At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help families and individuals in Susanville and Lassen County develop estate plans that reflect their wishes and protect their assets. Our approach focuses on clear communication, practical documents such as revocable living trusts, last wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, and careful attention to local and California law. We take time to understand each client’s family situation, financial holdings, and long-term goals, then present straightforward options so clients can make informed decisions that keep their legacy intact and minimize future disputes.
Estate planning can feel overwhelming, but a well-organized plan provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Whether you are creating a first-time estate plan or updating documents after life changes, we guide you through options like pour-over wills, trust funding, guardianship nominations, and transfer strategies for retirement accounts and life insurance. Our focus is on practical, long-term solutions tailored to the specific needs of Susanville residents and families, emphasizing clarity, flexibility, and steps to reduce the risk of probate and delays following the loss of a loved one.
A complete estate plan ensures that your wishes are honored, protects assets for beneficiaries, and can reduce the time and cost of settling your affairs after death. For families in Susanville, careful planning also addresses local property concerns, guardianship of minor children, and arrangements for unique assets like rural property or family businesses. Beyond distribution of assets, estate planning establishes directives for medical care and financial decision-making in the event of incapacity. Thoughtful planning helps prevent disputes among heirs and provides clear instructions that relieve emotional pressure during difficult times.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers estate planning services to individuals and families throughout Susanville and Lassen County, bringing years of practical experience in California probate and trust administration. The firm emphasizes accessible, personalized legal support tailored to each client’s circumstances, including drafting trusts and wills, preparing health care directives and powers of attorney, and advising on asset transfer methods. We work closely with clients to create plans that reflect family values, address potential tax and probate issues, and ensure documents are ready to be implemented when needed.
An effective estate plan is built from several complementary documents that together protect your interests and provide for your loved ones. Typical components include a revocable living trust to manage assets during life and distribute property at death, a last will and testament for any assets outside the trust, a financial power of attorney to manage financial affairs if you become incapacitated, and an advance health care directive to express medical wishes. Additional documents like HIPAA authorizations, trust certifications, and pour-over wills support seamless administration and ensure creditors and institutions can confirm the plan.
Beyond documents, estate planning involves decisions about guardianship for minor children, setting up special needs trusts where appropriate, and considering tax and retirement account designations to maximize what passes to beneficiaries. For many clients, funding a trust by transferring assets into it is a necessary step to avoid probate. We help clients review their real property, bank accounts, retirement plans, and life insurance to ensure beneficiaries and trust arrangements align with their goals. Ongoing review keeps plans current with changes in family dynamics, finances, and law.
Estate planning uses legal instruments to document intentions for property distribution, incapacity planning, and end-of-life decisions. A revocable living trust allows the grantor to maintain control while alive and simplifies asset transfer at death. A last will and testament names an executor and addresses any trust overflow or guardianship nominations. Financial powers of attorney designate someone to manage finances if you cannot. An advance health care directive and HIPAA authorization communicate your medical preferences and ensure providers can speak with your chosen decision-makers. Together, these tools create a cohesive plan for both predictable and unexpected events.
Establishing a reliable estate plan includes gathering financial information, selecting trusted agents and beneficiaries, drafting documents tailored to your objectives, and properly funding any trusts. After documents are signed, transferring titles, beneficiary designations, and account ownership where appropriate helps ensure the plan works as intended. Periodic review and updates are important after life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or substantial changes in assets. Proper record-keeping and communicating your plan to family members or fiduciaries help prevent confusion and disputes when the time comes to carry out your wishes.
Understanding common estate planning terms helps you make informed decisions. This glossary covers foundational phrases used throughout the planning process, including trust types, probate terminology, and the roles of fiduciaries like trustees and executors. Familiarity with these terms makes it easier to recognize why certain documents are recommended and how different strategies affect heirs, the court process, and asset control. Clear definitions also help in conversations with financial advisors, tax professionals, and family members to coordinate a plan that reflects your goals and reduces uncertainty for those who will implement it.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement where the grantor places assets into a trust they control during life and designates how assets will be managed and distributed at incapacity or death. The grantor can modify or revoke the trust while alive, making it a flexible estate planning tool. When properly funded, a living trust can reduce the need for probate, provide continuity of asset management during incapacity, and offer privacy because trust administration typically occurs outside the public probate process. Trustees and successor trustees named in the trust carry out management and distribution duties.
