If you have assets that you want to protect, and you want to make sure they go to friends, family members or other loved ones based upon your wishes after your death, you need a will.

If you die without making a will, your property and any money or assets will be divided among others according to what your state’s “intestate” laws say. In general, the laws divide property among “close” relatives according to a specific formula.

This may be okay with you, but another problem with leaving assets behind without a will is that it generally takes a long, long time for the courts to sort out who gets what, so that your heirs must wait a long time for things to work their way through the courts. This is why it’s so important to leave a will even if you have relatively modest assets or if you’re young and think you’re going to live a long, long time.

Types of asset protection

Of course, you know a will is provided so that you can leave assets to people after death. However, if you wish, you can also plan for your incapacitation whereby someone else is going to need to handle your affairs for you, but where you are still physically alive.

A “will” is a document that specifically distributes assets to people after you’ve already died. A living revocable trust, by contrast, is a sort of “changeable will” that exists while you are still alive. You can appoint yourself the trustee of the trust while you are well and a successor in the event you become ill or incapacitated. This also makes it easier to distribute assets to beneficiaries without having to go through probate. In some cases, a living revocable trust may be preferable to an actual will, in which case you will need a lawyer to help you set this up.

Will you need a lawyer to help you draw up your will?

Most of the time, you’re not going to need to get a lawyer involved when you write your will. It’s perfectly acceptable to simply use one of the good software programs out there to construct the will for yourself. (In fact, this is what most lawyers do these days, too.) Simply address basic concerns like who you are going to leave your home and any other assets to in the event of your death, and specifically name who gets what. In addition, determine who will be guardians of any minor children, if applicable, and put that in your will, too.

You will need two witnesses

When you finish writing your will, you’ll need to sign it and have it acknowledged as your final will in front of two witnesses, who will have to sign it as well. That’s enough for most people who need wills. This gives you a final, binding document that will divide your assets the way you want them to be divided.

When should you consult a lawyer?

In some cases, it IS a good idea to get a lawyer to help you make sure your will is complete (or when a revocable trust might be a better option). Now, here again, you probably aren’t going to need a lawyer for the WHOLE process. Instead, you can draw up the will yourself as previously mentioned and take it into a lawyer to make sure all the “i”s are dotted and the “t”s are crossed.

Specifically, you should consult with a lawyer (even briefly) if you’ve got any questions that you don’t have specific answers to. In addition, your situation may be more complex than a basic will can cover. For example, you may have a business and want to make sure it goes to the proper surviving owners or transfers ownership properly upon your death. Or, you may have a very large estate such that your heirs are going to be subject to estate tax unless you plan properly. You should also consult a lawyer, for example, if you think your will is going to be contested because of fraud or if someone is going to challenge your will on the grounds that YOU were incompetent.

Finally, there are some cases in which you can largely disinherit a spouse (although not entirely, if you’re still married) upon your death if you wish to. A lawyer can help you figure out what the laws are concerning your spouse’s rights and what you can do to minimize what your spouse will inherit.

These are all situations in which you should consult a lawyer simply to make sure you’ve got everything covered so that there are no surprises to those who inherit your estate upon your death, and that there are no difficulties in determining who gets what at that time.

If at any time you’re in doubt

Again, remember that you can still do most of the work yourself with one of the many good “make a will” software programs out there. These days, it should just take you a few minutes to hours in a lawyer’s office to make sure everything is right so that you get the outcome you want. You should rarely if ever have to consult a lawyer from the beginning to complete a will from start to finish.

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When you are in a place where you want to write a book review, you will be sharing what you know and feel about the book with your readers.  Knowing how to write a book review is not necessarily something that is instinctive however, so make sure that you take some time to consider some points that will make your review more engaging and more useful to your audience.

First, consider the book as a whole.  Who is the audience that is being marketed to, and are you that audience?  Why did you pick up the book in the first place, and what is the packaging trying to tell you?  Consider what sort of story that you expect from the packaging that the book is in and make a note of it.  When you have read the book, you’ll find that going back to this guess can be an interesting thing to include in your review.

