If you live in Strawberry or elsewhere in Marin County and are planning for the future, our law office can help you organize your estate and protect your family’s wishes. We provide a full range of estate planning documents including revocable living trusts, last wills and testaments, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and supplemental trust documents. Our approach focuses on clear communication, practical solutions, and careful drafting that aligns with California law. We aim to make the process approachable and understandable so you can make informed decisions about how your assets and care should be handled.
Planning ahead reduces uncertainty for the people you care about and helps avoid delays and added expense during difficult times. Whether your goals include avoiding probate, maintaining privacy, planning for incapacity, or protecting beneficiaries with special needs, we help you evaluate the right combination of documents. Our practice assists with trust funding steps like general assignment of assets to trust and certification of trust documents, and can prepare pour-over wills, HIPAA authorizations, and guardianship nominations. We work to ensure that your plan reflects current circumstances and future intentions, while remaining flexible for changing needs.
Thoughtful estate planning provides peace of mind and practical benefits for you and those you leave behind. A well-constructed plan helps ensure that assets transfer according to your wishes, reduces delays associated with probate, and establishes clear instructions for medical and financial decisions if you become unable to act. Documents such as a revocable living trust, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive work together to manage property and personal care with minimal disruption. For families with minors or beneficiaries who require ongoing support, tailored trusts and guardianship nominations provide additional safeguards for long-term stability and proper oversight.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serve clients across California with a focus on estate planning matters. Our practice aims to offer practical legal guidance grounded in current California statutes and common estate administration practices. We prioritize clear explanations of options, step-by-step planning, and careful drafting of trust and will documents. Whether you are creating a first-time plan, updating an existing trust, or addressing specialized matters like an irrevocable life insurance trust or a retirement plan trust, our team provides consistent attention to detail and personalized service tailored to your family’s situation.
Estate planning is more than choosing beneficiaries; it is a coordinated set of legal documents that together address asset transfer, incapacity planning, and personal decisions. Key documents include a revocable living trust to manage property both during life and at death, a last will and testament to handle residual matters and guardianship nominations for minor children, powers of attorney to manage finances, and advance health care directives to guide medical decisions. Many clients also benefit from certification of trust forms, pour-over wills, HIPAA authorizations, and trust modification petitions as circumstances change. The goal is a cohesive plan that aligns with your wishes and family needs.
Different combinations of documents are appropriate depending on asset types, family dynamics, and long-range goals. For example, a revocable living trust can simplify management of real property and investment accounts, while certain assets like retirement accounts may require beneficiary designations to be updated. For families with a member who has disabilities, a special needs trust or Heggstad petition may protect eligibility for public benefits while preserving supplemental support. We review each client’s holdings and life plans to recommend a structure that minimizes unnecessary court involvement and clarifies responsibilities for trustees and fiduciaries.
Each estate planning document has a specific role. A revocable living trust holds assets under a trustee to manage during life and distribute after death, often avoiding probate and keeping details private. A last will and testament sets out final wishes and appoints guardians for minor children, but wills typically require probate to be implemented. Financial powers of attorney appoint someone to handle financial matters if you cannot, while advance health care directives designate decision makers for medical treatment and end-of-life preferences. Certification of trust provides proof of trust terms without revealing sensitive content, and pour-over wills ensure any assets not placed into the trust during life are transferred into it upon death.
Creating a reliable estate plan includes several coordinated steps: gathering information about assets and beneficiaries, selecting trustees and agents for powers of attorney, drafting and reviewing trust and will provisions, and taking steps to fund the trust by re-titling assets or executing assignments. After documents are signed, maintaining the plan involves periodic review, updating beneficiary designations, and addressing life events like marriage, divorce, births, deaths, and changes in financial circumstances. We assist clients with trust funding tasks such as general assignment of assets to trust and with trust administration filings like trust modification or Heggstad petitions when circumstances warrant changes.
