Estate Planning

A will directs who receives your assets after death, but it generally must pass through probate court. A revocable living trust holds assets during your lifetime and distributes them after death without probate, offering more privacy and often a faster, less expensive transfer.

Yes. Most estate plans include a pour-over will that catches any assets not properly funded into the trust and directs them into it. It also lets you name guardians for minor children, which a trust cannot do.

A durable power of attorney lets someone you trust manage your financial, legal, or business affairs if you become incapacitated. A healthcare power of attorney, or advance directive, lets an agent make medical decisions on your behalf.

Probate can be time-consuming and public. A properly funded living trust, beneficiary designations, transfer-on-death deeds, and joint ownership can allow assets to pass directly to heirs without court involvement.

California's intestacy laws determine who inherits. The court will appoint an administrator and supervise distribution. This process can take months or years and may not reflect the decedent's actual wishes.

Review every 3–5 years, and immediately after marriage, divorce, a new child, a birth, a major asset change, a move between states, or the death of a beneficiary or fiduciary.

Certain irrevocable trusts can, but they must be carefully drafted and funded well in advance. We evaluate whether asset-protection or Medi-Cal planning makes sense for your situation without sacrificing flexibility you may need.

Funding means retitling assets into the name of the trust. A trust only controls assets that are properly titled to it. An unfunded trust does not avoid probate and may not work as intended.