Update An Estate Plan
Anaheim Wills and Living Trust Lawyers Update Estate Plans
Creating an estate plan is no easy task. It involves confronting your own mortality, gathering information about your assets, thinking through end-of-life issues, and making important decisions. So it’s only natural that when people complete the process, they breathe a sigh of relief and get back to living their lives.
But life is constantly changing. Your current financial and family circumstances are likely to be different from when you first wrote your will or estate plan. And, as circumstances change, estate plans must be revisited and updated.
Our Orange County estate planning attorneys revise and update clients’ estate plans
Our Anaheim wills and trusts lawyers meet with former clients and new clients to update their estate plans. By modifying our clients’ plans to accommodate changes in their lives, we help ensure that our clients’ current goals and objectives will be carried out.
If you want to learn more about drafting wills and living trusts, let us know. We will send you a complimentary pamphlet and DVD about the estate planning process. To receive a complimentary copy of our pamphlet, “The Ten Things You Must Know Before Creating (or Amending) Your Will or Trust” or a complimentary copy of our DVD, “Understanding the Revocable Living Trust: In Language that Anyone Can Understand in 8 Minutes,” let us know where to send them.
Have your personal circumstances changed since you last looked at your estate plan?
Since you last updated your estate plan, have you:
- Gotten married?
- Gotten divorced?
- Become a parent?
- Changed your mind about who you wish to inherit your assets?
- Substantially increased your assets?
- Sold off or given away a substantial portion of your assets?
- Moved to another state?
- Started a business?
- Experienced the death of your planned executor, beneficiary, or guardian?
- Changed your mind about medical interventions?
- Found a charity that you endorse?
- Allowed more than three years to pass?
- Experienced other life-changing events?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, you should have your will and living trust documents reviewed by an estate attorney.
You will leave our office with a comprehensive estate plan and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your affairs are in order.
We are thorough attorneys. We listen to our clients so that we understand their needs, desires, and goals. Getting to know our clients and their personal circumstances enables us to create personalized documents that will effectuate our clients’ goals. Having a well-planned, comprehensive estate plan in place gives our clients feelings of peace and satisfaction.
We also let our clients know what life events may necessitate a change to their estate plans, and we ask that they contact us if those life events occur. We view our relationships with our clients as ongoing relationships.
Please contact our Orange County estate planning attorneys for your estate planning needs
If you would like our California estate planning attorneys to review your current estate plan documents, contact us. You may reach us by calling (714) 282-7488 or by filling out an online contact form.
James F. Roberts & Associates, APC, drafts wills and living trusts for people who live in Anaheim, Orange, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Placentia, Santa Ana, Irvine, Garden Grove, La Habra, and surrounding areas.
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If I’m getting married and creating an estate plan, is a prenuptial agreement all I need to protect my interests?
When getting married and creating an estate plan, you may want to ensure that your personal interests are protected. A prenuptial agreement is just one option.
How often should I update assets in a trust?
Orange County Estate Planning Attorney Shauna Anderson Discusses things to consider when creating and modifying your estate plan.
Is there a limit to the number of times that I can amend a estate plan?
Thinking about amend a estate plan? Have you done it before? Are you worried that you might want to do it again? Read this FAQ before you do anything.
How do I obtain a tax ID number for a trust during an Anaheim trust administration?
Once you have accepted your appointment as successor trustee of a trust in Orange County, you must begin the process of administration. One task that you may be faced with is to obtain a tax ID number, or Employer Identification Number, specifically for the trust. While the creator of the trust was alive, he or she may have used a social security number instead. Once the grantor or settlor passes away, it usually becomes necessary to obtain an official tax ID number for the trust. A tax ID number is needed for several purposes, including filing taxes and opening up bank accounts. Fortunately, an experienced Anaheim trust lawyer can assist you with this process.
Generally, the process for obtaining a tax ID number includes the following steps:
Obtain a form SS-4. This can be done either from the IRS website or from visiting a local IRS office.
Obtain the social security number for the grantor of the trust.
Complete the form by filling out the boxes, indicating that the entity is a trust in the process.
In the alternative, complete the form online by following the EIN assistant. Answer each of the questions as they are presented in order to complete the application process.
If applying online, be sure that you complete the process within 15 minutes from start to finish, or you will have to start over.
Mail or fax the form to the IRS if you completed the form manually.
If you completed the form online, save and print your ID number and confirmation notice.
For assistance carrying out the administration of a trust in Orange County, including the obtaining of a tax ID for the trust, contact our office of experienced Anaheim trust attorneys today. Call us at (714) 282-7488 for a consultation.
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