At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman in Janesville, we help residents plan for the future with clear, practical estate planning documents. Our practice focuses on creating tailored plans including revocable living trusts, last wills and testaments, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and related documents that reflect your goals and family circumstances. We prioritize straightforward communication and careful preparation so you and your loved ones understand how assets will be managed and transferred. If you want to protect family wealth and ensure decisions are made according to your wishes, we can guide you through each step with thoughtful, local service.
Estate planning is more than paperwork; it is a process that organizes your affairs and reduces uncertainty for the people you care about. Our approach covers critical documents such as pour-over wills, trust certifications, general assignments of assets to trusts, and nominations for guardianship. We also assist with advanced arrangements like irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, special needs trusts, and pet trusts to address specific family concerns. Through careful review and practical recommendations, we help clients in Janesville craft plans that address property distribution, incapacity planning, and legacy goals while keeping administration as simple as possible for heirs.
Effective estate planning provides clarity and continuity by designating how assets, responsibilities, and healthcare decisions will be handled if you become incapacitated or pass away. For families in Janesville, careful planning can avoid unnecessary probate, reduce administrative delays, and minimize potential disputes among survivors. Trusts and related instruments can maintain privacy, protect beneficiaries, and allow for more flexible distribution schedules. Advance health care directives and financial powers of attorney ensure trusted individuals can make decisions when you cannot, which can reduce stress and preserve family relationships during difficult times. Thoughtful planning also helps preserve retirement benefits and safeguard vulnerable family members.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients throughout Janesville and surrounding Lassen County with a focus on practical estate planning solutions. Our team brings years of practical experience handling trust formation, will drafting, and incapacity planning. We work directly with clients to understand family dynamics, asset structures, and long-term goals so that each plan is responsive and manageable. Whether you are updating documents after life changes or creating a first-time plan, we provide attentive guidance, thorough document preparation, and help with follow-up tasks like funding trusts and coordinating beneficiary designations to ensure your plan functions as intended.
Estate planning combines legal documents and decision-making processes designed to manage your assets and health-care wishes during life and after death. Core elements include revocable living trusts that can avoid probate, wills that name guardians and direct remaining assets, and powers of attorney that allow trusted individuals to manage finances. Additional documents such as advance health care directives outline medical preferences and appoint health care agents. The planning process often requires reviewing beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, life insurance, and real property to ensure they work together with trust instruments to achieve your objectives consistently and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens for survivors.
A complete estate plan considers both legal mechanics and family circumstances, addressing incapacity, asset transfers, and the needs of beneficiaries. Trusts provide flexible administration and privacy while pour-over wills capture assets not funded into a trust during life. For clients with dependents who require ongoing care, options like special needs trusts protect eligibility for public benefits while providing supplemental support. Irrevocable arrangements and life insurance trusts can serve tax and asset protection goals when appropriate. An effective plan is organized, regularly reviewed, and coordinated with financial and tax documents so that transitions are predictable and aligned with your intentions.
Estate planning refers to the legal steps taken to manage and distribute your assets, appoint decision-makers for health and finances, and minimize friction for your family in the event of incapacity or death. It involves drafting documents such as revocable living trusts, last wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, as well as addressing beneficiary designations and trust funding. Practical planning anticipates changes in family status, property ownership, and laws, so documents are drafted to be durable and flexible. The goal is to create a coherent set of instructions that make transitions smoother and reflect your specific values and wishes.
Key elements of an estate plan include selecting fiduciaries, documenting medical and financial authority, and structuring property transfers to minimize probate. Typical processes begin with an inventory of assets and family needs, followed by drafting instruments like trusts and wills, executing documents according to legal formalities, and then funding trusts and updating account beneficiaries. Additional steps include preparing supporting documents such as certifications of trust and general assignments of assets to trust. Periodic reviews are necessary after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, or relocation, so the plan remains aligned with current circumstances and intentions.
Understanding common terms makes it easier to participate in planning and to make informed choices. Familiarity with concepts such as revocable trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, and beneficiary designations helps you see how documents interact. Knowing what a certification of trust does, how a general assignment transfers assets into a trust, and why guardianship nominations matter can reduce surprises during administration. This section explains terminology in plain language to support decision making and to highlight how each component contributes to a coherent plan tailored to family needs and asset structure.
