Estate Planning
Using an Estate Plan to Protect Your Wealth and Loved Ones
A Solid Estate Plan
Many adults spend most of their lives saving money and investing in things to protect their family. We do whatever we can to make sure our children are taken care of, but it is also important to think about what will happen to your loved ones when you aren’t around.
A well-drafted estate plan can make sure the needs of each loved one are addressed, and it can help ensure your wishes are followed. At the Law Offices of James F. DeMartini, we work with individuals throughout California to protect their finances and loved ones. Our estate planning attorneys work with clients to create an estate plan that embodies the legal tools necessary to protect their needs:
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Wills
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Trusts
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Powers of Attorney
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Transfer property
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Medical Powers of Attorney (previously called living wills)
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Special Needs Trusts
As local attorneys, we are available to provide our trust clients with easily accessible, on-going support and guidance in the management of their trusts, during their lifetimes. After death, we help the family in the administration of the trust to provide a seamless transfer of assets to the beneficiaries.
Using Estate Planning to Avoid Probate
One of the most common questions we receive from people is regarding what they can do to avoid probate. Although many people do not understand exactly what happens during probate, they know enough to know they want to avoid it.
Probate is expensive and public. Although the estate planning tools we use are not free, they are a far more cost-effective option than working through probate. In an effort to keep our client’s estates out of the courtroom, we tailor revocable living trusts based on each person’s specific needs and concerns. This can serve as an alternative to the expensive probate process. With our experience in trust and estate litigation, we can anticipate the issues that may lead to litigation and draft estate plans to prevent them.