As you read the book, make sure that you read it critically.  While there is nothing wrong with reading a book just to enjoy it and without much consideration, this is not the way to read it if you are planning to do a review of it!  Ask yourself questions and figure out what the author is trying to say.  Consider the points that the author is trying to make.  What kind of world has he or she built and how does it comment on the one that we live in?  While this is especially true when you are reading speculative fiction, you will also find that it is quite true when you are thinking about mainstream fiction as well.  Question things like world-view, the prejudice of the characters and how gender and sexuality and race are all being portrayed.  This can help you get some insight into the book and add another layer of meaning to it.

When you go to write the book, start by introducing it to your audience.  Assume that they have never seen a copy or heard about it before and tell them a little bit about the author, what other work they have done and how the book is presented.  Tell them what the book is about, and briefly summarize the book.  Remember that you should never give any more information about the plot than is on the back of the book; giving your audience spoilers on content is going to make them quit reading fast.

Give your reactions to the book.  Be balanced and fair, and if you have specific biases, it is always good to let the audience know.  Remember that you are not necessarily trying to get the audience to read a book or not to read it; instead, you are giving them information so that they can decide for themselves.  How did the book make you feel, would you read more by the same author?

Book reviews are an important way to share your views on books with others and to introduce people to literature that they might never have stumbled on on their own.  Learn how to write a book review with care, and you’ll find that there are many people who are eager to listen.

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Check out this awesome video about how to write a speech.

Some people find the whole process of writing and giving a speech simply nerve racking, but this video helps give the foundation to getting beyond that fear.

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It seems many people are interested in getting started but just don’t know how to write a journal they would be happy with. So we took the time to explain the steps to go about getting your journal started today.

Lots of people know that keeping a journal is helpful because you can look back through your journal years from now and see what was important to you then, how you felt about what was going on in your life, and remember details of important moments and events.  A journal can also be a way for your children or grandchildren to feel closer to you.

What people may not know about how to write a journal, is that reading back through a journal isn’t the only reason to keep one.  They don’t realize just how important a journal can be to you right now.  There are many benefits to journaling that go beyond simply recording the events of your daily life.

Keeping a journal allows you to write down the things you’re grateful for.  Sometimes when things seem like they’re not going well, it’s hard to be thankful for what’s going right.  By journaling about those things, you can help keep things in perspective and remember that there are great things going on in your life!

Journals can also give you a place to keep notes and reflections on life lessons you’ve learned.  There are moments and events in your life that can change the way you think, and by keeping a journal, you can better recognize the importance of those moments in your life as they happen to you.

Another big advantage in knowing how to write a journal is that it’s good therapy.  If you’re feeling angry or frustrated or scared, sometimes all you need is to get your thoughts and feelings out of your head and onto paper.  Many people feel that the physical act of writing helps them let go of those feelings, and they start feeling better.

It is true that keeping a journal helps you keep track of the important things in your life so you can look back on them later.  It could be that you want to remember the details of an important event, like your wedding or your first big promotion, or you want to know how you dealt with a problem in the past that’s come up in your life again.

Not only can you read back through your own journal, but it could be a great keepsake to pass on to your children so they can learn more about you, and maybe feel closer to you as a result.  If this is something you’re considering, you may want to be sure to date your journal entries.

One of the great things about keeping a journal is that there are lots of ways to do it.  You can buy a notebook or journal to use or keep a word file on your computer with your journal entries.  Some people prefer to keep their journals online with “blogs” (short for weblogs) that give you choices for privacy settings.

Ultimately, it’s up to you how you want to keep a journal.  The important thing is that you write regularly, and keep track of what’s going on in your life.  There’s almost no limit on how to write a journal you would be happy with.  And with the clear benefits of journaling, why wouldn’t you start one today?

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The business world is a world unto itself. There is language and etiquette that exists strictly within the business world. To be successful in that world with your new business you will need to know how to write a business proposal that’s top-notch.