A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that holds assets during your lifetime and provides directions for distribution after death without the delays of probate. You typically serve as trustee while living, maintaining control over trust property and making changes as circumstances evolve. The trust identifies successor trustees who will manage and distribute assets according to your instructions after incapacity or death. Funding the trust by retitling assets into its name ensures that those assets are administered under the terms provided, which often simplifies transfers to beneficiaries and helps maintain privacy for family matters.
An advance health care directive records your medical preferences and designates an agent to make health decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. It typically covers choices about treatment preferences, life-sustaining measures, and comfort care, while allowing you to name someone you trust to speak with clinicians and advocate for your wishes. Having this directive in place reduces stress for family members during medical emergencies and helps ensure care aligns with your values. The document should be accessible to medical providers and loved ones and reviewed if your health or priorities change.
A last will and testament is a formal document that designates how remaining assets not held in a trust will be distributed and names guardians for minor children. Wills are processed through probate, which is a public court procedure for validating the will and overseeing asset transfers. While a will cannot always avoid probate, it remains important for addressing any assets outside a trust, ensuring guardianship nominations are legally recorded, and providing explicit instructions for estate settlement. Wills should be coordinated with trust documents and beneficiary designations to create a consistent plan.
A financial power of attorney allows a person you name to manage your financial affairs if you are temporarily or permanently unable to do so. This authority can include paying bills, managing investments, handling real estate transactions, and accessing accounts to meet expenses. Durable powers of attorney remain effective if you become incapacitated, and they should be granted to someone you trust who understands your financial priorities. Clear instructions and oversight can prevent misuse and ensure your agent acts in a way that aligns with your wishes and protects family resources.
When considering estate planning options, clients often weigh a limited document approach—such as only a will or single power of attorney—against a comprehensive plan that includes trusts and multiple coordinating documents. Limited approaches can be faster and less expensive initially but may leave assets subject to probate or increase burdens on family members. Comprehensive plans typically require more upfront work but can reduce probate, provide smoother administration, and allow for more precise distribution terms. The right choice depends on family goals, asset complexity, and the importance of avoiding court involvement after a death or incapacity.
A limited document approach may be suitable for individuals with modest assets, uncomplicated family situations, and no need to avoid probate for privacy or cost reasons. If most property passes through beneficiary designations or community property rules, and there are no dependent children or complex trusts required, a will combined with basic powers of attorney and an advance directive may provide adequate protection. In these situations, clients often prioritize simplicity and lower upfront expense while accepting that assets not covered by beneficiary designations could still be administered through probate.
Individuals who have taken care to name beneficiaries on retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts and who have no specific distribution conditions might find a limited plan adequate. When trusts are unnecessary to manage care for dependents or to address tax or creditor protection concerns, relying on straightforward documents can be efficient. That said, even in these cases it is important to ensure beneficiary designations are up to date and to consider whether guardianship nominations or a financial power of attorney should be included to manage unforeseen incapacity.
Comprehensive estate plans that include revocable living trusts help avoid probate for assets placed into the trust, which can save time and maintain family privacy by keeping asset transfers out of public probate proceedings. This approach is beneficial for families seeking a smoother transition, those with real property in the estate, and individuals who prefer to limit court involvement. Trust-based plans also enable more controlled distribution schedules, which can be important if beneficiaries require protection or if assets should be managed over time rather than distributed in a lump sum.
Comprehensive planning is often necessary for families with blended relationships, beneficiaries with disabilities, business interests, or significant retirement assets that require coordination. Instruments such as special needs trusts or irrevocable life insurance trusts can address unique needs while preserving benefits eligibility or managing tax considerations. A holistic plan also addresses contingencies like incapacity with durable powers of attorney and advance directives, and includes provisions for successor management. The result is a cohesive strategy that aligns estate administration with the client’s long-term family and financial objectives.
A comprehensive estate plan creates continuity by specifying who will manage financial and health decisions and how assets will be transferred, which reduces uncertainty for family members during emotional times. Trusts can streamline administration and limit court oversight, while carefully drafted directives allow chosen agents to act on your behalf during incapacity. Comprehensive plans also give you the ability to tailor distributions to address education, care for dependents, and legacy intentions, ensuring that assets are used as you intended. Regular reviews keep the plan current with life changes and evolving laws.