Familiarity with common estate planning terms improves decision making and helps you understand the role of each document. Definitions clarify the difference between trusts and wills, reveal what powers of attorney allow, and explain court filings that may come up in probate or trust administration. Having clear terminology also makes discussions about beneficiaries, fiduciary duties, and asset titling more productive. We provide plain-language explanations tailored to your situation so that you can evaluate whether tools like irrevocable life insurance trusts or retirement plan trusts are appropriate for achieving your goals.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which the grantor transfers assets into a trust managed by a trustee for the benefit of named beneficiaries. The trust can be changed or revoked during the grantor’s lifetime, allowing flexibility to adjust for changing circumstances. One common purpose is to avoid probate by ensuring that assets held in the trust pass according to its terms rather than through probate proceedings. The trust also provides a mechanism for managing assets if the grantor becomes incapacitated, as successor trustees can step in to handle financial affairs without court intervention.
A financial power of attorney appoints an agent to handle financial and legal matters on your behalf if you become unable to do so. The document can be limited to specific tasks or broad in scope, and it may take effect immediately or only upon incapacity. This tool is essential for continuity of financial management, allowing an appointed agent to pay bills, manage investments, and access accounts as authorized. Choosing a trusted agent and clearly defining the scope of authority helps prevent disputes and ensures your financial needs are met during a period of incapacity.
A last will and testament expresses your final wishes for distribution of assets and can nominate guardians for minor children. Unlike a trust, a will generally must be submitted to probate for the directions to be carried out, which can involve court supervision and public records. Wills are often used in conjunction with trusts to handle assets that are not transferred into a trust prior to death, such as through a pour-over will that moves residual property into an existing trust. Wills also allow specific gifts and instructions that complement the trust arrangements.
An advance health care directive lets you designate a person to make medical decisions on your behalf and state your preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care. This document ensures that health care providers and family members are aware of your wishes and have legal authority to act if you cannot communicate. The directive can include preferences about life-sustaining treatments, organ donation, and other medical decisions, and it works together with HIPAA authorizations that allow designated individuals to access protected health information when needed.
Some people consider limited approaches that rely only on a will or basic powers of attorney, while others prefer a comprehensive plan built around a trust and supporting documents. Limited approaches can be sufficient for very small estates or when clients are comfortable with probate and public administration. A comprehensive plan often provides more control over asset distribution, creates smoother management during incapacity, and can reduce the administrative burden on loved ones. Selecting the right approach depends on asset complexity, family needs, privacy concerns, and long-term goals, and we help clients weigh these factors in light of California law.
A plan centered on a will and basic powers of attorney may be adequate when an individual’s estate is small, assets pass automatically by beneficiary designation, and there are no complicated family dynamics or minor children requiring guardianship arrangements. In such cases, the simplicity of drafting a will and executing a power of attorney can provide essential protections without the need for a trust. Clients in this situation still benefit from clear instructions for medical care and financial authority, and periodic review ensures beneficiary designations remain current and aligned with their wishes.
When assets are limited in number and type — for example, a primary residence and modest financial accounts with beneficiary designations — and there are no beneficiaries with special needs, a will-based plan combined with powers of attorney and a health care directive can be a practical option. This approach reduces upfront drafting and administration while still establishing clear authority for decision makers. However, even straightforward estates benefit from careful beneficiary review and occasional updates to reflect life events like marriage, divorce, or changes in financial holdings.
A trust-based plan is often chosen to avoid the probate process, which can be time-consuming and public. Placing assets into a revocable living trust allows for private transfer to beneficiaries and can reduce delays associated with court administration. For clients with real estate, multiple accounts, or a desire to keep details of their estate private, a trust provides a vehicle for smoother transitions. The trust also enables immediate management by a successor trustee should incapacitation occur, supporting financial continuity without court involvement.
When families have complex dynamics, blended relationships, or beneficiaries who require ongoing support, a comprehensive estate plan can provide tailored protections. Tools such as irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, special needs trusts, and pet trusts allow specific management and distribution strategies that address long-term care and benefit eligibility. Using these instruments, a plan can maintain public benefits for a beneficiary while ensuring discretionary supplemental support. Thoughtful drafting reduces the potential for disputes and aligns legal arrangements with family values and practical realities.
A comprehensive approach offers several advantages, including continuity of management, privacy, and flexibility to address unique family concerns. By combining a revocable living trust with supportive documents like powers of attorney and health care directives, you create a coordinated plan that functions across life events. This approach can reduce the time and expense associated with court-supervised probate and provides a clear roadmap for trustees and agents to follow. Through careful drafting and proper funding of the trust, families are better positioned to manage unforeseen circumstances and preserve assets for intended beneficiaries.
