A revocable living trust can play a central role in a well-rounded estate plan for individuals and families in Leona Valley and surrounding areas. This type of trust allows you to retain control of your assets while providing a clear plan for management and distribution if you become unable to manage your affairs or after your death. Many clients choose this approach to streamline probate avoidance, maintain privacy, and create a flexible plan that can be adjusted as circumstances change. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help clients understand how a revocable living trust can fit into an overall estate strategy that also includes wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
Deciding whether a revocable living trust is right for you involves weighing several practical considerations including asset type, family dynamics, and long-term goals. A living trust can simplify asset transfers, reduce the time and public exposure that come with probate, and provide for smooth management during incapacity. It is important to consider how the trust coordinates with beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and tax planning objectives. Our team provides clear explanations of how a living trust would operate in your situation, discusses related documents like pour-over wills and HIPAA authorizations, and outlines realistic steps to put a durable plan in place while respecting California rules and your individual wishes.
A revocable living trust provides several practical benefits that matter for many Leona Valley residents. It offers the ability to manage assets during incapacity by naming a successor trustee, helps avoid the delays and publicity that come with probate, and can enable faster distribution of property to heirs. Because it is revocable, the trust can be changed as your circumstances shift, allowing flexibility in family or financial situations. The trust also works in coordination with other documents such as durable powers of attorney and health care directives to form a complete plan for managing finances and health decisions, giving clients confidence that their affairs will be handled according to their preferences.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists individuals and families across California with estate planning services including revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and trust administration matters. Our approach emphasizes clarity, practical planning, and attention to the details that make a plan work for real-life situations. We focus on listening to clients’ objectives, explaining options in plain language, and preparing documents that reflect those goals while ensuring proper funding and coordination with retirement and beneficiary accounts. Our goal is to help clients build durable plans that minimize delay and uncertainty for loved ones during difficult times.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which the trust creator transfers ownership of assets into a trust while retaining the ability to manage and amend the trust during their lifetime. The trust document names a successor trustee who would step in to manage trust assets if the creator becomes incapacitated or passes away. Because the trust holds title to property, assets in the trust typically avoid the public probate process, which can save time and preserve privacy for families. Properly funding the trust and coordinating beneficiary designations and titled accounts are essential steps to ensure the trust functions as intended.
Setting up a revocable living trust involves drafting the trust document, transferring ownership of assets into the trust, and naming trustees and beneficiaries. The trust creator retains control and can serve as trustee while alive, with authority to buy, sell, or change assets. A pour-over will is often used in conjunction to capture any assets not transferred during life and to provide a fallback distribution plan. Regular reviews are recommended when family or financial circumstances change to maintain alignment between the trust terms, beneficiary designations, and current goals for asset management and distribution.
A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that holds assets for the benefit of named beneficiaries while allowing the trust creator to maintain control during their lifetime. The trust provides instructions for managing assets in the event of incapacity and for distribution at death. Because it is revocable, terms can be altered to reflect new circumstances. The trust can simplify administration, support continuity of management, and reduce the need for court involvement after death. It can also include provisions for successor trustees to manage assets in a manner consistent with the creator’s intentions.
Important elements of a revocable living trust include a clear statement of intent, identification of the trust creator and successor trustee, detailed beneficiary designations, and instructions for asset management and distribution. The process requires preparing the trust document, transferring assets into the trust, and reviewing account beneficiaries and titled property to avoid conflicts. Additional documents such as durable financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and pour-over wills complement the trust to ensure comprehensive protection. Ongoing review and funding of the trust are essential so that the plan functions smoothly when it is needed most.
Understanding common terms helps clarify how a living trust operates and how it fits into broader estate planning. Definitions of terms such as trustee, beneficiary, funding, pour-over will, and incapacity will help you make informed decisions about document design and coordination with retirement accounts, deeds, and beneficiary designations. Learning these terms makes meetings with your attorney more productive and helps ensure that your trust reflects your wishes. Below are clear definitions of commonly used terms to provide context when planning and administering a trust in California.
A trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing the assets held in a trust according to the trust document’s terms. During the trust creator’s lifetime the creator may serve as trustee and retain management authority. The trustee has fiduciary duties to manage trust assets prudently and in the beneficiaries’ best interests. In the event of incapacity or death, a successor trustee named in the trust takes over management and distribution responsibilities. Selecting a reliable successor trustee and providing clear guidance in the trust can reduce conflict and delays for loved ones.
Funding a trust means transferring legal title of assets into the name of the trust so that the trust actually holds those assets. Funding can include retitling real estate deeds, changing ownership of bank and investment accounts, and assigning personal property into the trust. Proper funding is essential for a revocable living trust to avoid probate and to ensure that assets are managed under the trust’s terms. Failure to fund key assets can lead to unintended probate for those items, making review and document coordination important parts of the process.
A beneficiary is a person, organization, or entity designated to receive income or principal from a trust under the terms set forth by the trust creator. Beneficiaries may receive distributions during the creator’s lifetime under specific conditions or after the creator’s death. The trust document can specify distribution timing, amounts, and conditions to provide for education, health needs, or long-term care. Careful drafting of beneficiary provisions helps ensure that assets are distributed in accordance with the trust creator’s intentions and can minimize misunderstandings among heirs.
A pour-over will is a type of will used alongside a revocable living trust that directs any assets not titled in the trust at the time of death to be transferred into the trust and handled under its terms. While a pour-over will may still require probate for assets that were not properly transferred during life, it serves as a safety net to capture overlooked property and maintain the overall plan. Regular account review and proper funding reduce the need to rely on a pour-over will, but including one ensures that assets are ultimately governed by the trust’s distribution plan.
Choosing between a revocable living trust and other estate planning tools depends on priorities such as avoiding probate, maintaining privacy, ease of administration, and cost. Wills provide a straightforward way to name guardians and distribute assets but typically require probate to transfer title. Trusts can offer more seamless management during incapacity and faster distribution after death but require active funding and maintenance. Other tools like beneficiary designations and transfer-on-death provisions can work alongside trusts and wills to accomplish specific goals. Evaluating the practical trade-offs for your family and assets helps identify the right mix of documents.
For individuals with smaller estates, straightforward beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies can accomplish asset transfer goals with minimal complexity. If property ownership is simple, heirs are clearly identified, and there are no concerns about incapacity management, a durable power of attorney and a simple will may provide adequate protection. In such cases the costs and administrative steps of creating and funding a trust may not offer proportional benefits. It remains important to confirm that titling and beneficiary designations align with your overall wishes and to maintain documents that address financial and health care decision-making.
Some people prefer a limited planning approach when probate would be straightforward, heirs are local and cooperative, and privacy is not a major concern. If the estate will not be subject to complex creditor claims, disputes, or lengthy probate timelines, a will combined with powers of attorney and health care directives may be sufficient. These documents can still provide direction for incapacity and clarify final wishes. It is wise to periodically reassess whether a limited approach continues to meet your needs as assets grow or family circumstances change.
A comprehensive approach that includes a revocable living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives can reduce the likelihood of probate and promote continuity in asset management. For families with real estate, multiple accounts, or blended family structures, a full plan helps avoid delays, litigation risk, and public court proceedings. Such planning is particularly valuable when coordinating retirement accounts, titling, and beneficiary designations to ensure that assets transfer according to your intentions without leaving loved ones to navigate complex procedures during a time of stress.
Comprehensive planning addresses the possibility of incapacity by naming trusted individuals to manage finances and health care, and by creating mechanisms for asset management without court supervision. It can also accommodate unique family dynamics, minor or special needs beneficiaries, and complex financial arrangements. For owners of business interests, multiple properties, or significant investment accounts, a full plan helps avoid administrative hurdles and supports orderly transitions. Thoughtful drafting and coordination among documents reduce ambiguity and help prevent disputes that might otherwise arise after incapacity or death.
A comprehensive estate plan provides clarity for heirs, continuity in financial management, and tailored provisions to address family needs and contingencies. By combining a revocable living trust with complementary documents such as powers of attorney and advance health care directives, individuals create a cohesive plan that covers incapacity, privacy, and efficient asset transfer. Such planning can reduce delays and legal costs for loved ones after a death and provides practical instructions for trustees and appointed decision-makers. The result is a single, coordinated plan that reflects your wishes and adapts to changing circumstances.
