Creating an Estate Plan is easier than you think. Every person regardless of their estate size can benefit from planning.

Planning for the future and ensuring that your wishes are carried out after your passing doesn’t have to keep you up at night. Our office, with its over 20 years of legal experience and planning for estates large and small, will be here to assist you every step of the way. Our personal touch and customized planning will guide you to find the best available options for your family’s personal and financial needs, in the most tax-efficient manner.

We work with individuals, families, and business owners in helping them leave a meaningful and lasting legacy. In general, an Estate Plan can be implemented by either the use of a Will or Trust. In deciding which instrument is most useful to you, please keep the following in mind

WILLS

Drafting a valid will is simple, cost-effective, and has only a few requirements. However, most Wills need to be probated. Probate entails a timely and costly Court supervised proceeding to oversee a person’s estate after death. With a Probate proceeding, the contents of the will won’t be kept private. Typical probate takes a year or longer, depending on the backlog of the Court. Additionally, the fees and costs associated with a probate hearing are according to a strict statutory sliding scale in California ranging from $4,000 to more than $188,000 depending on the size of the Estate. Probate fees and costs can be avoided with the proper trust instrument.

TRUST

Setting up a Trust requires additional paperwork and accounting. However, unlike with the use of a Will, a Trust provides more privacy for one’s financial affairs at the time of death and avoids or likely avoids probate and its related costs and expenses. Other primary benefits of using a Trust include the following:

• Provides confidentiality and privacy to your beneficiaries;
• Designates who will make decisions for you in the event of your incapacity;
• Ensures proper care of minor or disabled family members by the designation of a guardian for your minor children and financial planning for disabled loved ones;
• Provides for financial security during your incapacity;
• Avoids probate in multiple states if the property is owned outside of California;
• Encourages responsible behavior by future generations when they receive an inheritance; and
• Minimizes estate taxes and provides tax planning advantages for married couples
• We look forward to serving your estate planning needs. Please call us for a free confidential consultation.

For a free initial personalized consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact our offices today!