Comprehensive planning also enables targeted solutions when particular issues arise, such as the need for a Heggstad petition to address assets not properly transferred into a trust, or a trust modification petition when life circumstances change. It supports legacy planning by specifying distributions, creating life income or support provisions, and using insurance planning vehicles when appropriate. Overall, a cohesive plan helps reduce ambiguity, provides clear authorities for fiduciaries, and creates a legally enforceable structure that aligns with your long-term wishes while complying with California law.
One important benefit of a comprehensive plan is the ability to manage affairs seamlessly if you become incapacitated. Having a revocable living trust with named successor trustees and a financial power of attorney in place ensures that financial matters and property management can proceed without court intervention. This continuity helps bills get paid, investments remain managed, and property is maintained. Coupled with an advance health care directive, the plan also designates who should make medical decisions, providing clarity and reducing stress for family members at difficult times.
Comprehensive planning provides mechanisms to protect beneficiaries who need ongoing care or support. Special needs trusts allow funds to be used for supplemental expenses without jeopardizing eligibility for means-tested benefits. Irrevocable life insurance trusts and retirement plan trusts can shelter assets and structure distributions to preserve benefits and meet long-term needs. These arrangements require careful drafting and coordination with benefit rules to ensure the intended protection is achieved. When done properly, they provide financial security for loved ones while preserving access to public assistance where applicable.
Begin estate planning by compiling a detailed inventory of assets, including real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, and any business interests. Record account numbers, titles, and current beneficiary designations, and note any assets that require retitling for trust funding. This inventory helps identify assets that pass by beneficiary designation versus those that must be handled through a trust or will. Clear documentation saves time and reduces the likelihood of assets inadvertently remaining outside a planned transfer process, which can cause delays and potential disputes.
An effective plan addresses both asset distribution at death and management during incapacity. Prepare a financial power of attorney to assign someone to manage monetary matters, and an advance health care directive to direct medical decisions. Together with a trust that names successor trustees, these documents enable family members to act promptly and in accordance with your wishes. Coordination also includes authorizing access to medical information via HIPAA authorizations and confirming that agents and trustees understand their responsibilities and have necessary contact information and account access.
Residents of Strawberry face unique considerations such as coastal property ownership, community property rules, and family structures that may include out-of-state relatives. Estate planning addresses these factors by clarifying ownership, updating beneficiary designations, and setting effective methods for distributing assets. Professional drafting helps ensure documents conform to California requirements and that intended outcomes are achieved. Beyond asset distribution, planning prepares for potential incapacity, creates medical decision frameworks, and appoints fiduciaries who can act responsibly when needed, reducing family stress and uncertainty.
Many clients also seek planning to protect privacy and reduce administrative burdens after death. A trust-centered plan can avoid probate and maintain confidentiality while enabling a smoother transition for heirs. For families with vulnerable members, tailored trusts and guardianship nominations offer legal structures that address long-term needs and caregiving considerations. Reviewing an existing plan periodically is equally important to account for changes in assets, family dynamics, and law, and we help clients evaluate when modifications, trust amendments, or restatements are appropriate to preserve intended outcomes.
People pursue estate planning for reasons including preparing for incapacity, protecting children or other beneficiaries, avoiding probate, and organizing business succession. Other common triggers include acquiring significant assets, changes in family relationships, aging concerns, and the need to provide for a family member with special needs. Planning also addresses tax considerations and the use of trusts for asset management or creditor protection within the limits allowed by law. Early planning enables orderly transitions and provides clarity about who will make decisions and how assets will be handled.
Purchasing a home or acquiring significant assets is a key moment to review or establish an estate plan. Property ownership affects how assets will pass at death, and re-titling to a trust can prevent probate and facilitate management. Reviewing beneficiary designations and ensuring that deeds or titles reflect the desired ownership structure are important steps. This review helps coordinate property planning with broader family goals and ensures that documents like pour-over wills and trust assignments are aligned with ownership and transfer methods.
Life events such as the birth of a child, a marriage, or changes in relationship status trigger the need to update estate documents. Guardianship nominations, beneficiary updates, and adjustments to trusts ensure that new family members are included and that responsibilities are clearly designated. Planning at these moments reduces uncertainty and helps guarantee that minor children have appointed guardians and that assets provide support according to your wishes. Regular reviews maintain consistency across wills, trusts, and beneficiary forms as family structures evolve.