Beyond avoiding probate, a full plan can improve tax efficiency, protect assets from protracted disputes, and provide continuity for businesses or complex investments. Coordinating beneficiary designations with trust documents prevents unintended outcomes and ensures retirement accounts and insurance proceeds work with the overall plan. A comprehensive approach also allows for contingencies such as alternate fiduciaries and clear instructions for guardianship nominations. By documenting these choices clearly, families face less administrative burden and have more confidence that transitions will reflect the decedent’s intentions and family values.
One primary benefit of a comprehensive plan is minimizing the role of probate court in settling an estate. Trusts and coordinated beneficiary designations can transfer assets directly to intended recipients without lengthy court processes, which saves time and reduces administrative costs. This helps families avoid the public nature of probate and relieves beneficiaries from burdensome procedures. When fiduciaries and successor trustees are named and instructions are clear, estate settlement proceeds more smoothly and predictably, allowing loved ones to focus on recovery and continuity rather than legal formalities.
Comprehensive planning addresses incapacity through durable financial powers of attorney and advance health care directives that designate trusted decision-makers and outline treatment preferences. These documents reduce confusion during medical emergencies and allow appointed agents to handle finances and make healthcare decisions consistent with your values. Planning in advance also enables orderly management of property and timely access to funds for caregiving needs. By documenting preferences and appointing agents, families can avoid conservatorship proceedings and ensure a chosen person can act immediately when necessary.
Begin planning by compiling a thorough list of assets, including real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, business interests, and personal property. Note account numbers, ownership details, and current beneficiary designations so documents can be drafted to match the actual ownership picture. Accurate records make it easier to decide which assets should be placed in a trust and which can remain with beneficiary designations. An organized inventory also speeds administration and reduces the likelihood of overlooked items that could complicate distribution or require court involvement.
Drafting a trust is only effective if assets are properly transferred into that trust; this process is called funding. After documents are executed, retitle accounts and update deeds as needed to ensure assets fall within the trust’s scope. Also confirm that powers of attorney and advance directives are readily accessible to agents and healthcare providers. Coordinate these tasks early to reduce delays and to make certain that the legal instruments will operate as intended when they are needed. Periodic follow-up helps maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the overall plan.
Estate planning protects your wishes, supports family continuity, and helps avoid avoidable costs and delays after death or incapacity. People consider planning to name guardians for minors, to ensure that assets are distributed according to their values, and to designate agents to manage finances and healthcare decisions. Families with dependent members or blended relationships often find that clear, written instructions reduce conflict and provide stability. Additionally, planning allows you to consider philanthropic goals, protect assets for future generations, or address concerns about long-term care and retirement benefits in a way that aligns with your priorities.
Another reason to pursue formal planning is to maintain privacy and reduce court involvement. Trusts can transfer assets without public probate proceedings, which helps preserve family confidentiality and expedites distribution. For business owners and those with real property, planning ensures continuity and avoids administrative disruptions. Finally, addressing incapacity in advance through powers of attorney and advance health care directives prevents emergency decision-making without your input. Thoughtful planning gives clients in Janesville peace of mind and clearer pathways for family members during emotional and practical transitions.
Life events often prompt estate planning, including marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of children, death of a family member, retirement, changes in health, and business transactions. Property purchases, inheritance, and relocation between states may also require updates to documents. These circumstances highlight the need to review beneficiary designations, update guardianship nominations, and consider trusts or other arrangements to protect loved ones. Planning in response to life changes ensures that legal documents remain current and that decisions reflect contemporary family relationships and financial realities.
The arrival of a new child or grandchild is a pivotal moment to update estate plans, including naming guardians, revising beneficiaries, and allocating assets to provide for future needs. Parents and grandparents may wish to establish trusts to fund education, protect inheritance, or provide long-term support while ensuring that guardianship nominations are legally documented. Planning now helps secure a stable financial path for younger family members and avoids uncertainty if an unexpected event occurs. Addressing these matters early reduces the likelihood of disputes and clarifies who will act on behalf of minors if necessary.
