TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction

CHAPTER ONE
Signing Documents You Don’t Read or Understand—Or, Run When Your Husband Says, “Just Sign Here, Honey”

•  Don't Sign Legal Documents before You Read and Understand Them
•  Don't Sign Business Documents until Your Lawyer Reviews Them
•  Don't Sign Blank Legal Documents
•  Don't Sign Loan Documents You Don't Want to be Liable For
•  Never (or Almost Never) Deed Your Interest in Your Home to Your Husband

CHAPTER TWO
Failing to Protect Yourself in a Prenuptial Agreement

•  What is a Prenuptial Agreement?
•  Read and Understand the Prenuptial Agreement
•  Get Lawyers for Both Spouses
•  Negotiate the Prenuptial Agreement Well in Advance of the Wedding
•  Take the Emotion out of Negotiating a Prenuptial Agreement

CHAPTER THREE
Failing to Protect Yourself and Your Children in Marriage

•  Keep Your Separate Property Separate
•  Understand Your Husband's Job or Business
•  Be Insured
•  Get Your Own Credit and Protect It
•  Liability for Debts
•  Domestic Violence: It's Not Your Fault, But What Can You Do?

CHAPTER FOUR
Failing to Protect Yourself and Your Children in Divorce

•  Hire Your own Divorce Lawyer/Other Advisors
•  Take Off the Rose-Colored Glasses
•  Know What Your and Your Husband Own
•  So You're Divorcing: How Much Should You Get?
•  What You Can Do to Limit Your Liability to Creditors
•  Alimony and Child Support
•  Forget About Fair: It Costs Too Much
•  Make a Clean Financial Break

CHAPTER FIVE
Starting a Business: Good Intentions Do Not Protect You from Bad Legal ResultS

•  Are You an Entrepreneur
•  How Much Capital Do You Need?
•  Form a Limited Liability Entity

CHAPTER SIX
Running a Business: Good Intentions Do Not Protect You from Bad Legal Results

•  Try to Learn theGovernment Rules That Affect Your Business
        –Pay Those Payroll Taxes
        –Pay Those Sales Taxes
•  Learn the Labor Laws and Follow Them
•  Maintaining a Home Office
•  Be Insured

CHAPTER SEVEN
Unexpected Tax Liabilities and Fights with the IRS

•  File Joing Income Tax Return with Great Care ad Caution
•  Report All—I Mean All—of Your Income and Don't Deduct Personal Expenses
•  File Your Tax Returns on Time Even If You Cannot Pay All the Taxes
•  Carefully Review Your Tax Return for Accuracy Before Filing
•  Beware of Cocktail Party Tax Tip

CHAPTER EIGHT
Failing to Protect Legal Title to Your Property
•  Documents That Transfer Ownership
•  Recording Deeds and Liens Against Property in Public Records
•  Legal Forms of Ownership
        –Owning Property in Fee
        –Common Forms of Co-ownership
        –Cummunity Property
        –Partnership
•  Identify Your Ownership Interest on the Deed
•  Record Your Ownership Interest
•  Record Restrictions on Co-owners' Rights
•  Choose Your Co-owners Carefully

CHAPTER NINE
Failing to Plan for Your Death or Incapacity

•  Maintain Complete, Clear Records of What You Own and Where It Is
•  Prepare a Will or Trust
•  Planning for Distribution of Your Pension Benefits
•  Beware of Estate-Planning Scams
•  Plan for the Needs of Your Business After Your Death
•  Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Related Documents

CHAPTER TEN
Failing to Hire and (When Appropriate) Fire Lawyers

•  Hire a Lawyer and Do It Right
•  Hire a Lawyer Who Fits Your Needs and Works With You
•  If You Hire the Wrong Lawyer, End the Relationship and Move On
•  Read and Negotiate Your Fee Agreement

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Great Women, Common Experiences

FINAL NOTE

Appendix A
Quit Claim Deed
Appendix B
Deed of Trust
Appendix C
Prenuptial Agreement
Appendix D
Articles of Incorporation
Appendix E
Simple Will
Appendix F
Revocable Living Trust
Appendix G
Advance Health Care Directive and Statutory Form Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
Appendix H
Uniform Statutory Form Power of Attorney

ENDNOTES

INDEX