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A legal will is your witnessed statement of how you want your estate or assets and debts to be handled after your death under California probate codes. It is your opportunity to provide gifts to loved ones, family and friends, charities, etc. If you have no will at the time of your death, your estate will go to your next of kin in shares determined by the California probate code. Without a legal will, in many cases, your estate will not go to those you intended to receive it. A simple will usually costs about $200 and can be completed even if you are in the hospital (for under $500).
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A durable power of attorney in California is a document that grants the powers of decision making to anyone you trust in the event you are incapable of handling them yourself under California probate codes. The "attorney in fact", the person given the powers, must follow your wishes and can be punished for taking advantage of you.
California durable power of attorney forms will prevent the need for an expensive and burdensome conservatorship if you become suddenly incapacitated. Durable power of attorney forms in California can be prepared for less than $100, while Conservatorships usually involve legal fees and costs in the thousands of dollars.
A durable power of attorney for health care under California probate codes is a document that grants a trusted person the right to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make them for yourself. The document gives explicit guidance to the person on how to decide when to authorize surgery or when to terminate life support and allow you to die with dignity.
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A durable power of attorney for financial decisions under California probate codes is a document that grants a trusted person the right to make financial decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make them for yourself.
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A living trust is a legal document that is designed to avoid taxes and probate. Living trusts are of benefit mostly to the wealthy under California probate codes. The more you own, the more you save. However, trusts are much more complex legally and difficult to understand than wills. Under California probate codes they require more technically-accurate transfer of assets into the California trust and always will cost more to set up properly than a will under California probate codes. An estate planning attorney should be contacted if a living trust is what you need or want. Living trusts may be worth the trouble and money when your estate is large.
A legal will or California durable power of attorney forms can usually be prepared within two to three days of contacting our law office. Our office usually refers clients to a California estate planner if a living trust is needed.
Legal wills, California durable power of attorney forms, and living trusts should be developed with the assistance of an experienced, competent California wills and trusts attorney with years of experience and the knowledge of the laws and pitfalls of estate planning. A good California wills and trusts lawyer can save you and your heirs hundred, thousands, and in some cases millions of dollars in lost value by properly planning your estate by following the California probate codes.
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Robert E. Kroll provides legal guidance in the State of California for child custody mediation, child custody laws, divorce laws, California child support laws, spousal support laws, legal wills, durable power of attorney forms, California probate codes, DUI and DMV and all aspects of California family codes.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly two decades, including the East Bay, Alameda County, Berkeley, Oakland, Albany,
Alameda, Hayward, Martinez, Richmond, Contra Costa County, Marin County, and other California counties.
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