Estate planning is the process of organizing your assets, healthcare preferences, and guardianship decisions to ensure your wishes are honored if you become incapacitated or pass away. It helps avoid probate, reduce taxes, and protect your loved ones.

If you pass away without a will or trust, your estate goes through probate, and California’s laws decide who inherits your assets. This can lead to delays, legal fees, and outcomes that may not reflect your wishes.

A will goes through probate. A trust avoids it and offers more control over how assets are distributed.

It might be a tempting thought, especially with all the marketing spiels pushing AI DIY services.
But this is kind of like asking a surgeon why you shouldn't DIY a life altering procedure.

AI does not and likely will not ever be held legally liable for mistakes it makes.

Even with the standardized plans we provide above, there is a lot of nuances that goes into estate planning, specific types of trusts, specific clauses in trusts, and specific wording in those clauses.

Lawyers spend their life understanding not just the body of laws but the legal implications of specific words that most people would not think twice about. Even one word used incorrectly in a legal document can potentially undermine your goals, even while others are subjective.

Is it worth the risk?
Or would you rather have the peace of mind, efficiency and human support that comes from knowing your attorney is taking on risk for you?

Yes. Planning ahead lets you name guardians for your children, set up financial provisions, and ensure their care aligns with your values if something happens to you.

Absolutely. Real estate is one of the most important assets to include. We help you transfer title and ensure your holdings are protected and properly distributed.

It depends on your goals and unique circumstances. Our Professional Legacy Plan is designed for professionals like you. It includes a living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, health directives, and property transfers to protect your assets and legacy. Other plans may apply if you have unique family or investment circumstances.

Our flat-fee plans start at $2,500 and vary based on complexity. We offer transparent pricing and optional add-ons like additional property transfers, charitable giving setups, and annual reviews.

A basic plan typically includes:

Revocable Living Trust

Pour-over Will

Durable Power of Attorney

Advance Health Care Directive

Guardianship Designations (if applicable)

Yes—through an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT). This specialized trust owns your life insurance policy, keeping the death benefit outside your taxable estate. It’s a powerful tool for high-net-worth families who want to preserve wealth and avoid probate delays.

An ILIT (Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust) is designed to hold life insurance policies and distribute proceeds to your heirs tax-free. It’s ideal for clients with large estates, business owners, or anyone seeking to shield life insurance from estate taxes and creditors.

Yes. All client information is protected and stored securely. We use encrypted systems designed for lawfirms and follow strict privacy protocols.

It's good practice to review your plan annually or after major life events such as:

Marriage or separation

Birth or adoption

Death of a beneficiary or trustee

Property purchase or sale

Business changes

Significant financial changes

Planning ahead can preserve wealth across generations by using tools like long-term trusts, which allow assets to grow while providing ongoing support to beneficiaries without exposing the principal to risk or mismanagement.

Yes. A properly structured trust with protective clauses can shield assets from creditors, lawsuits, and even the beneficiary’s own financial missteps. If a beneficiary faces medical debt, fraud, or targeting, the trust can continue to support them indirectly through HEMS (Health, Education, Maintenance, Support) distributions without direct payouts.

A spendthrift trust restricts a beneficiary’s access to the trust principal and prevents outside claims. It’s ideal for:

Beneficiaries with behavioral challenges

Those prone to overspending

Individuals with special needs or legal vulnerabilities

Absolutely. A tailored trust ensures that your child receives financial support without affecting eligibility for public benefits. It can be customized to cover medical care, education, housing, and more.

While a lawfirm can't provide investment advice, our plans are designed to work in harmony with your financial strategy. At times, clauses in the trust need to be specially tailored to ensure the trust permits or restricts particular activities related to your investment plans.

Trusts can:

*Preserve principal while distributing dividends

*Allow borrowing, including against future distributions

*Reinvest early distributions to grow long-term value

This approach helps beneficiaries navigate life changes like job loss or retirement while maintaining financial stability or safety nets.

If structured correctly, the trust can continue to support the beneficiary through indirect distributions. If outside threats arise, the trust may redirect that beneficiary’s interest to others or defer distributions until the risk subsides—protecting the assets and preserving family wealth.

A long-term trust is designed to last for multiple generations. It protects assets from estate taxes, transfer taxes, and outside claims. These trusts are often used by high-net-worth households but can benefit any family seeking lasting legacy planning and the ability to pass down lessons, principles and values along with wealth.

Yes. Trusts allow you to set detailed rules for distributions, such as:

*Age milestones (e.g., 30, 40, 50)

*Educational achievements

*Financial readiness or sobriety

*Trustee discretion based on life circumstances

This ensures your legacy is used wisely and aligns with your values.

Education is key. Some possibilities include:

*Including a legacy letter or values-based message

*Hosting a family meeting with the attorney and trustee

*Offering financial literacy resources

This helps beneficiaries appreciate the trust’s purpose and avoid common pitfalls.

Yes. A properly structured trust can shield your assets from seizure or targeting while allowing indirect benefit. This is especially relevant for public figures or those concerned about legal or political overreach.

Even harmonious families can face disputes after a death. A clear estate plan ensures your wishes are honored and minimizes legal battles.

No. Joint ownership may bypass probate but doesn’t protect children from prior marriages if the surviving spouse inherits everything.

A QTIP (Marital Trust) or bypass trust can be used to provide for your spouse while preserving assets for your children.

A spouse or child can serve as trustee if family dynamics are conducive to this. If there’s tension, consider a neutral third-party or corporate trustee to avoid interpersonal conflict

Outdated designations (e.g., ex-spouse on a 401(k)) override your will and can lead to unintended inheritances.

Yes, but it would be a very good idea to explain your reasoning in a letter of intent or family meeting to reduce resentment.

A properly structured trust can protect assets from divorce settlements.

Options include granting lifetime occupancy to your spouse, selling and dividing proceeds, or placing the home in trust.

Likely, yes. Remarriage can revoke parts of your old will and create new legal obligations. It is a good idea to speak with an estate attorney before remarriage to identify any updates needed for your estate plan.

You're not alone. Trust structures and professional trustees can help enforce your wishes without relying on family consensus.

You can start by scheduling a free consultation, calling our office, or chatting with our intake assistant. We’ll guide you through every step—from intake to signing.