A business proposal is essential to get any new business onto its feet. Having a solidly thought out plan of action behind your business venture will help you know where you are headed. Having specific goals for your business as well as a plan for how to get there is really important. If you are not reaching for something, or if you have not thought about how to make those things happen then chances are you will never achieve those goals. Additionally, one thing that any business needs to get started is startup capital. Typically, this type of funding is something that you are going to look at getting from investors. Having a solid business plan and knowing how to write a business plan that is realistic and well presented will show investors that you have a plan of attack, and that their money is in good hands.

Know Your Target Audience

The first step in writing a top quality business proposal is to solidify who your audience is. Spend some time deciding what type of investors you are interested in securing as well as what type of customers you are hoping to serve with your business. This information will help you to decipher exactly what details you need to address within your business proposal. The primary goal of this proposal is to answer the questions that your potential investors will have regarding how your business is going to operate.

What Type of Business Proposal’s Expected?

Within your proposal, you will want to provide the details that they are looking for. Decide whether your potential investors are looking for a very detailed plan or if they would rather have simple bullet points issued. When in doubt it is best to make sure that your proposal is easy to read, so if you are giving a lot of information space it out on the page. Perhaps have one bullet point with the main goal or topic, and beneath that provide more specific details.

There is a lot of information to take into account in regards to starting a business, and it is your job to edit what you are going to put into your business proposal. Again, knowing your audience is really quite important so that you can tailor your information to them. For most investors they will want to know how you are going to achieve the day-to-day operations of your business. To clarify this you might want to take some time to outline the staff that you are going to need for your business. Within this outline, you will want to indicate some of the basic duties that those specific job titles would encompass.

How to Write A Business Proposal That Will Make Investors Happy

Your investors will also be very interested in what is going to be happening with their money.  You want to take steps to assure them that their investment will be used properly.  Show your investors how their funds will help your business to operate properly, and to turn a profit.

Speaking of a profit, you will want your business proposal to show investors how they are going to profit.  They will want to see what type of profits you are expecting your business to turn.  Typically the bigger the profits for your business, the bigger the profits for the investors.  To entice them to sink their hard earned money into your business proposition they will need to see that it will be a sensible investment that they can expect a return on.

Show There Are Systems in Place

Additionally, you might want to spend a bit of time to outline the chain of command in your proposed business. Investors need to be sure that your business is a well-organized machine. Having a solid and clear chain of command will give some peace of mind to those investors that there are competent people in line to supervise the business. Additionally, this will show that there is a system of checks and balances in place to ensure that the business is being run properly, and therefore their money is being used properly.

Though business proposals may seem like a tricky thing to put together, the truth is that it is simply a plan for your proposed business. The trick to making it a successful proposition is to be clear and detailed, but remember to keep those details concise. Give the answers that the investors want without all of the complications, and chances are that your proposal will quickly gain their attention and faith. And now you know how to write a business proposal that’s a winner.

Want to romance your lady but stuck and don’t know how to write a love letter? Well check out this video, fun and entertaining.

- HowToWriteSite.com

How to Write a Hardship Letter That Works With Any Lender
By Dean Williams

The hardship letter is the most important document that you submit to your lender. The hardship letter is necessary if you want your lender to agree upon a loan workout, short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, forbearance agreement, loan modification, and any other foreclosure solution that requires their cooperation. Your hardship letter presents your desperate situation to the lender when they consider your request for help. Given that fact, you need to make sure your hardship letter presents your situation in a way that screams, “You must help me!”

Before you begin to write your hardship letter, first consider what type of solution you are seeking from your lender. There are several ways to avoid foreclosure, some that will allow you to keep your home and some that won’t. Decide which one is best for you by visiting websites such as The Online Foreclosure Solution Manual, which explains the pros and cons of every possible foreclosure solution.

An effective hardship letter will be personal and demonstrate your distressing situation. The reason for falling behind on your payments should legitimately be caused by things like a job loss, job relocation that leads to two mortgage payments, change of job, long-term health issue, or a death in the family. You cannot be afraid of any embarrassment involved with telling your story. Remember that financial hardship falls upon everyone: rich and poor, old and young, strong and weak.

