Do you own a car? Have a bank account? Home? If so, you have an estate you can leave to your loved ones. In California, if you don’t have a will, the state decides who gets your assets. An estate plan can ensure you can assure your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes.
An estate planning lawyer can help you develop a plan so that you can have the final say in the matter. Working with an experienced trust and estates attorney could make the estate planning process significantly easier.
Four Critical Estate Planning Documents
State laws can make estate planning a complex process. The most important components of an estate plan, in most cases, include:
- Will
- Living trust (also known as a revocable trust)
- Advanced health care directive
- General durable power of attorney
An estate plan can be as simple or as complex as you need it to be. A skilled lawyer can help you decide which estate planning tools can best prepare you for the future, based on your situation and unique needs.
An Estate Plan Can Make Your Wishes Known
Who is legally empowered to make healthcare decisions and manage your finances if you have an accident and become incapacitated? Having the right estate plan is crucial. It can make your wishes clear about taking extraordinary measures if you need them and ensures your bills get paid while you are out of commission.
Without an estate plan, your loved ones can dispute the decisions about who will raise your children and have the right to your home and other assets. They may stand at your bedside, fighting over who has the right to make end-of-life decisions for you when you can’t. If they go to court, it can take years and a lot of money to get everything straightened out. Working with a dedicated attorney on an estate plan can help limit these future arguments.
Reach Out to an Estate Planning Attorney
An experienced estate planning lawyer can help you with strategies to minimize probate and the amount of taxes your family must pay. Contact us to schedule an appointment – in person or via video conference. We can discuss your circumstances and create an estate plan tailored specifically to meet your needs.