A pour-over will is a will designed to capture any assets not previously transferred into a trust during a person’s lifetime and transfer them into the trust upon death. It acts as a safety net so that any property omitted from the trust becomes subject to the trust’s distribution provisions. While a pour-over will still goes through probate for assets that are titled to the decedent at death, it works in tandem with the trust to ensure a single cohesive plan governs asset distribution and reduces the likelihood that assets are left without clear instructions.
A last will and testament is a legal document that designates who receives any assets not placed in a trust, names an executor to manage the estate administration process, and can designate guardians for minor children. Wills are subject to the probate process, which provides court oversight of asset distribution and creditor claims. A well-drafted will complements trust instruments, especially for assets that are difficult to retitle before death, and ensures that important decisions like guardianship nominations are recorded in writing and can be implemented as part of a comprehensive plan.
A financial power of attorney authorizes a trusted agent to manage the principal’s financial affairs if they become unable to act. An advance health care directive expresses medical preferences and appoints an agent to make medical decisions consistent with those wishes. HIPAA authorizations permit health care providers to share medical information with designated individuals. These documents work together to provide continuity of decision-making during illness or incapacity, avoid delays in care or bill payment, and ensure that both financial and medical needs are handled by people you trust.
Choosing between a limited approach and a comprehensive estate plan depends on personal circumstances, asset complexity, and family dynamics. Limited options may include a basic will and powers of attorney that handle essential matters for small estates with few assets. A comprehensive plan typically includes a living trust, pour-over will, and various supporting documents to manage incapacity and streamline succession. We help clients weigh costs, benefits, and the degree of court involvement likely under each approach, and recommend a plan that balances current needs with long-term protections tailored to Susanville families.
A limited estate planning approach may be suitable when an individual’s assets are modest, ownership and beneficiary designations are straightforward, and there are clear heirs with few disputes anticipated. For clients who own primarily personal items, a primary residence with low equity, or retirement accounts that have designated beneficiaries, a will combined with financial and medical powers of attorney often covers immediate needs without the complexity of trust administration. Such a plan can still provide necessary legal authority for decision-makers while keeping legal costs lower.
When families do not expect contentious disputes and tax implications are minimal, a basic plan may be adequate for ensuring final wishes are recorded and agents are appointed for incapacity. Simple planning is often appropriate for single individuals or couples without children, or for those whose heirs are all adults and able to cooperate. Even with limited planning, including clear beneficiary designations and regularly updated documents is important so that assets transfer smoothly and agents can act quickly if needed.
A comprehensive estate plan is often necessary when a person owns multiple properties, holds business interests, or has assets in multiple accounts that could benefit from coordinated titling and beneficiary strategies. Trusts can be used to manage complex holdings, provide continuity of management, and reduce the risk of probate in multiple jurisdictions. Planning helps clarify succession for business ownership, set rules for co-ownership transfer, and protect assets for future generations while addressing any tax considerations that arise from larger estates.
Comprehensive planning is valuable when family situations are complex, such as blended families where spouses want to protect inheritances for children from prior relationships, or when a family member has special needs and requires dedicated trust arrangements. Detailed legacy goals, charitable giving plans, or plans to support minor children with staged distributions also benefit from trust-based planning. These measures provide legal clarity and tailored distribution mechanisms that reduce uncertainty and help ensure the grantor’s long-term intentions are honored.
A comprehensive, trust-centered approach can provide privacy, avoid or minimize probate, and offer smoother transitions of asset management in the event of incapacity or death. Trusts permit distribution plans that can be structured to meet timing and protection goals, such as preserving assets for minor beneficiaries or setting conditions for distributions. Because trust administration typically occurs outside the court-supervised probate process, it can be faster and more private, helping families address sensitive matters discreetly while allowing trustees to manage assets without court intervention.
Comprehensive planning also supports continuity of financial management, making it easier to address bills, taxes, and ongoing obligations without delays. Named successor trustees can step in seamlessly to manage investments and properties. Additionally, trusts can be combined with beneficiary designations, life insurance planning, and retirement account strategies to control how assets are distributed and reduce potential disputes. Regular reviews ensure the plan adapts to life changes and legal updates, maintaining alignment with the grantor’s intentions throughout their lifetime and beyond.
