Trust and Estate Planning

Estate planning is the process of putting your last wishes into writing. The estate plan will often include a revocable living trust, pour-over will, advance health care directive, and power of attorney for financial affairs. Delay in finalizing your estate plan is not unusual for most people, as it necessarily means you have to face your own mortality. If you own real estate in California, you will want to have a Living Trust to avoid your assets having to go through Probate after your passing.

If you fail to take care of this important task, you risk leaving your survivors in the dark, mystified at the result of the procrastination, like a never-acknowledged child claiming the entire estate of a person everyone believed to be childless.

When our clients are able to leave the office with their trust and related estate planning documents in hand, they usually can breathe a sigh of relief and feel that this important business has been completed.

Some people will attempt to prepare their trust or will themselves, only their wishes are never realized because their “do it yourself” will or trust is not in compliance with California law. Consulting with an attorney is essential to avoid this unintended and sometimes unpleasant outcome.