Marriage or divorce typically requires updating estate planning documents to reflect new relationships and distribution choices. After marriage, spouses often update beneficiary forms, consider joint property arrangements, and designate each other for powers of attorney. Following a divorce, it is important to revise wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations to prevent unintended transfers to a former spouse. These updates ensure that legal documents align with current family dynamics and that appointed decision-makers reflect present trust and responsibilities.
A diagnosis of a serious health condition, onset of cognitive decline, or a major financial change such as inheriting property or selling a business calls for immediate review of estate planning documents. These events may require ensuring that powers of attorney and health care directives are in place, updating trusts to address new assets, and revising distribution plans to provide for care needs. Proactive planning in these situations reduces the likelihood of court intervention and gives family members clear instructions for managing care and financial responsibilities on your behalf.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides practical estate planning services to individuals and families in Janesville and surrounding communities. We assist with revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, trust funding, and document updates. Our work includes preparing certifications of trust, general assignments of assets to trust, petitions for trust modification when circumstances change, and specific trusts such as special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, and pet trusts. We strive to offer clear guidance and reliable follow-through to ensure your plan functions as intended.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for personalized attention and a practical approach to drafting and maintaining estate plans. We focus on listening to your goals and translating them into documents that are legally sound and easy to administer. Whether you are creating an initial plan or revising existing documents, we provide clear explanations of options such as trusts, pour-over wills, and powers of attorney so you can make informed choices. Our goal is to reduce uncertainty and create a plan that addresses both immediate needs and long-term intentions for your family.
Our office assists with the full spectrum of planning tasks, from initial asset inventories and document drafting to trust funding and coordination with financial institutions. We help prepare supporting records like certifications of trust and general assignments, and handle matters such as Heggstad petitions or trust modification petitions when trust administration requires court filing. By guiding clients through these practical steps, we help ensure that documents are implemented properly and that your plan will perform effectively when it is needed most.
We are available to discuss issues specific to Janesville residents and to provide clear, actionable advice about how different arrangements will impact family members and beneficiaries. Our focus is on creating durable, understandable documents and helping clients follow through with funding and updates. If you have questions about retirement plan coordination, life insurance trusts, or nomination of guardians, we provide straightforward guidance and document preparation to support your objectives and reduce future administrative burdens for your loved ones.
Our process begins with a conversation to understand your family, assets, and goals, followed by an asset inventory and review of existing documents. We discuss options such as trusts versus wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, and recommend a coordinated set of documents tailored to your needs. After drafting, we review documents together to ensure clarity and make any necessary adjustments. Once executed, we assist with funding trusts and provide copies and instructions so fiduciaries and agents can act when necessary. Regular reviews are recommended to keep plans current.
During the first meeting we gather information about family members, assets, debts, and any special concerns such as minor children or beneficiaries with disabilities. This step includes reviewing existing estate documents, beneficiary designations, and account titles. With a clear picture of your financial and personal circumstances, we discuss potential strategies like revocable trusts, pour-over wills, and powers of attorney, and explain the pros and cons of each approach so you can make informed choices about how to structure your plan.
We take time to understand your long-term objectives, concerns about incapacity, and priorities for distributing assets to heirs. This conversation guides decisions about guardianship nominations, timing of distributions, and whether specialized trusts such as special needs trusts or pet trusts are appropriate. By aligning legal documents with personal goals, we craft a plan that addresses both practical and emotional aspects of estate planning and provides a clear roadmap for fiduciaries and family members who will carry out your wishes.
We review any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary forms to identify gaps or inconsistencies. This review ensures documents work together to achieve desired results and prevents conflicts between beneficiary designations and trust provisions. We also assess whether trust funding is complete and advise on steps to transfer ownership of assets into trusts. Clarifying these items early avoids surprises and informs the drafting of cohesive, enforceable documents that reflect your current wishes.
After goals are finalized, we prepare a set of documents tailored to your plan, which may include a revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and supporting forms. Drafting focuses on clear language, appropriate fiduciary appointments, and provisions that address distribution timing and trustee authority. We craft documents to fit family circumstances whether it involves trusts for minor children, special needs provisions, or retirement account coordination, and we review drafts with you to confirm accuracy and intent before final execution.
