6 costly estate-planning minefields, and how to avoid them

Yahoo! Finance

A good estate plan can save your heirs some money; it also protects you and your family while you are alive. If you don’t have a plan and you become incapacitated, someone will have to go to court to be named your guardian so that he can make medical and financial decisions for you. The process not only is unpleasant but also could easily cost $10,000 or more, says Martin Shenkman, a New York City attorney and certified public accountant.