Orange County CA Probate Attorney

Estate planning is important for just about everyone in California, even if the value of the estate is relatively small, because it gives people assurance that their property will go to the people they want, in the manner they want, and when they want, allowing them and their heirs to save as much as possible on taxes, court costs and attorneys’ fees.   Proper estate planning helps to ensure that your family will have an easier time dealing with the administrative and financial aspects of transferring ownership of your assets to the next generation.

Whereas the traditional estate plan is typically centered around a Last Will and Testament, resulting in a lengthy and expensive court-supervised legal process known as probate, nowadays many savvy clients will create and fund a revocable living trust to pass on wealth to loved ones and charities, thereby avoiding any unnecessary court intervention.  If you own property in California, whether real or personal, exceeding a combined value of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), you need more than just a basic will.  You need an estate plan; moreover, you need an estate planning attorney who is focused on working with you to develop an effective wealth preservation strategy for your family.

All estate plans should include at least the following seven documents: (1) a revocable living trust; (2) a Last Will & Testament that “pours over” to the trust; (3) a financial durable power of attorney; (4) an advance health care directive for medical and end-of-life decisions; (5) a medical information release form; (6) a declaration of homestead; and (7) a quitclaim or grant deed for the family home, transferring legal title to the revocable living trust.   The trust and pour-over will set forth the plan under which the person’s property is to be held, managed and distributed after death.  The fact that the trust is “living” is used to avoid both probate and conservatorship.  The fact that the trust is revocable means that it can be amended or restated at any time and for any reason during one’s life. The financial durable power of attorney allows property to be handled during a person’s lifetime without the need for obtaining a court order.  It gives directions to an agent who is authorized to carry out the principal‘s wishes if severe mental or physical incapacity should occur.  Advance health care directives are documents which allow a person to make or consent to health care decisions on behalf of another when the latter is unable to do so for himself or is otherwise unable to express his or her preferences regarding a course of treatment or end-of-life decision.                               

The role of the estate planning lawyer, particularly in such a diverse and affluent community as Orange County, California, involves much more than simply drafting a will or codicil.  The primary function of the estate planning lawyer is to assist the client in examining his or her financial needs and objectives so as to efficiently and confidentially pass on wealth to heirs as a lasting legacy.  A well-structured estate plan will provide guidance for one’s intended beneficiaries under a variety of circumstances, including those in which the client is no longer able to make his or her own decisions, and should always include clear and explicit instructions concerning the ultimate disposition of both real and personal property, as well as for the succession of any family-owned business enterprise.

The Law Offices of Keith Codron provides a comprehensive range of estate planning  services, from the simple to the complex, utilizing domestic and offshore entities.  Mr. Codron will work with you  to design and implement a plan specifically tailored for you, your family, your business and your favorite charities, taking advantage of every legal tool available and drawing on extensive real-world experience and know-how.   The proper combination of these tools will preserve your final wishes while protecting your property from excessive taxation and government interference.
 
As life-cycle events inevitably occur, such as the marriage or divorce of an adult child, the birth of a grandchild or the death of a spouse, Mr. Codron will work with you and family members to amend and reconfigure your estate plan to fit your changing needs.   A good estate plan is one that is flexible and user-friendly.  A good estate planning lawyer is one who will ensure  your estate plan accurately reflects your changing life.