets. Every day I pick up the pieces after people die without the protection they should have had, and my new book allows people to avoid this through four very simple steps.”

But, as Lerman so clearly explains, recent changes in legislation provide the most serious and urgent reasons to create or revise an estate plan.

“Many existing estate plans were written when only $275,000 could pass free of estate tax. While that amount today is now over $10 million (for a married couple who takes the right steps to plan), income taxes have climbed. Coupled with California having one of the nation’s highest average household incomes, higher state and federal income taxes, and low property taxes (thanks to Proposition 13), a new estate planning strategy is vital so that current laws work for us, not against us.

Proposition 13 has kept property taxes low at a time when the average house’s value has sky-rocketed. When a homeowner dies, property taxes may soar. With the right strategy, people can avoid higher property taxes,” she adds.

Since its release, the book has attracted a string of rave reviews. Bestselling author, William Bronchik, comments, “Michelle does an excellent job of taking a complex topic and making it understandable by using plain English... This is a great reference book for anybody interested in this topic, whether you're a layperson or a wealth planning professional."

Certified Financial Planner, Chad Burton, adds, “Estate planning laws have changed drastically and new strategies must be discussed and implemented. Too many people have documents that are out of date, confusing and lack protection for their children from divorce and lawsuits. This book is an easy to understand source for long-term strategies that can protect the assets that you have worked so hard to accumulate."

“Create Your Best Legacy: What Every Homeowner, Real Estate Investor and Parent Must Know About Estate Planning, Living Trusts and Probate: 4-Step ... Effective Strategies for Today's Laws” is available now: http://amzn.to/1okh2YQ

For more information on the book and the author’s legal practice, visit:
http://www.createyourbestlegacybook.com

About Michelle C. Lerman
Michelle C. Lerman is at the forefront of current developments in estate planning design strategies. A highly sought-after speaker, Ms. Lerman has been helping clients with their estate planning needs for more than 25 years. She has served on numerous boards and is active in the professional estate planning community, sitting on court panels to settle disputes for Marin County judges and mentoring other attorneys as well. A featured expert on TV, radio and in publications, Michelle C. Lerman has helped hundreds of clients throughout California with her creative solutions and solid estate planning advice.

Ms. Lerman co-founded Lerman Law Partners LLP with her husband of 32 years, Jeffrey H. Lerman, Past-President of the Marin County Bar Association. In addition to Probate and Estate Planning, their firm, known as the “Real Estate Investor’s LawyersSM,” assists clients with real estate transactions (including syndication), litigation (including partner disputes and loan workouts), and business succession.