I Need to Make a Will or Trust
Orange County Living Trust Lawyers Deliver Personalized Plans
Talking about death makes many Americans uncomfortable. We don’t like to think about our own mortality. So, what do we do? We ignore the subject and hope that it will go away.
Of course, it doesn’t go away, though. Nothing is as sure as the fact that we will all die. And some of us will die unexpectedly, in unforeseen ways.
- If you have a heart attack tomorrow, would your family know whether you want to be resuscitated?
- If you got hurt in a serious car accident tomorrow, could your spouse afford to stay in the family’s home?
- If you died tomorrow, could your adult children divide up your property without arguing?
- If you and your spouse died tomorrow, do you know who would raise your young child?
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Our Orange estate planning attorneys approach estate planning from a personal angle
Of course, we understand the technical details in creating wills, trusts, and related documents. In fact, we’ve even prepared some educational resources about wills and trusts. If you would like to receive a FREE copy of our pamphlet, “The Ten Things You Must Know Before Creating (or Amending) Your Will or Trust” or a FREE copy of our DVD, “Understanding the Revocable Living Trust: In Language that Anyone Can Understand in 8 Minutes,” let us know.
Other attorneys understand the technical aspects of estate planning, too. What sets us apart, however, isn’t our legal knowledge. It’s our people skills.
Our law firm would be nothing without our clients. We never forget that. We also recognize that we help people navigate tricky situations and deal with uncomfortable topics. When we help our clients get their affairs in order, we make sure that we:
- Listen to our clients. How else could we create estate plans that reflect our clients’ unique needs and objectives?
- Educate our clients. We empower our clients by giving them the information and resources they need to make meaningful decisions.
- Treat our clients with respect. Most of our clients have worked hard all their lives. They deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their affairs are in order.
We create comprehensive estate plans: wills, trusts, advance medical directives, and more
Some people may scoff at the idea of an “estate plan.” They may believe their assets do not warrant an estate plan.
In reality, there’s no monetary threshold for creating a living trust or drafting a will. People create living trusts and wills to protect their families and their assets, without regard to the size of their bank accounts. Creating a living trust and a will is the best way to protect your loved ones and to ensure that your wishes will be carried out if you become incapacitated or die unexpectedly.
We create comprehensive plans that address all of a client’s requirements. Our estate plans are personally tailored to each client’s needs and take into consideration tax implications, family relationships, governmental involvement, health care concerns, and more.
Please contact our Orange estate planning attorneys for your estate planning needs
If you would like our Orange, California estate planning attorneys to discuss the estate planning process with you, contact us. You may reach us by calling (714) 282-7488 or by filling out an online contact form.
We draft wills and living trusts for people residing in Anaheim, Orange, City of Villa Park, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Placentia, Santa Ana, Irvine, Garden Grove, and La Habra.
Helpful Articles about Creating a Will or Trust
It’s All About the Benjamins: What to do With Bank Accounts During a Trust Administration
One of your first orders of business should be to take control of the Bank Accounts During a Trust Administration. contact our office for help.
I know my wife and I need to write wills. She wants to hire an attorney, but I’m more of a do-it-yourself kind of guy. Can’t we just write wills ourselves?
Well, you could…but you would do so at a great risk!
With do-it-yourself forms available online and in retail stores, it’s tempting to try to knock out your own estate plan. But, this is a situation where you get what you pay for. While you can’t hire an attorney to draft an estate plan for $19.95, you may decide the added value is worth the added expense.
When you hire a wills and trusts attorney, an experienced professional will review the entirety of your situation. An attorney doesn’t just guide you through a series of yes/no questions. Instead, an attorney knows which detailed questions to ask you and what to do with your answers! The attorney will approach the situation from a broader, more comprehensive “estate plan” perspective, rather than focusing on the narrow task of drafting a will. That way, the attorney can help you create and fund a living trust as well as draft advance medical directives and other necessary documents. Fill-in-the-blank forms simply cannot compete.
Attorneys also know how to get the details right. Drafting a will is a complicated process. There are many I’s to dot and T’s to cross. When you use a do-it-yourself program, you may encounter systematic errors, such as when the program fails to account for changes to the laws. You may also make mistakes yourself, such as filling in a blank incorrectly (or worse, not filling it in at all). Finally, a do-it-yourself program may not adequately explain the formalities you must observe, such as signing the will in front of witnesses.
Please contact our Orange estate planning attorneys for help with drafting your will
If you would like our estate planning attorneys in Orange County to help you draft a will or create an estate plan, contact us. You may call us at (714) 282-7488 or fill out an online contact form.
How do I modify the health care and power of attorney documents that are part of my estate plan?
Updating your estate plan is an important key to the plan’s overall success. Typically, new advanced directives and powers of attorney are signed.
How to Create an Estate Plan That Keeps Your Car Out of Probate
A car is a common asset that is part of an estate. Effective planning can ensure that this asset transfers upon your death—without the need for probate.
I am considering a family meeting, but I am concerned about the potential disclosure of assets to my loved ones. Should I use a family meeting as part of my California estate plan?
Related Links
Implementing an Estate Plan: Family Meeting When a Loved One Struggles
Anaheim Estate Attorney: Having “The Talk” with Your Aging Parents
A family meeting is a valuable estate planning tool that can be used to reduce the likelihood of conflict or complications during the estate administration process. Concerns over privacy and the disclosure of assets are common, however, when clients consider using this type of meeting as they create an estate plan in California. Fortunately, these concerns are easily addressed. Consider the following:
Assets frequently change consistently over the course of a lifetime, and no one can predict when the family member will pass away.
The value of the assets may be significantly different by the time the creator of the estate plan passes away.
The attorney can characterize the estate plan during the family meeting as a “contingency plan,” stressing that the main goal for the client is to use and enjoy his assets during his lifetime. Gifts to loved ones are a contingency plan in the event the client does not spend down the majority of his wealth during his lifetime.
The attorney can tailor the family meeting to avoid a specific disclosure of amounts or types of assets. The meeting can still serve many other valuable purposes, including the introduction of the beneficiaries to the fiduciaries and the professional advisors.
The client not obligated to disclose any information to beneficiaries that he does not feel comfortable revealing.
To learn more about whether the family meeting is right for your overall estate plan, contact the knowledgeable Orange County trust attorneys at the Law Office of James F. Roberts & Associates, APC. Call our office today at (714) 282-7488 for a consultation.
How to Give the Gifts You Want to Your Nieces and Nephews
Do you want your nieces and nephews to inherit your assets if you die? Find out why it is important to take action and why to talk to a lawyer today.
Want to Provide Property Directly to Your Grandchildren?
Do you want your estate plan to bypass your children and provide directly for your grandchildren? Find out how to make that happen here.
Don’t Rely on Others to Provide for Your Stepchildren
Find out how to protect your stepchildren when you die, and why the moves that you make now can have a significant impact on their futures.
How Should You Move Personal Property into a Living Trust?
Wondering how to move your tangible personal property into your Orange County living trust? Read here to learn how!
Need an Estate Tax ID Number? You Have Several Options.
After your loved one passes, the estate must have its own tax ID number. Obtaining a tax ID number is a relatively straightforward process.