As people age or face health concerns, ensuring that medical decision-making and financial management are in place becomes a priority. Advance health care directives and HIPAA authorizations designate who can access health information and make treatment decisions, while financial powers of attorney authorize someone to manage accounts and pay bills. Combined with a trust that names successor trustees, these documents provide a framework for both care and asset management during periods of incapacity. Planning ahead reduces family conflict and ensures your preferences are known and followed.
We provide estate planning services tailored to Strawberry residents and neighboring Marin County communities. Our office assists with drafting revocable living trusts, last wills and testaments, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and related trust documents including pour-over wills and certification of trust. We also handle trust funding steps, trust modification petitions, Heggstad petitions, and specialized arrangements like special needs trusts or irrevocable life insurance trusts when appropriate. Clients receive clear communication about options, personalized recommendations, and careful document preparation consistent with California law.
Choosing a legal partner for estate planning means selecting a practice that listens to your goals and translates them into practical documents. We focus on guiding clients through decision points, explaining how different tools function, and drafting paperwork that reflects the client’s intentions. Our firm places emphasis on communication, thorough document preparation, and assistance with implementation steps such as retitling assets and completing beneficiary forms. Clients benefit from a measured process that seeks to minimize surprises and ensure that plans are legally sound and administratively workable.
We also assist with follow-up tasks that are often overlooked, such as completing certifications of trust, preparing HIPAA authorizations, and drafting pour-over wills to capture assets not transferred during life. For families who require ongoing arrangements, we can draft special needs trusts, pet trusts, or retirement plan trusts to align distributions with beneficiaries’ needs. Our goal is to help create documents that are clear, enforceable, and aligned with both current law and your family’s long-term vision.
Finally, we encourage periodic reviews to keep your plan current as personal circumstances and laws change. Whether creating an initial plan or updating an existing one, we approach each matter with attention to detail and a focus on practical outcomes. We provide guidance on trustee and agent selection and offer support during transitions, including assistance with trust administration and filings when necessary, so your plan works as intended when it matters most.
Our process begins with a consultation to learn about your family, assets, and goals. We review property ownership, beneficiary designations, and any special needs that may affect planning choices. After identifying priorities, we recommend a tailored set of documents and explain how each component functions together. Once you approve a plan, we prepare, review, and execute the documents, and then guide you through trust funding and other implementation steps. We remain available to answer questions and to assist with updates, trust administration, or court filings if changes are required in the future.
The first step is a thorough information-gathering meeting where we discuss your assets, family dynamics, and goals for distribution and care. We ask about real property, accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, and any business interests, and we identify beneficiaries and potential fiduciaries. This step also covers medical wishes and who you prefer to appoint for health care decisions. The information collected forms the foundation for recommending the appropriate documents and strategies to align legal arrangements with your objectives under California law.
During the asset and family review we inventory holdings, confirm titles, and identify accounts requiring beneficiary designations. We assess whether trust funding is needed for particular assets and discuss family relationships that may affect decision making, such as blended families or beneficiaries with support needs. This groundwork helps ensure that recommended documents reflect the full scope of your estate and the people you wish to protect, and it informs trustee and agent selection for smooth administration when the plan is activated.
After reviewing assets and family circumstances, we help you prioritize goals such as avoiding probate, providing for minor children, protecting a beneficiary with disabilities, or preserving privacy. Based on those goals, we recommend a package of documents including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health directives. We explain tradeoffs and help you choose the structure that aligns with your preferences, then prepare draft documents for your review and revision before finalization and signing.
Once goals and document structure are agreed upon, we draft the necessary documents with clear language and practical provisions. Drafting includes revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and any tailored trusts such as special needs or pet trusts. We provide a draft for your review, explain key provisions, and incorporate requested changes. This collaborative review ensures the final documents reflect your intent and provide the authorities and protections you want for management and distribution of assets.
After reviewing drafts and making any necessary revisions, the final step is execution according to legal formalities. We coordinate signing, witnessing, and notarization as required, and provide clients with executed originals and copies for fiduciaries. For documents like powers of attorney and health care directives, we ensure agents receive copies and understand their roles. Proper execution reduces the risk of later challenges and helps ensure documents are effective when needed.