Another benefit of a comprehensive plan is the ability to structure distributions in ways that meet family objectives while providing protections against unintended consequences. Trust provisions can address succession for property, provide for ongoing needs of beneficiaries, and set clear parameters for trustees. In addition, careful coordination with beneficiary designations and retirement accounts helps avoid conflicts and unexpected tax or probate outcomes. Regular updates ensure the plan remains aligned with changes in family composition, finances, and California law, offering long-term peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
A primary advantage of using a revocable living trust is the increased privacy and reduced need for public court proceedings. Because assets held in the trust pass outside the probate process, the details of distributions and property ownership often remain private, which can protect family privacy and reduce potential disputes. This streamlined pathway can also speed up the transfer of assets so beneficiaries receive access more quickly than through probate. Maintaining current records and ensuring proper funding are key steps to realizing these privacy and efficiency benefits for your estate plan.
A living trust provides a clear mechanism for continued management of assets if the trust creator becomes incapacitated. By naming a successor trustee and outlining management responsibilities in the trust document, families can avoid a court-appointed conservatorship and ensure trusted individuals can act on behalf of the incapacitated person. This continuity preserves financial stability, allows bills and property to be managed without interruption, and provides a legally recognized structure for decision-making. The combined use of financial powers of attorney and trust provisions further supports an orderly approach to incapacity planning.
After executing a revocable living trust, it is important to retitle assets and transfer account ownership into the trust where appropriate. Failure to fund the trust can result in assets remaining subject to probate, negating many of the trust’s benefits. Review deeds, bank accounts, investment accounts, and personal property titles, and update beneficiary designations on retirement and insurance policies as needed. Regular maintenance and periodic reviews ensure that newly acquired assets are addressed and that the trust continues to reflect current circumstances and goals over time.
In addition to naming successors for distribution, include practical instructions for managing assets during incapacity. Durable powers of attorney and health care directives should complement the trust to provide authority for handling finances and medical decisions. Designate successor trustees who understand your preferences and keep them informed of the plan and where critical documents are stored. Regular communication with those you trust helps ensure continuity and reduces the likelihood of disputes or delays when decisive action is required.
You may consider a revocable living trust if you value privacy, want to avoid a potentially lengthy probate process, or have property in multiple counties or states that would complicate probate administration. Trusts can also benefit those who want to provide structured distributions to heirs, plan for incapacity, or maintain continuity for family businesses or rental properties. Reviewing your asset mix and family situation can reveal whether a trust would simplify administration and provide greater control over how and when beneficiaries receive distributions.
Consider a trust when you want to reduce public court involvement or when you have particular wishes about management or timing of distributions after death. Trust provisions can be tailored to provide for minors, disabled beneficiaries, or circumstances that require phased distributions. If you anticipate changes in family dynamics, healthcare needs, or asset ownership, a revocable living trust offers flexibility to adjust the plan. An initial consultation can clarify whether a trust fits your situation and identify the related documents needed for a complete plan.
Typical circumstances that often make a living trust a helpful tool include ownership of real estate, desires to avoid probate, blended family situations, minor or dependent beneficiaries, and significant financial accounts that require coordinated transfer. A trust can simplify management and provide clear guidance for successor trustees. Business owners and property investors often use trusts to maintain continuity. Identifying whether any of these circumstances apply to your situation will help determine whether a living trust is an appropriate component of your estate plan.
If you own real estate in different counties or states, a revocable living trust can simplify transfer of those properties and reduce the need for separate probate proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. Placing real estate into the trust requires retitling deeds and confirming that any mortgages or liens are properly addressed. Once property is in the trust, successor trustees can manage or transfer it according to the trust terms, offering continuity and reducing administrative burdens for heirs who might otherwise need to navigate several probate processes.
When beneficiaries are minors or have ongoing care needs, a trust allows you to set specific terms for how funds will be managed and distributed. The trust document can designate age-based distributions, use funds for education or health needs, and name responsible trustees to oversee those assets. This approach creates a legal framework to protect assets for the intended purposes and relieves courts and family members from having to make ad hoc decisions. Clear direction in the trust reduces potential conflict and supports consistent financial care for vulnerable beneficiaries.
