30 chapters. 7 sections. 154 pages. No filler.

Introduction

Estate planning principles that cross state lines: how to read this book whether you live in Missouri or anywhere else. Read the full introduction free.

Section 1 · Why Estate Planning Matters

The false beliefs that leave people unprepared, and the mindset shift that fixes them.

1. Estate Planning Myths That Trip Up Young Adults
2. Estate Planning: An Act of LOVE

Section 2 · Core Documents

The tools themselves: what each one does, what it costs you to skip it.

1. Why a Trust for Your Child Should Mature with Your Child
2. Irrevocable Trusts: Real-World Guide
3. Revocable Living Trusts: The Practical Guide
4. Wills: The Real Rules for Making Yours Count
5. Special Needs Trusts: How to Protect a Loved One’s Future
6. If You Leave a Child’s Inheritance Without a Trust

Section 3 · Life Stages

Because the plan you need at 18 isn’t the plan you need with a business and three kids.

1. Estate Planning: How It Works for New Parents Without a Will
2. Turning 18: The Real Consequences, and the Legal Papers You Need
3. Estate Planning for Entrepreneurs: Keeping Your Company, and Your Family, on Solid Ground
4. Why Business Owners Can’t Rely on a Will Alone
5. Estate Planning When You Have Young Kids: Getting Ahead of Probate

Section 4 · Guardianship for Minor Children

The chapter parents put off the longest, and regret skipping the most.

1. Naming a Guardian: The Legal Gaps You’ll Wish You’d Closed
2. Understanding Guardianship
3. If You Don’t Plan: What Happens to Your Children
4. Why Estate Planning Can’t Wait Until Kids Are Older

Section 5 · Medicaid & Long-Term Care Planning

What a nursing home actually costs, and what you can lawfully protect.

1. State of Missouri Medicaid Office
2. How to Shield Your Home From Nursing Home Spend-Down
3. Medicaid Planning vs. Estate Planning: What Actually Matters
4. Estate Planning When Long-Term Care Is on the Horizon

Section 6 · Probate & Asset Transfer

The court process your family sits through when there’s no plan, demystified.

1. Probate Court: What You Need to Know
2. How Long Probate Really Takes
3. How to Steer Clear of Probate: Direct Moves to Safeguard What You’ve Built

Section 7 · Special Topics

Asset protection before trouble finds you, a final word, and a plain-English glossary.

1. Why You Plan Asset Protection Before Trouble Finds You
2. Final Thought
3. Glossary
4. Conclusion: What Happens Next