One primary advantage of a properly funded living trust is that assets held in the trust typically pass outside of probate, saving time and reducing public court involvement in distributing property. Avoiding probate can preserve privacy because trust administration records are not part of public court files. This is especially valuable for families who prefer to keep their financial affairs and distribution plans confidential, and for those who want to reduce the administrative burden and potential delays that probate proceedings can introduce for heirs awaiting access to assets.
Trust-based plans provide a mechanism for continuity of asset management if the grantor becomes incapacitated, allowing a successor trustee to manage trust assets without court appointment. This prevents gaps in financial decision-making and reduces the need for conservatorship proceedings. By combining financial powers of attorney, health care directives, and trust arrangements, a comprehensive plan ensures that both day-to-day expenses and long-term financial needs are addressed. This continuity helps protect beneficiaries and maintain stability during challenging times.
Begin your planning by compiling a comprehensive inventory of assets, including real property, bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, and business interests. Include account numbers, titles, and current beneficiary designations where applicable. This inventory makes it easier to determine whether assets should be retitled or designated to a trust and helps avoid omissions that require probate. Keeping this inventory updated and accessible to your appointed agents ensures an orderly transition of responsibilities if you become unable to manage affairs or after your death.
Life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, changes in financial circumstances, or the acquisition of new property may require updates to your estate plan. Review documents at least every few years and after major life events to confirm beneficiary designations, trustee selections, and the funding status of any trusts. Periodic review keeps your plan aligned with current wishes and legal requirements in California, minimizing the risk that outdated documents could cause delays or unintended distributions when your plan must be implemented.
Residents of Susanville pursue estate planning to ensure that assets transfer according to their wishes, to appoint trusted decision-makers for financial and medical matters, and to provide for minor children or dependents with specific needs. Local considerations like real property, business interests, and the desire to minimize probate administration influence the scope of planning. Proper planning also clarifies roles and reduces family conflict by documenting intentions in legally effective instruments. Many clients appreciate the reassurance that their affairs will be handled in an orderly manner.
Beyond asset transfer, estate planning protects against incapacity through powers of attorney and advance health care directives, ensuring financial obligations are met and medical preferences are respected. Trust arrangements can preserve assets for intended beneficiaries, provide staged distributions, and set aside resources for special needs or long-term care. Planning also allows for coordination with retirement account designations and insurance proceeds so beneficiaries receive intended benefits. Comprehensive planning tailored to an individual’s circumstances reduces uncertainty and supports a smoother transition of responsibilities.
Typical triggers for estate planning include marriage, the birth of a child, the purchase of real estate, divorce, the death of a family member, the formation or sale of a business, and significant changes in financial circumstances. Aging clients commonly update plans to address long-term care preferences and ensure that decision-makers are in place for potential incapacity. Clients with blended families or beneficiaries with special needs frequently seek tailored trust arrangements to coordinate asset protection and distribution. Planning proactively helps manage these transitions with less stress and more clarity.
When starting a family, parents should establish guardianship nominations, create trusts to manage assets for minor children, and name trustees who will carry out the parent’s intentions. Guardianship nominations in a will specify who should care for children if both parents are unable to do so, while trust provisions can provide for ongoing financial support and staged distributions. These arrangements ensure that children’s material needs and education can be provided for and that a trusted person is authorized to make decisions according to the parents’ values and directions.
Business owners should incorporate succession planning into their estate plans to ensure continuity of ownership and management. Trusts, buy-sell agreements, and clear executor instructions help transfer business interests smoothly and reduce uncertainty for employees and partners. Planning addresses who will assume control, how interests will be valued, and what steps are necessary to transition operations while protecting the business’s ongoing viability. Early planning also allows tax and financial strategies to be coordinated with ownership transfer to preserve business value for heirs.
Those caring for family members with disabilities or significant health needs often use tailored trust arrangements to preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing supplemental support. Special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and strategic beneficiary designations can protect assets and provide long-term care resources without disqualifying recipients from critical programs. Planning in these circumstances requires careful drafting to balance current needs with long-term protections, ensure appropriate fiduciaries are in place, and coordinate with medical directives to sustain the individual’s well-being.
