Frequently Asked Questions

Estate planning is the process of organizing your assets and personal wishes to ensure they are carried out if you become incapacitated or pass away. A well-prepared estate plan helps avoid probate, minimizes taxes, protects your loved ones, and gives you control over health and financial decisions. 

A comprehensive estate plan in California usually includes:

• A Revocable Living Trust (optional, but recommended in most situations)
• A Last Will and Testament
• A Durable Power of Attorney for financial matters
• An Advance Health Care Directive
• Trust funding documents (if a trust is created)

It depends on your goals and financial situation. A will alone goes through probate, which can be time-consuming and costly. A revocable living trust can help avoid probate, maintain privacy, and provide more control over how and when assets are distributed. We’ll help you decide what’s best for your situation. 

Review your plan every 3–5 years, or sooner if you experience:

• A major life event (marriage, divorce, birth, death)
• A significant change in assets
• Moving to or from California
• A change in your wishes or beneficiaries

If you die without a plan, California’s intestate succession laws determine how your assets are distributed. The probate court will also appoint guardians for minor children and a representative to manage your estate, which may not reflect your preferences. 

Not always. Probate can often be avoided with proper planning—such as creating a trust or using beneficiary designations. If your estate is valued under a certain threshold, simplified procedures may apply. 

At our firm, we believe in transparency and predictability when it comes to legal fees. Wherever possible, we use flat-fee contracts so you’ll know the total cost before we begin—no hourly surprises.

For most clients, a complete estate planning package includes a living trust, pour-over wills, durable powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. For a married couple, the cost for this complete set of documents typically starts at around $2,500.

Your actual cost will depend on your specific needs and the complexity of your situation. Some clients require additional planning—such as specialized trusts, clients with significant buisness or realeaste intrests or taxible estates—which may affect the final fee.

During your initial consultation, we’ll review your goals, explain your options, and provide a clear, written fee quote before you commit to moving forward.

It’s simple. Contact us to schedule a consultation. I will review your goals, explain your options, and guide you step-by-step through the planning process.