Owners of family businesses or investment properties can use a trust to ensure continuity of management and clarify succession plans. Trust provisions can provide for interim management, specify voting or distribution rights, and integrate with business succession documents. Having a trust in place can reduce disruptions that may occur upon incapacity or death and provide a structured process for transferring interests to heirs. Coordination with business agreements, operating documents, and tax planning is important to maintain operational stability and honor both business and personal objectives.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides practical guidance for residents of Leona Valley seeking to create or update a revocable living trust. We help clients evaluate whether a trust fits their needs, prepare and review trust documents, and assist with funding and coordination of related documents such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Our focus is on offering clear explanations, thorough document preparation, and realistic planning strategies so that clients feel confident their affairs are organized and their loved ones are protected when it matters most.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for straightforward guidance, careful document drafting, and thorough attention to the practical steps that make a plan effective. We prioritize clear communication, listening to your goals, and preparing documents that work in the context of California law and your family’s circumstances. Our services include creating trusts, drafting pour-over wills, preparing powers of attorney and health care directives, and assisting with trust funding and administration. The goal is to provide clients with a coordinated plan that reduces uncertainty and eases the administrative burden on loved ones.
We work with clients to identify assets that should be included in a trust and to coordinate beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and real property titling. This practical step-by-step approach helps prevent common pitfalls that can undermine the effectiveness of a living trust. We also provide guidance on naming successor trustees and preparing backup documents so that decisions can be carried out consistently with your intentions. Regular plan reviews are encouraged to keep documents current with life changes and evolving goals.
Our office assists clients across California with estate planning needs, from single-document updates to complete estate plans that include advanced trust arrangements like irrevocable life insurance trusts or special needs trusts. We explain the implications of different choices, help prioritize actions such as funding the trust and updating beneficiary designations, and provide straightforward recommendations that align with each client’s objectives. This practical focus aims to reduce stress and make the estate planning process manageable and effective for families in Leona Valley and beyond.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to identify your goals, family dynamics, and asset profile. From there we draft a trust tailored to those needs, prepare complementary documents such as durable powers of attorney and advance health care directives, and provide a checklist for funding the trust and updating account beneficiary designations. We walk clients through signing formalities, retitling real property and accounts where appropriate, and filing any necessary local documents. Follow-up reviews are scheduled to ensure the plan stays current with changes in life events or law.
During the evaluation phase we gather information about assets, family relationships, and planning objectives. This includes reviewing real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, and any business interests. We discuss preferences for distribution, management during incapacity, and potential tax or creditor considerations. The information gathered forms the basis of a tailored plan and allows us to recommend the most appropriate documents and structure to meet your needs while ensuring compliance with California requirements.
We collect details about your assets and discuss priorities for distribution, guardianship for minors, and management during incapacity. Understanding your goals allows us to craft a trust that addresses financial obligations, family dynamics, and long-term intentions. We also review beneficiary designations and account titling to identify items that should be coordinated with the trust. Clear communication at this stage reduces surprises and helps ensure that the final documents reflect your wishes and provide practical direction for successor trustees and loved ones.
Alongside the trust, we prepare related documents such as durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, HIPAA authorizations, and pour-over wills. These complementary documents create a cohesive plan that addresses decision-making authority, medical preferences, and any assets omitted from initial trust funding. Together, these documents form a practical framework for managing finances and health care during incapacity and for distributing assets according to your plan after death, reducing the need for court involvement and clarifying responsibilities for those you appoint.
After defining the plan, we draft the trust and all related documents with attention to clarity and practical administration. We review the draft with you to confirm it reflects your intentions and then coordinate execution in accordance with California formalities. This step includes signing, notarizing where necessary, and preparing a funding plan to transfer assets into the trust. We provide clients with clear instructions and assistance to ensure that title transfers and beneficiary updates are handled properly so the trust can operate as intended.
We review the trust document and related instruments with you to ensure clarity and alignment with your goals. This review allows for adjustments and confirms that beneficiary designations and successor trustee appointments meet expectations. We discuss specific provisions regarding distributions, incapacity management, and trustee powers so there is no confusion about how the trust will function. Clear review and client confirmation help minimize future disputes and provide confidence that the plan reflects your current intentions.