This phase produces legally effective instruments such as revocable trusts, pour-over wills, certifications of trust, and assignments needed to transfer assets. Each document is drafted to reflect your instructions while providing necessary powers for trustees and agents to act efficiently. Attention is paid to successor appointments and contingencies so administration can proceed smoothly in various scenarios. Clear instructions reduce the likelihood of disputes and help fiduciaries manage responsibilities with confidence when the plan is activated.
We evaluate beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance and recommend updates or strategies to coordinate these with trust provisions. Proper alignment prevents unintended distributions and ensures retirement assets are handled in a tax-efficient manner consistent with your estate plan. Where appropriate, we advise on whether retirement plan trusts or other arrangements are needed, and we provide practical steps to implement changes and ensure accounts are consistent with your overall objectives for legacy and family support.
Once documents are executed, we help with practical follow-through such as funding trusts, updating titles, and delivering guidance to trustees and agents. Proper execution and funding ensure that documents operate as intended and reduce the chance that assets will be subject to probate. We also recommend a schedule for periodic reviews after major life events and offer assistance with trust administration steps if needed. Ongoing maintenance keeps your plan current and responsive to changes in family circumstances or legal developments.
Funding a trust involves retitling assets, updating account registrations, and executing assignments so that property is legally held by the trust. This practical work prevents assets from remaining outside the trust and subject to probate. We provide direction for transferring real estate, bank accounts, and investment assets, and coordinate with financial institutions when necessary. Proper funding is the final step that makes a trust effective and ensures that successor trustees can manage and distribute assets consistent with the trust terms when required.
After documents are in place and trusts are funded, we deliver final copies and summary instructions to clients and recommend periodic reviews. Life events such as births, marriages, deaths, or significant financial changes may require updates to keep the plan effective. We advise on storage and accessibility for documents so fiduciaries and agents can find them when needed. Regular check-ins ensure beneficiary designations, account titles, and legal instruments remain coordinated and that your estate plan continues to match your intentions over time.
A trust and a will serve different functions in estate planning. A will directs how assets not held in a trust should be distributed and allows you to name guardians for minor children. Wills typically go through the probate process, which is a public court proceeding to validate the will and oversee asset distribution. In contrast, a revocable living trust holds assets during your lifetime and can provide for private distribution to beneficiaries after death, often avoiding probate and making administration smoother and less public. Choosing between a will and a trust depends on family circumstances, asset types, and privacy preferences. Many clients use both: a pour-over will to capture any assets not funded into a trust, and a revocable trust to handle the primary estate plan. Coordinating these documents with beneficiary designations and account titles helps ensure the plan functions as intended and reduces administrative burdens for survivors.
A financial power of attorney allows a designated agent to manage financial matters on your behalf if you become unable to do so. California recognizes durable powers of attorney that remain effective during incapacity and can cover paying bills, managing investments, handling real estate transactions, or accessing accounts to meet expenses. Choosing an agent who understands your financial priorities and providing clear instructions helps ensure decisions are made consistent with your wishes and reduces the need for court-appointed conservatorship. Health care powers of attorney are documented through advance health care directives that appoint a health care agent to make medical decisions if you cannot. These directives can specify treatment preferences and end-of-life care considerations, helping medical teams and family members make decisions that align with your values. Both financial and health care documents should be readily accessible and reviewed after major life changes.
Funding a trust is the process of transferring ownership of assets into the name of the trust so those assets are governed by the trust terms. Without funding, assets titled in your individual name may still be subject to probate despite the existence of a trust. Funding commonly involves retitling deeds for real estate, changing account registrations for bank and investment accounts, and updating ownership for other property to the trust name. Proper funding ensures that successor trustees can access and manage assets according to the trust instructions. The trust document alone does not move assets; it provides the legal framework for management and distribution. After execution, it is important to follow through with the practical steps of funding. We assist clients in identifying assets that should be transferred and in coordinating with institutions to complete transfers so the trust functions effectively when needed.
Yes, most estate planning documents can be changed as circumstances or wishes evolve. Revocable living trusts are designed to be amendable during your lifetime, so you can update distribution terms, fiduciary appointments, or other provisions as needed. Wills and powers of attorney can also be revised or revoked, and advance health care directives can be replaced to reflect new medical preferences. Regular reviews after events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant financial changes help keep plans current and consistent with family objectives. Some documents, such as irrevocable trusts, have limited or no flexibility once established, so careful planning is required before creating those instruments. When changes are needed, proper legal steps must be taken to amend or restate documents to ensure they are effective and legally sound. Consulting with counsel about the implications of changes helps ensure that revisions accomplish your intended results.