We serve Susanville and surrounding areas with personalized estate planning services tailored to local needs. Our team assists clients with creating living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and related documents. We also advise on trust funding, beneficiary coordination, and strategies to reduce probate involvement. For clients with unique assets or family circumstances, we offer planning solutions such as special needs trusts, pet trusts, and retirement plan trust coordination. Our goal is to provide clear guidance so clients can make confident decisions about their legacy and care plans.
Clients rely on our firm for thoughtful planning that addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals. We prioritize clear communication, careful document drafting, and practical steps to implement plans, such as trust funding and beneficiary review. Our approach is client-focused, offering personalized attention and straightforward explanations of the choices available under California law. We strive to make the planning process manageable and to create documents that are durable and aligned with each client’s values and family circumstances.
Our office assists with a range of estate planning matters, including revocable living trusts, wills, advance health care directives, powers of attorney, and petitions for trust modifications or Heggstad petitions when necessary. We help clients navigate trust administration, prepare certifications of trust for financial institutions, and coordinate with accountants and financial advisors when tax or retirement planning considerations arise. This collaborative focus ensures clients receive practical, coherent solutions that fit their objectives and reduce the likelihood of future disputes.
We recognize that each family’s situation is unique, so our services are tailored rather than one-size-fits-all. From straightforward estate plans to more complex arrangements involving special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, or guardianship nominations, we help clients document their intentions clearly and implement the steps necessary to make those intentions effective. Our goal is to create plans that provide stability and predictability for families in Susanville and throughout Lassen County.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to learn about your family, assets, and objectives. We review financial documents, discuss options such as trusts or wills, and identify the right combination of instruments for your situation. After deciding on a plan, we prepare draft documents for review and discuss any revisions. Once finalized, we execute documents in accordance with California formalities and provide guidance on funding trusts and distributing copies to key agents. We also recommend regular reviews to keep plans current as circumstances change.
The first step focuses on gathering pertinent information, including an inventory of assets, account titles, beneficiary designations, and family relationships. We discuss your objectives for distribution, incapacity planning, guardianship, and legacy goals. This meeting also identifies potential planning issues such as out-of-state property, business interests, or beneficiaries with special needs. Clear goal setting at the outset ensures that drafting targets the client’s priorities and that subsequent documents reflect informed choices aligned with California law and local considerations.
During this phase we compile a complete asset inventory and verify beneficiary designations across retirement accounts, life insurance, and investment accounts. This review helps identify assets that should be retitled or updated to align with trust provisions and avoid conflicting designations. We also discuss any unique property, such as real estate in Susanville or business interests, to determine the most effective method of transfer and administration so that beneficiaries receive intended benefits with minimum delay.
Selecting trustees, executors, and guardians is a central part of early planning conversations. We help clients identify suitable agents who can manage finances, make health care decisions, and provide for minor children if needed. We discuss the responsibilities and practical implications of each role and recommend contingency choices to ensure continuity. Clear documentation of these selections reduces uncertainty and enables appointed agents to act decisively should the need arise.
After goals and assets are clarified, we draft the necessary documents, which may include a revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and any specialized trusts. Drafts are provided for client review and discussion, allowing revisions to language, distribution timing, or trustee powers. We explain how each document functions together and ensure they conform to California formalities. This collaborative drafting stage produces a clear, durable estate plan tailored to the client’s objectives and family dynamics.
Clients are encouraged to review drafts carefully and ask questions about terminology, distribution provisions, and trustee authority. We discuss potential outcomes of different drafting choices and advise on practical implications, such as how staged distributions can protect younger beneficiaries. Revisions are made until the client is comfortable with the plan. This iterative process ensures that documents reflect precise intentions and reduce ambiguity for those who will administer or inherit under the plan.
Once documents are finalized, they are executed in accordance with California legal requirements. We coordinate signing, witness, and notarization as needed, and provide clients with properly executed originals and instructions for safekeeping. We also prepare supporting documents like certifications of trust so financial institutions can verify trustee authority without exposing trust details. After execution, we discuss practical next steps such as funding trusts and updating beneficiary designations to align with the final plan.
