Quicken WillMaker Plus 2006

Planning for your own death may seem grim and unpleasant but it doesn’t have to be. What’s really unpleasant is dying without a will or a trust. If you don’t have these vital documents in place, you will have lost control of who will care for your children and how your finances will be handled. Do you really want some stranger making decisions on your behalf? Are you intimidated at the prospect of hiring a lawyer or an estate planner?

Quicken WillMaker Plus 2006 is the latest edition of Quicken’s highly rated estate planning software. It comes loaded with legal documents such as a will, living trust, durable power of attorney for finances, and healthcare directive (living will) that are a snap to fill in and to use. In addition, it has about 50 other legal forms that are helpful ranging from an authorization for minor’s medical treatment and credit repair documents to a notice to put your name on a do not call list.

The program uses an interview format that is intuitive and user friendly. For each document, simply fill in the blanks, answer questions and follow the prompts. Before you know it, your affairs will be in order. Confused about, or not sure, whether you need a will or a living trust? The software’s legal manual explains each option in great detail.

The update feature makes sure that you are working within current laws and is tailored per state. Simply connect to the internet and the program will scan for updates. If an update is found, it will prompt you to download it. After the download, a “more info” button tells you what the update addresses and any steps you may need to take.

In order for a will to be valid, it must be legally executed. That means that you must sign the will in the presence of at least two witnesses, three in Vermont. The witnesses must also sign the will in each others presence. Again, the software explains all the steps needed no matter what state you live in. It offers advice as to where to store the will along with how and why to make changes at a later date.

Quicken WillMaker also provides documents to make the executor’s job much easier including checklists, claims forms, letters, notices and more.

The software comes with numerous legal forms for other areas in your life. You can make bills of sale, request copies of birth certificates, request credit reports, terminate joint credit cards, make childcare, eldercare and pet care agreements and more.

This program is America’s number one rated estate planning program for good reason. It’s reasonably priced, saving hundreds of dollars in attorney fees, and extremely easy to use. Its update feature ensures that you are working within the current laws of your state and that your finished will or trust will be legal once properly executed.