Following execution, we assist clients with the trust funding process, which may include re-titling real estate, updating account ownership, and preparing general assignment of assets to trust forms. We can provide guidance on beneficiary designation coordination and help prepare certification of trust documents for financial institutions. This implementation ensures that assets intended to be governed by the trust are properly transferred, reducing the likelihood of assets being subject to probate and helping trustees administer the estate according to your plan.
Estate planning is an ongoing process that benefits from periodic review and updates. Life events like births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and changes in assets can affect the suitability of existing documents. We offer review meetings to suggest amendments, restatements, or trust modification petitions when needed. If the plan is activated due to incapacity or death, we also assist with trust administration tasks, filings, and any necessary court petitions such as Heggstad petitions to resolve issues with asset transfers, ensuring the plan is carried out efficiently and in accordance with your wishes.
Periodic reviews help ensure your estate plan remains aligned with current family situations and financial circumstances. During reviews we confirm that beneficiary designations remain accurate, evaluate changes in asset portfolios, and discuss whether trust amendments or restatements are prudent. Regularly revisiting your plan reduces the risk of unintended outcomes and keeps agents and trustees informed of their roles. We recommend scheduling reviews following major life changes to confirm that documents still reflect your intentions and comply with applicable law.
When a trust must be administered or a probate process is necessary, we provide assistance to trustees and fiduciaries with inventorying assets, notice requirements, accounting obligations, and necessary filings. For assets not properly transferred into a trust, we can pursue remedies such as Heggstad petitions or prepare trust modification petitions when circumstances justify changes. Our support aims to streamline administrative responsibilities and reduce disputes, offering trustees practical guidance for fulfilling duties under California law while protecting beneficiaries’ interests.
A basic estate plan generally includes a revocable living trust or a last will and testament, a financial power of attorney, and an advance health care directive. The trust or will directs distribution of your assets, while the power of attorney allows a chosen person to manage financial affairs if you become unable to do so. The advance health care directive identifies who will make medical decisions and records your treatment preferences. Additional documents such as a pour-over will, HIPAA authorization, and certification of trust may also be useful to complete the plan and facilitate administration. Beyond the core documents, planning may include specialized trusts like special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, or retirement plan trusts depending on goals and beneficiary circumstances. Guardianship nominations are important when minors are involved. We recommend reviewing property titles and beneficiary designations to ensure they are coordinated with the estate plan. Proper implementation, including trust funding steps, helps ensure the plan functions as intended and minimizes the need for court involvement.
A revocable living trust and a will serve related but different roles. A revocable living trust holds assets under a trustee and can provide for management and distribution without court-supervised probate, offering privacy and potentially faster asset transfer. A will directs distribution of assets that were not transferred to a trust and typically must be processed through probate, which is a public court proceeding. Many clients use a pour-over will to capture any assets not moved into the trust during life so that those assets are transferred into the trust upon death. Wills are useful for nominating guardians for minor children and specifying final wishes, but their instructions become effective only through probate. Trusts are often preferred for managing real property and larger estates that would otherwise be subject to probate. Proper coordination ensures that beneficiary designations, account titles, and trust documents align to achieve the intended outcome for your heirs.
You should update beneficiary designations and estate documents after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the death of a beneficiary, or substantial changes in assets. Changes in residence or tax law, key changes in health status, or the creation or dissolution of business interests also warrant a review. Because beneficiary designations on accounts or insurance policies can override other estate documents, it is important to confirm they reflect current intentions and are coordinated with your trust and will. Regular reviews every few years help ensure your plan remains effective and aligned with your goals. We recommend a review after any significant life event to consider amendments or restatements. Keeping documents current reduces the likelihood of unintended outcomes and makes administration smoother for fiduciaries when the plan must be implemented.
Yes. A properly funded revocable living trust can help avoid probate for property held in the trustee’s name. By transferring ownership of real estate and accounts into the trust, the assets pass to beneficiaries according to the trust terms without the need for probate court administration. This can save time, reduce public exposure of estate details, and simplify distribution for heirs. Trust funding includes retitling deeds, changing account registrations, and updating institutional records to recognize the trust as owner where appropriate. However, assets with beneficiary designations such as retirement accounts and life insurance may pass outside the trust if beneficiary forms are not updated. A pour-over will may capture such assets if they remain outside the trust at death, but those assets could still require probate if not properly coordinated. We help clients with the trust funding process and documentation like certification of trust to facilitate institutional acceptance of the trust.