To plan for incapacity, common documents include a durable financial power of attorney and an advance health care directive that appoints a health care agent and records your medical preferences. The financial power of attorney allows a trusted person to manage day-to-day financial obligations, pay bills, and access accounts, while the advance health care directive designates someone to make medical decisions and communicate with providers when you cannot. Together, these documents help avoid the need for court-appointed conservatorship or guardianship that can be time-consuming and stressful for families. It is important to choose agents who understand your values and to provide clear instructions where appropriate. These documents should be kept accessible to family members and healthcare providers. Periodically reviewing and updating these records ensures they remain consistent with your current wishes and with any changes in family structure or health conditions.
Special needs trusts are designed to provide supplemental support for a beneficiary with disabilities while preserving eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. These trusts hold assets for the beneficiary’s benefit but are drafted so that distributions do not count as income or resources that would disqualify the person from needed public assistance. The trustee has discretion to provide services, goods, or other support that enhances the beneficiary’s quality of life without disrupting benefit eligibility. Careful drafting and administration are necessary to ensure the trust terms comply with applicable benefit program rules. A well-structured special needs trust names a trustee, specifies permissible uses of funds, and coordinates with guardianship or representative payee arrangements if those are in place. Regular reviews confirm the trust continues to meet the beneficiary’s changing needs and remains consistent with program guidelines.
Naming a guardian for minor children is an essential part of planning for families with young children. A guardianship nomination in a will or other document indicates who you would like to care for your children if both parents are unable to do so. Selecting a guardian involves considering who can provide stability, share your values, and manage financial resources for the child’s benefit. It is wise to discuss the nomination with potential guardians in advance so they are prepared to accept the responsibility if needed. Guardianship nominations should be coordinated with financial arrangements such as trusts or designated funds for the child’s care. A pour-over will can direct assets into a trust for the child and name trustees who will manage those assets until the child reaches a specified age. Clear instructions and funding plans help ensure the child’s needs are met without unnecessary court involvement.
A certification of trust is a shorter document that provides proof of a trust’s existence and identifies the trustees and their authority without disclosing the full trust terms. Many financial institutions prefer a certification when accepting trust instructions because it verifies who can act for the trust while preserving the privacy of beneficiaries and distribution provisions. The certification typically includes essential details such as the trust name, date, trustee powers, and successor trustee information for practical transactions. Using a certification of trust streamlines interactions with banks, title companies, and other institutions when funding a trust or conducting trust business. It is a practical tool that avoids sharing the entire trust document while giving third parties the assurance they need to accept fiduciary instructions.
Minimizing probate can be achieved by placing assets into a revocable living trust, ensuring beneficiary designations are up to date, and using transfer-on-death or payable-on-death designations where appropriate. Real property can be retitled into a trust to avoid probate for that asset, and small estate procedures may also apply in certain situations. Coordinating account titles, deeds, and beneficiary forms with trust provisions prevents gaps that could trigger probate administration for unintended assets. A comprehensive review of asset titles and beneficiary designations is an important step in reducing probate risk. Funding trusts after they are created and confirming beneficiary designations align with the overall plan substantially reduces the likelihood that assets will be subject to probate, making administration simpler and faster for heirs.
After a major life event such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, or a significant financial change, review and update your estate plan promptly. This includes revising wills and trusts, updating beneficiary designations on retirement and insurance accounts, and confirming powers of attorney and advance directives reflect your current choices. Ensuring documents match new family circumstances prevents unintended distributions and ensures appointed agents remain appropriate for new responsibilities. Additionally, update property titles and trust funding as needed to reflect new ownership arrangements. Consulting with counsel after significant events helps identify necessary amendments and practical steps to keep your plan effective. Regular check-ins every few years or after major changes preserve the relevance and functionality of your estate plan.
Criminal Defense
Homicide Defense
Manslaughter
Assault and Battery
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Battery Causing Great Bodily Injury
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Arson Defense
Weapons Charges
Illegal Firearm Possessions
Civil Harassment
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
School Violence Restraining Orders
Violent Crimes Defense
Estate Planning Practice Areas