The final stage focuses on implementation, including transferring titles, updating account beneficiaries, and confirming that trusts are properly funded. We provide guidance on keeping copies accessible to agents and recommend regular reviews every few years or after major life events. Ongoing review helps ensure documents remain effective when family circumstances, financial situations, or laws change. We remain available to advise on trust administration, contested matters, or necessary petitions to modify trust terms when circumstances evolve.
Funding a trust means transferring ownership of assets into the trust’s name where appropriate, including real property, investment accounts, and bank accounts. Properly funding the trust ensures its provisions control distribution and avoids leaving assets to probate. We help clients prepare the necessary retitling documents and coordinate with financial institutions. When certain assets cannot be retitled, beneficiary designations and pour-over wills act as safety nets, but proactive funding minimizes administrative burdens for future fiduciaries and aligns asset administration with the trust’s terms.
Estate planning is not a one-time event; periodic updates ensure your plan reflects current wishes and legal requirements. We offer ongoing support for trust administration issues, successor trustee guidance, and amendments or restatements when personal or financial circumstances change. If disputes arise, we provide practical counsel on resolution options and appropriate court filings when necessary. Regular contact helps preserve the plan’s effectiveness and assures clients that their directives will remain actionable for the people and institutions responsible for carrying them out.
A living trust and a will serve related but different purposes. A living trust holds assets during your lifetime and allows those assets to be managed and distributed without going through probate, provided the trust is funded. A will names an executor and directs distribution of any assets not placed in the trust and can nominate guardians for minor children. Both documents are important for a cohesive plan: the trust handles assets titled to it, while the will catches items left outside and ensures your broader intentions are recorded. Choosing between them depends on the extent of your assets, family circumstances, and desire to avoid probate. When deciding which instruments to use, consider how your assets are owned and whether you prefer privacy and speed in distribution. A trust-centered plan tends to streamline administration and maintain confidentiality, whereas a will alone results in probate for most assets titled in your name at death. We help clients evaluate how each document interacts with beneficiary designations and recommend steps such as trust funding or retitling accounts to produce the most effective outcome for their family.
Funding a trust involves transferring ownership of assets into the trust’s name so that the trust terms govern them. For real property this usually means recording a new deed transferring title to the trust. For bank and investment accounts, it often requires changing account registration or completing beneficiary or transfer-on-death designations that align with the trust. Some assets, such as retirement accounts, may be better left in the owner’s name with designated beneficiaries, in which case coordination with the trust is necessary. Proper funding is essential to avoid unintended probate for assets meant to be controlled by the trust. The process of funding can be straightforward but requires attention to detail and coordination with financial institutions and county recorders. We guide clients through each step and provide checklists to help transfer titles and update account registrations. Addressing funding at the outset and confirming completion prevents surprises after incapacity or death and ensures the estate plan functions as intended to protect beneficiaries and streamline administration.
Choosing a guardian for minor children is a deeply personal decision and depends on the candidates’ ability to provide stability, values that align with yours, proximity, and willingness to accept the role. Consider factors such as parenting style, financial stability, relationships with your children, and any existing responsibilities they may have. Naming alternate guardians is also important to ensure that if your first choice cannot serve, another trusted person can step in. Documenting your nominations in a will provides legal guidance to courts and helps implement your wishes if the unexpected occurs. Discuss your preferences with prospective guardians so they understand the responsibilities and can prepare if needed. While the court makes the ultimate decision, a clear and well-drafted nomination within a will carries weight. We help clients identify and document appropriate nominations and draft trust provisions for managing the children’s financial support, including staged distributions or trust oversight to protect assets for the children’s long-term benefit.
To prepare for potential incapacity and ensure your medical wishes are respected, you should have an advance health care directive and a HIPAA authorization. The advance health care directive allows you to specify preferences for medical treatment, life-sustaining care, and end-of-life decisions, and designates an agent to make health care decisions if you cannot. A HIPAA authorization grants your chosen agent access to medical information so they can communicate with health providers and make informed choices. Together, these documents give clear instructions and legal authority for health care decision-making. It is also wise to name successor decision-makers in case your primary agent is unavailable. Discussing your values and treatment preferences with your appointed agent reduces uncertainty and aligns medical decisions with your priorities. We prepare these documents to comply with California requirements and help clients communicate their wishes to family members and medical providers so their preferences are understood before crises occur.