Special needs trusts are designed to provide for the supplemental needs of a beneficiary while preserving eligibility for means-tested public benefits such as Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income. The funds held in a special needs trust are used for items that enhance quality of life but are not treated as countable income or resources for benefit purposes when properly drafted and administered. These trusts typically restrict distributions to supplemental expenses and are managed by trustees who understand the limits to protect benefits. Drafting and administration require careful attention to benefit program rules and coordination with legal counsel. Depending on the circumstances, special needs trusts can be established during life or funded at death through a trust or will. We advise clients on the structure that best protects public benefits while providing discretionary support, and we offer guidance to trustees on appropriate distribution practices.
A Heggstad petition is a court filing used in California to transfer property into a trust when an asset was intended to be placed into a revocable living trust but was not re-titled before the grantor’s death. The petition asks the court to recognize the deceased person’s intent that the asset be part of the trust and to direct transfer accordingly. This remedy can help resolve issues where funding steps were incomplete, avoiding potential disputes and aligning asset title with the grantor’s documented plan. The success of a Heggstad petition depends on evidence showing clear intent and the surrounding circumstances, such as trust documents, drafts, correspondence, and patterns of conduct. When possible, taking proactive steps to fund trusts avoids the need for such petitions, but we can assist when post-death corrections are necessary to carry out the decedent’s wishes.
Choosing a trustee, agent for powers of attorney, or guardian involves balancing trustworthiness, availability, and competence to manage financial and personal matters. Consider someone who understands family dynamics, can make sound decisions under pressure, and is willing to carry out fiduciary duties responsibly. Some people name a trusted family member or friend, while others appoint a professional fiduciary or corporate trustee when impartial administration or continuity is important. It is also useful to name successor fiduciaries in case the primary choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve. Open conversations with potential fiduciaries about the role and responsibilities help ensure they are prepared and understand expectations. Executors, trustees, and agents should have access to necessary information and documentation. We can provide guidance on drafting clear powers and trustee instructions, and help clients weigh the advantages of different appointment options based on family circumstances and asset complexity.
Funding a trust involves retitling assets from your individual name into the name of the trust and updating account registrations where possible. Real property deeds are commonly updated to reflect trust ownership, and bank and brokerage accounts can be retitled into the trust or have payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations aligned with trust objectives. For accounts where retitling is not practical, coordinating beneficiary designations and preparing a pour-over will may be used to effect intended transfers at death. The funding process may also include preparing a general assignment of assets to trust and providing financial institutions with certification of trust to facilitate acceptance of the trust. Proper funding is essential to ensure the trust operates as intended and to minimize the likelihood of assets remaining subject to probate. We assist clients through each step of implementation to confirm assets are properly aligned with the estate plan.
Plan reviews should occur regularly and after any major life event, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary, significant changes in assets, or relocations to a different state. Laws and financial circumstances change over time, and periodic reviews allow updates to beneficiary designations, trustee and agent appointments, and trust provisions. Regular maintenance keeps the plan effective and aligned with current family needs and legal requirements. In addition to event-driven reviews, scheduling a review every few years helps catch issues before they become problematic. We recommend a structured review where documents are assessed for relevance and any necessary amendments, restatements, or supplementary documents are prepared to reflect new goals or changes in law.
Dying without a will or trust is called intestacy, and California law will determine how assets are distributed according to statutory rules. The court may appoint an administrator to handle distribution, and assets may pass to close relatives based on statutory priority, which may not reflect your personal wishes. Additionally, without appointed fiduciaries named in estate planning documents, there may be uncertainty about guardianship for minor children and delays as the court oversees probate matters. Intestacy can also increase costs and create public records of estate details through probate proceedings. To avoid these outcomes, most people benefit from preparing at least a basic set of documents that appoint trusted fiduciaries and express their distribution preferences. We assist clients in creating clear plans that align with their intentions and reduce the chances of intestate outcomes.
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