Estate planning helps ensure your wishes are followed and your loved ones are cared for after you're gone or if you're unable to make decisions. It's about deciding who gets your belongings, who looks after your children, who manages your affairs, and how your assets are distributed.

Without your own estate plan, the state's default plan takes over, dictating how your assets are distributed and who cares for your children. Creating your own plan puts you in control.

Every adult needs an estate plan to prevent leaving a complicated or even contentious situation for their family. It ensures your wishes are known and legally respected, regardless of your age, wealth, or family structure.

Absolutely not. Estate planning is crucial for anyone with assets, family, or specific wishes for their legacy, ensuring your possessions go to the intended recipients smoothly and clearly.

Consider estate planning or updating your plan when experiencing major life changes like marriage, divorce, childbirth, moving states, significant financial changes, or every five years as a general rule.

It's about protecting your family's future, building and preserving your legacy, and easing the burden during tough times. Proper planning helps avoid family conflicts and ensures your wishes are carried out.

Our process is straightforward and tailored to fit your life, whether you're establishing a simple will or setting up a trust. We guide you through each step to make it as simple as possible.

Begin by scheduling your Peace of Mind Planning Session. When we have decided to move forward, we'll send an engagement letter and an invoice for you to take care of online, making the process smooth and straightforward.

This session with an attorney lets you explore your options and understand the process, fees, and what to expect, ensuring you're fully informed and comfortable moving forward.

Yes, we offer a complimentary call to answer basic questions before you commit to a full Planning Session, although we save fee discussions for that in-depth meeting.

The session fee is $450, credited towards your estate plan package. Contact us about possible waivers.

Costs vary based on your unique needs. We discuss fees during the Planning Session, ensuring our services provide value beyond our fee with flat-rate pricing.

Typically, the process from start to finish takes 6-8 weeks, depending on your schedule and the complexity of your estate.

We serve a limited number of clients monthly, focusing on those who value trust, transparency, and a lasting advisory relationship for building their legacy.

Probate is a court-supervised process for settling an estate. It can be lengthy and costly, especially in California. Proper estate planning can help avoid it.

A will is a flexible document allowing you to specify asset distribution, appoint executors, and guardians, ensuring your wishes are followed after your death.

A living trust manages your assets if you're incapacitated and distributes them after death, bypassing the probate process and maintaining privacy.

The choice between a will and a trust depends on your specific needs, especially regarding probate. We'll help you decide what's best during the Planning Session.

To officially appoint guardians for your children, you can designate your choices in a Will or a Pour-Over Will that complements your Revocable Living Trust. Neglecting to nominate guardians leaves the decision in the hands of a judge and may lead to family disputes over custody. Our firm not only assists in nominating long-term guardians but also in appointing short-term guardians who can immediately take care of your children while permanent guardians are being confirmed. Furthermore, we offer the option to "confidentially exclude" any individuals you would definitively not want as guardians for your children, ensuring your exact wishes are followed.

While online services offer basic document preparation, they lack personalized legal advice and customization. If you value tailored advice and ongoing support, consider working with an attorney.