Once the documents are finalized, we arrange formal signing and notarization as required by California law. Proper execution creates a legally valid trust and accompanying documents. We provide guidance on storing original documents and distributing copies to trustees and key advisors. After execution, we assist with the next critical step of funding the trust by retitling property, updating account ownership, and confirming beneficiary designations for retirement and insurance accounts to ensure the plan operates as intended.
Funding the trust and maintaining current information is an ongoing but essential part of a living trust plan. We provide a checklist and assistance for transferring real property deeds, retitling bank and investment accounts, and aligning beneficiary designations. Regular review is recommended when life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or changes in asset ownership occur. We offer periodic reviews to ensure the trust and related documents remain up to date and continue to meet your intentions as circumstances evolve.
Transferring assets into the trust involves practical steps like preparing new deeds for real estate, changing account ownership with financial institutions, and assigning personal property. We provide detailed guidance and documentation templates to help you complete these steps. Ensuring each asset is correctly titled or designated prevents the need for probate for those items and enables the successor trustee to manage or distribute them according to your plan. Careful attention during this phase maximizes the trust’s intended benefits.
Life changes can affect the suitability of a trust and related documents, so periodic review is advisable. We encourage clients to contact our office after major events such as new asset acquisitions, relocations, family changes, or changes in financial goals. Reviews help ensure that the trust remains funded, beneficiary designations are current, and successor trustee appointments are effective. This ongoing attention keeps the plan functioning as intended and reduces surprises for those who will administer or benefit from the trust in the future.
A revocable living trust and a will both direct the distribution of assets, but they function differently and have different administrative paths. A will takes effect only after death and typically must go through probate to transfer titles of assets to heirs. Probate can be time consuming and public, requiring court supervision for administration. In contrast, a living trust can hold legal title to assets during the creator’s life and therefore often avoids probate for those assets. This leads to a more private and potentially faster distribution process for trust property. A second important distinction is incapacity planning. A properly drafted living trust includes provisions for a successor trustee to manage trust assets if the creator becomes incapacitated, offering continuity of management without court-appointed guardianship. A will does not provide for incapacity because it only governs post-death distribution. For many people, a combination of a trust for transferring titled assets and a pour-over will as a safety net creates a comprehensive plan that addresses both incapacity and distribution after death.
Funding a revocable living trust involves transferring ownership of assets into the name of the trust so the trust holds legal title. Common steps include preparing and recording new deeds to transfer real property into the trust, changing ownership of bank and brokerage accounts by completing institutional forms, and naming the trust as owner or beneficiary where appropriate. Personal property can be assigned to the trust through written assignments. Taking these steps ensures that the trust actually controls the assets it is intended to cover. Coordination with retirement accounts and life insurance requires careful consideration because these often pass by beneficiary designation and may not be appropriate to retitle into the trust. Instead, coordinating beneficiary designations to align with your plan is a common approach. Regular reviews and a clear funding checklist help ensure newly acquired assets are properly addressed so the trust functions as intended and avoids unintended probate for assets left outside the trust.
A revocable living trust by itself generally does not reduce federal or state estate taxes because, while the trust holds assets, the trust creator typically retains ownership and control during life. For tax purposes the assets are usually treated as part of the individual’s estate. Estate tax planning strategies that reduce taxes often involve irrevocable planning tools or lifetime gifting strategies designed to remove assets from the taxable estate, and those approaches have different legal and tax implications. However, a living trust can be a helpful component of a broader tax-aware plan because it facilitates orderly administration and can hold additional documents that implement tax-related strategies. If estate tax reduction is a primary concern, it is important to discuss options that address tax outcomes specifically and to coordinate any trust-based plan with qualified tax advice to ensure that the chosen strategies align with federal and California tax rules.
Yes, a revocable living trust can be changed or revoked during the trust creator’s lifetime as long as the creator remains competent to make such changes. The flexibility to amend or revoke the trust allows individuals to adapt their plans to changing family circumstances, financial situations, or preferences. Amendments can modify provisions, beneficiaries, or trustee appointments while the trust creator is alive. Complete revocation is also possible if the creator decides the trust is no longer needed. While revocability provides flexibility, it is important to document changes properly and to update titles and beneficiary designations as needed. Periodic review ensures that amendments are reflected in actual asset ownership and that successor appointments remain appropriate. Any changes should be executed with the same formalities as the original documents to maintain clarity and legal validity.
