“When you go see the lawyer, that’s when you’re gonna die!”

I hear that a lot.

I’m a probate lawyer. I do wills, plan for death and disability and clean up what’s left when people die. If my job has taught me anything over the past forty years, it’s that life’s a sucker bet: Something’s trying to kill you, every stinking minute of every single day.

The majority of Americans don’t do any planning: 1,300,000 Americans, with enough money to care, die each year without wills.

It doesn't have to be that way...
 

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From the Book

Explore excerpts from select chapters.

AVAILABLE NOW

You're Gonna Die

An examination of shocking statistics

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NOT YET AVAILABLE

Nobody Likes a Killer:

The arcane world of inheritance-fueled mayhem and murder

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AVAILABLE NOW

Losing It

You’re Gonna Die, But First, You’re Gonna Forget Your Car Keys

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About The Author

David Baker is an attorney, licensed in New York and Illinois. He's worked at the same large law firm for forty-one years, where he started and now heads the country’s largest practice group that focuses on contested estate, trust and guardianship cases.  He also started and then ran the firm’s Pro Bono program for many years and has been writing and speaking for decades on the topics related to his practice.

Meet David Baker

Readers Say

 

Death is No Excuse is a triumph!

“The book is full of brilliantly-constructed and lucid advice for all of us who must inevitably confront end of life issues. But far more importantly and perhaps surprisingly, this remarkable work is full of wonderfully written and extremely entertaining human stories. It’s an incredibly fun page turner!

“This book is not just a prescription for dying well, it’s a recipe for living fully!"

 

– MICHAEL KAUFMAN
DEAN OF THE SANTA CLARA UNIVERISTY SCHOOL OF LAW – 
“This book is a must read for anyone who might have assets for their family and friends to inherit.

That is just about everybody.  Death Is No Excuse likely will turn out to be one of the most important books you ever read. It is  simultaneously motivating and hilariously funny.”

-JUDGE MICHELE LOWRANCE (RET),
AUTHOR OF THE GOOD KARAMA DIVORCE