Yes, estate plans can and should be changed as life circumstances evolve. Common triggers for updates include marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary or agent, changes in financial status, or significant health developments. For revocable living trusts and wills, amendments and restatements allow you to revise distribution schemes, replace agents or trustees, and alter trust provisions. Powers of attorney and health care directives should also be reviewed and updated to reflect current choices for decision-makers and medical preferences. Minor changes can often be handled with amendments, while broader revisions may call for a restatement or new documents. It’s important to follow proper formalities when making changes so that the updated documents are legally effective. We work with clients to schedule periodic reviews and to prepare updates that reflect new goals or circumstances while preserving prior arrangements that remain appropriate.
Probate is the court-supervised process for administering the estate of a deceased individual when assets are titled in their name without effective beneficiary designations or trust ownership. Probate includes validating the will, appointing an executor, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining assets to heirs. In California, probate timelines and costs can vary depending on estate size and complexity. While probate provides creditor protection and court oversight, many clients seek planning methods to minimize probate involvement to save time and protect privacy for heirs. Strategies to reduce or avoid probate include creating and funding a revocable living trust, retitling assets into joint ownership where appropriate, and ensuring beneficiary designations for retirement accounts and life insurance are current. These measures help ensure that assets pass outside the probate process and allow successor trustees to administer distributions more efficiently. We assist clients in identifying probate exposure and implementing strategies to align asset titles with their estate plan goals.
A special needs trust is a planning tool designed to provide supplemental support for an individual with disabilities while preserving eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. The trust holds assets for the beneficiary’s benefit without directly distributing funds that could disqualify them from means-tested programs. Trustees use trust resources to pay for items and services that enhance quality of life, such as education, therapies, and enrichment activities, while core needs covered by public benefits remain intact. Special needs planning requires careful drafting to ensure the trust terms and distribution powers do not jeopardize benefit eligibility. It is often paired with a broader estate plan so parents or family members can leave resources in trust for a loved one’s long-term care. We advise on funding mechanisms and trustee selection to create a practical plan that honors both immediate needs and ongoing public benefit considerations.
Retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and pension plans pass according to the beneficiary designations on file with the plan administrator, so coordinating those designations with your estate plan is essential. Naming a trust as a beneficiary can be appropriate in certain situations, such as protecting assets for minor children or providing controlled distributions, but it requires careful drafting to address tax and distribution rules. In many cases, naming individual beneficiaries or using payable-on-death designations provides a straightforward transfer path and avoids probate for these accounts. We review retirement account designations in the context of your overall plan to ensure that beneficiary choices, trust provisions, and tax considerations align with intended outcomes. In some cases, a retirement plan trust or other strategies can be used to manage distributions and protect beneficiaries, but these options should be evaluated with attention to tax rules and long-term goals.
After a grantor dies, a trustee’s immediate duties generally include locating and securing trust assets, arranging for necessary appraisals, notifying beneficiaries, and paying any debts or ongoing expenses from trust funds. The trustee should also gather records, communicate with financial institutions, and follow the trust’s distribution instructions. Providing clear communication to beneficiaries about the process and timeline helps set expectations and can reduce misunderstandings as administration proceeds. Trustees must act in accordance with the trust terms and California fiduciary duties, preserving assets and making prudent distribution decisions. If questions arise about interpretation or requests for creditor claims, trustees may seek legal guidance to ensure proper compliance. Where management or sale of property is needed, trustees should document actions carefully and consult professionals when valuation or tax issues are involved.
Review your estate plan periodically and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary or agent, significant changes in assets, or changes in health. A routine check every three to five years is a common practice to confirm beneficiary designations, trustee selections, and alignment with current goals. Regular updates help maintain the plan’s effectiveness and ensure documents remain compliant with any relevant changes in California law that might affect administration or tax planning. During reviews, consider whether trust funding is complete, whether fiduciaries remain willing and capable to serve, and whether distribution provisions still meet your objectives. We offer review sessions to discuss any needed revisions and to implement amendments or restatements so that your plan continues to reflect your intentions and protect your family’s future.
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