Be detailed in your hardship letter on how you got into your situation and state examples of ways you have attempted to keep up with payments such as tapping into your savings, retirement funds, and renting rooms. If you cannot rent rooms because you have a family, then mention that as well. After you have explained the steps you’ve taken, then admit that you have been forced (with no other choice) to ask the lender for help. Do not forget to be detailed, personal, and heartbreaking with your story. Remember that human beings are reading the letter and there is some level of compassion involved with their decision.

You should also remind the lender that working with you on a forbearance agreement, short sale, loan workout, etc. is much better than letting the home go into foreclosure. If your situation is temporary, and you want to keep your home, tell the lender you will be able to afford future payments once you get out of our current situation. Assuming you can get out of your situation within six months, then lender may be more inclined to consider a workout.

Lastly, do not lie on your hardship letter, because everything you said must be backed up with bank statements, credit card bills, and other documentation. The lender will probably look through finances more thoroughly than they did when making the loan. If you lied on your loan and the lender figures it out through this process, you may be turned over for mortgage fraud.

Should you still be confused or need additional guidance on how to write a short sale, then I suggest you read hardship letter templates and examples on sites such as The Online Foreclosure Solution Manual which provides these in its downloadable guide.

Dean Williams is author of   The Foreclosure Solutions Manual, a step-by-step guide that helps distressed homeowners solve their own foreclosure problems without being scammed out of their home or pay individuals thousands of dollars for simple things they can do themselves to stop foreclosure. To learn more about this resource please visit: http://www.foreclosure-help-book.com

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Coming close to a deadline and need to get your powerpoint presentation up to par? Well watch this quick video on how to write a powerpoint presentation. It’s fun and informative.

- HowToWriteSite.com

Writing a memoir can seem like a daunting task at first. However, with a little bit of help you can create an interesting record of your life’s most important events that your friends and family will cherish for years to come. In this article I am going to show you just how to write a memoir that will be appreciated by all who read it.

Step 1 - Decide Who The Memoir Is For

This is one of the most important steps of memoir writing. You need to decide who your target audience for the book is going to be. You could decide to write it for your family and close friends in which case you could use a more informal, intimate writing style. However, if you plan to release your memoir to a general audience then you’ll need to develop a more professional writing style and deliver more action into your writing.

Step 2 - Pick The Best Stories To Tell

When learning how to write a memoir you need to remember that it isn’t necessary to tell every little detail of your life. Instead, pick events from your life that are exciting and focus on them. If you’ve had a major experience that had a profound impact on the way that you live your life then you could focus your entire memoir around that one thing.

Step 3 - Draft

Note down all the experiences from your life that you feel would be relevant in whatever order they come to mind. Elaborate on each one then once you feel all your ideas have been exhausted order the events you have written down chronologically.

Step 4 - Expand Your Memoir

Starting with your first experience, begin to write your memoir. Make sure that you use a writing style that  will hold the audience’s attention. Also, ensure that you don’t falsify any details in the memoir and that you keep the audience in mind whilst writing. Every event needs to have a beginning, middle and end and there needs to be an overall beginning, middle and conclusion for the entire memoir too.

Step 5 - Set A Deadline For Completion

Set a realistic deadline for completion so that you don’t wind up writing a small amount every so often. This is not ideal as it could take months or even years to complete the memoir and your writing style will become disjointed and hard to follow. A good deadline for completion is if you happen to have a special family event or gathering coming up - everyone will really appreciate the work that you put into writing your memoir.

By following these basic steps it’s not too difficult to learn how to write a memoir that will be appreciated by all those who read it. Also, remember that the more you write the easier it will become to craft a fluid writing style that really holds the reader’s attention.

Daniel Phillipson has been writing professionally for over 15 years. He has published dozens of articles and a number of books and has helped a large number of people write their personal memoirs. If you would like more, free advice on memoir writing (including how to get your memoir professionally published and released to the general public) then please visit his website at http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-write-a-memoir

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