If the trust creator becomes incapacitated, a successor trustee named in the trust document steps in to manage trust assets according to the trust terms and the creator’s instructions. This arrangement avoids the need for a court-supervised conservatorship for managing trust property, allowing a trusted person to pay bills, manage investments, and make decisions consistent with the creator’s documented wishes. The trust document typically outlines when and how successors assume management responsibilities to ensure a smooth transition. To address incapacity more broadly, the trust is often used alongside a durable financial power of attorney and advance health care directive, which provide authority over non-trust assets and medical decisions. Together, these documents create a practical framework for managing finances and health care without court intervention, preserving continuity and protecting the creator’s interests during periods of diminished capacity.
Not all assets need to be placed in a trust to avoid probate, but assets that remain titled in an individual’s name at death may require probate for transfer. Certain assets pass outside probate by operation of law or contract, such as accounts with payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations, jointly owned property with rights of survivorship, and retirement accounts or life insurance that have designated beneficiaries. Careful coordination of account designations and titling can achieve probate avoidance for many assets without retitling everything into the trust. For some assets, retitling into the trust is the preferred approach to ensure management and continuity, while for others adjusting beneficiary designations or using transfer-on-death provisions may be more practical. A practical funding plan identifies which assets should be placed in the trust and which can be managed through beneficiary designations so that your overall estate plan accomplishes your goals efficiently.
A pour-over will acts as a safety net for assets that were not transferred into the trust during the creator’s lifetime. It directs that any remaining assets be transferred into the trust upon death so those assets can be distributed under the trust’s terms. While a pour-over will helps ensure the trust’s distribution plan applies to all intended property, assets covered solely by the pour-over will may still be subject to probate before they can be poured into the trust and administered according to the trust document. Because relying solely on a pour-over will can result in probate for uncaptured assets, it is important to actively fund the trust during life and to review account titling and beneficiary designations. Using a pour-over will in combination with a funding checklist and periodic reviews provides a comprehensive approach that reduces the risk of overlooked assets and helps ensure your wishes are carried out smoothly.
Choosing a successor trustee is an important decision that balances trustworthiness, availability, and familiarity with your wishes and financial circumstances. Many people name a spouse or adult child who is responsible and organized, or they select a trusted friend, professional fiduciary, or corporate trustee when continuity, neutrality, or administrative capacity is a priority. The successor trustee should be willing to serve and capable of handling the practical tasks of managing assets and communicating with beneficiaries during a potentially sensitive time. It is often beneficial to name backup successor trustees in case the first choice is unable or unwilling to serve. Discussing responsibilities and providing clear guidance within the trust document reduces ambiguity for those who will act as trustee. In situations involving complex assets or family dynamics, appointing an independent or professional trustee to work jointly with a family member can help balance neutrality and family insight for effective administration.
A living trust should be reviewed periodically and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of children, death of beneficiaries or trustees, significant changes in assets, or changes in residency. These events can alter the suitability of provisions, beneficiary designations, and trustee appointments. Regular review, at least every few years, helps ensure the trust continues to reflect current wishes and legal considerations and that assets remain properly funded to achieve the intended outcome. Updates may include amending distribution terms, changing successor trustees, or coordinating new account designations. Periodic professional review also ensures compliance with changes in law and identifies steps needed to maintain the trust’s effectiveness. Proactive maintenance avoids surprises for heirs and helps preserve the benefits intended by the trust.
The cost to establish a revocable living trust varies depending on the complexity of the estate, the number of assets, and whether additional documents such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives are included. Simple trusts for straightforward estates will typically cost less than comprehensive plans that address business interests, multiple properties, or complex family arrangements. Transparent fee discussions during an initial consultation clarify the scope of work and the associated costs for drafting, funding guidance, and follow-up services. In addition to drafting fees, clients may incur nominal costs for recording deeds to transfer real estate and for institutional forms to retitle accounts. Considering the long-term benefits of reduced probate delay, privacy, and orderly management, many clients view the investment in a well-drafted plan as providing practical value and protection for loved ones.
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