Estate Planning

You have worked hard to achieve success. Now you want to make sure your assets are protected and your golden years are spent in comfort. You also want your loved ones well taken care of after you are gone. This all can be accomplished with proper Estate Planning. We dedicate ourselves to helping individuals and families from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds do just that.

Together, we will create an estate plan for you that protects your hard-earned assets and your legacy. We can also ensure your children’s inheritance is safe from creditors, predators, and even their own inability to handle an inheritance alone.

Our estate planning team has the answers when it comes to questions like:

How can I make sure those who are dependent on me are also taken care of if I become incapacitated? What can I do to make sure my family doesn’t fight after I die? How can I make the whole process as easy as I can for my loved ones?

Even if you already have an estate plan, chances are our experienced team can make it significantly better. After all, an outdated or inadequate plan is often worse than no plan at all.

It’s important to note that if you don’t have an estate plan, the State of California will create one for you. How? Decisions about your assets, that is, “who gets what,” will be made by the California probate court, based upon California statutes. Not surprisingly, “California’s Plan” will not focus on minimizing taxes or looking out for the best interests of you and your heirs. That’s not the State’s goal. This is our job.

Estate planning addresses other important matters as well. For example, if you become incapacitated, who will make financial and medical decisions on your behalf? If something happens to you and your spouse, who decides how your minor children will be cared and provided for? Again, the State of California has laws governing situations such as these. With an estate plan of your own, you make these decisions. You have control.

We have the experience and mastery of estate planning law to design and implement a solid plan. We help to ensure you have control over legal matters that impact your well-being and that of the people you love.

Contact us today to discuss your particular concerns, goals, and hopes for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning

What is estate planning, and why do I need it? Estate planning is the process of arranging how your assets will be managed and distributed upon your death or if you become incapacitated. Even if you don’t consider yourself wealthy, estate planning ensures your wishes are followed, protects your family from lengthy court proceedings, and can save significant costs. Without an estate plan, California’s intestacy laws will determine how your assets are distributed, which may not align with your wishes.

Do I need an estate plan if I don’t have substantial assets? Yes. Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy. If you own real estate in California (regardless of value), have minor children, or want to avoid probate, an estate plan is beneficial. It also includes important documents like healthcare directives and powers of attorney that protect you during incapacity.

What documents are included in a comprehensive estate plan? A complete California estate plan typically includes a revocable living trust, pour-over will, durable power of attorney for financial matters, advance healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization. Depending on your situation, you may also need irrevocable trusts or other specialized documents.

How often should I update my estate plan? Review your estate plan every 3-5 years or after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of children, death of beneficiaries, significant changes in assets, or relocation to another state. Changes in tax laws may also necessitate updates.

What happens if I move to California from another state? Estate planning documents from other states may not be fully valid in California due to different state laws. It’s advisable to have your documents reviewed and potentially revised by a California estate planning attorney to ensure compliance with state laws and optimal asset protection.

Free Resources

A plethora of estate planning tools, tips, resources, and more are right at your fingertips. Enjoy instant access to our library of blogs, podcasts, videos, e-books, and more, all developed by Kirsten and our Absolute Trust Counsel team. Get started with any one of our resources below, and if you can’t find something you need, please let us know!

Podcasts

Blogs

• Basic Estate Plan Outline
• Bill Paxton’s Death Sheds a New Light on Pre-Surgery Estate Planning Essentials
• Bill Seeks to Impose State Estate Tax
• Do I need to include my music in my estate plan?
• Does Anyone Else Know Where Your Estate Planning Documents Are?
• Determining Mental Capacity in Estate Planning
• Estate Planning Lessons, Celebrity Edition: Nichelle Nichols
• Estate Planning for Your Pets
• Estate Planning Lessons, Celebrity Edition: Aretha Franklin
• Estate Planning Advice From William Shakespeare
• Estate Planning Lessons from George Washington (And Other Presidents)
• Estate Planning Can Help You Pass On Your Values
• Estate Planning For a Second Marriage
• Estate Planning and Divorce
• Estate Planning for a Single Person
• Estate Planning For Young People
• Estate Planning Lessons From the Dead
• Estate Planning Glossary
• Estate Planning Details
• Estate Planning Walnut Creek
• Frequently Asked Estate Planning Questions
• Foreign Beneficiaries Can Pose a Challenge for Estate Plans
• Glossary: Common Estate Planning Terms Explained
• How to Avoid the Most Common Estate Planning Mistakes
• How to Avoid Conflict in Your Estate Plan – Part IV 
• How to Avoid Conflict in Your Estate Plan – Part III
• How to Avoid Conflict in Your Estate Plan – Part II
• How to Avoid Conflict in Your Estate Plan – Part I 
• How Often Should I Update my Estate Plan? 
• IRAs Create Special Estate Planning Concerns
• Loans to Adult Children Must be Addressed in Estate Planning
• Multiple Generations Living Together and Their Estate Planning
• Missing Persons: When is Someone Dead for Estate Planning Purposes?
• New Bills Could Impact Retirement Planning
• New Real Estate Laws May Necessitate Changes to Estate Plan
• Nichelle Nichols Conservatorship Battle Sheds Light on Estate Planning for Incapacity
• Pre-planning for Sudden Death
• Planning Ahead For Key Legal Issues
• Presidential Elections and Estate Planning
• Relocating to Other Western States Could Impact Estate Tax, Value
• The Best Way To Amend Estate Planning Documents
• The Importance of Advanced Planning
• Use Your Estate Plan to Provide for Pet’s Continued Care
• What Does an Estate Organizer Do?
• What Happens To My Estate Plan If I Move To Another State?
• What The SECURE Act Might Mean for You and Your Estate Plan
• What to Do When Guns Are Part of an Estate
• Why Californians Might Have to Pay Hawaiian Estate Taxes
• Why Your Closely-held Business Needs an Estate Plan
• Why You Should Include Sentimental Value in Your Estate Plan