The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman welcomes members of the UC Irvine community who seek clear, practical estate planning solutions tailored to life in Orange County and across California. Whether you are a student managing your first assets, a faculty member reviewing long-term plans, or a staff member organizing paperwork for family protection, we provide straightforward guidance and a calm process. Our firm, based in San Jose, works with individuals across the state and can arrange flexible consultation options to meet your schedule. Call 408-528-2827 to discuss how to begin creating or updating your estate plan with a focus on practical outcomes and personal priorities.
Estate planning covers a range of documents and decisions that determine how your assets, health care, and personal care are handled if you become unable to make decisions or after you die. Common elements include a revocable living trust, last will and testament, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, and supporting items such as a pour-over will, HIPAA authorization, and guardianship nominations. We also assist with trust-related documents like certification of trust, general assignment of assets to trust, and trust modification petitions. Our approach is to explain each option clearly and help you choose the combination that fits your circumstances and goals.
Planning ahead brings clarity and stability for you and those you care about. A thoughtful estate plan helps ensure that assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes, that health care decisions reflect your preferences, and that designated decision-makers can act on your behalf during illness or incapacity. For families, young professionals, and students with growing responsibilities, these plans reduce confusion and delay after a death or medical emergency. Using tools such as revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives can also minimize the need for court involvement and provide privacy for financial and personal matters, reducing stress for loved ones at difficult times.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services to clients throughout California from our San Jose practice, serving Orange County and the UC Irvine community. Our attorneys have long-standing experience preparing trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and related trust administration filings. We prioritize clear communication, practical planning, and personalized documents that reflect each client’s priorities. When you call 408-528-2827, we focus on understanding your family dynamics, financial picture, and future goals to design a plan that reduces uncertainty and meets your needs for the present and years ahead.
Estate planning is the process of creating legal documents that direct the management and distribution of your assets, provide for health care decision-making, and designate guardians or fiduciaries when needed. The central elements often include a revocable living trust to avoid probate, a last will and testament to handle residual matters, and powers of attorney to authorize trusted individuals to act on your behalf. Advance health care directives specify your medical preferences and appoint a health care agent. Together, these documents create a coordinated plan to protect your wishes and streamline administration for your loved ones.
The planning process typically begins with an information gathering meeting to review assets, family circumstances, and priorities. From there, tailored documents are drafted and reviewed with you to ensure they reflect your intentions. After signing, additional steps such as funding a trust and updating account beneficiary designations are often required to make the plan effective. Periodic review is recommended when there are major life changes such as marriage, the birth of a child, inheritance, or relocation. We guide clients through each step so the plan functions as intended and remains current over time.
Different documents serve distinct roles within an estate plan. A revocable living trust holds assets during life and passes them to beneficiaries without probate. A last will and testament names guardians for minor children and transfers any property not included in a trust. A financial power of attorney authorizes someone to manage finances if you cannot, while an advance health care directive sets medical preferences and appoints a health care decision-maker. Other tools, such as special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and pour-over wills, address specific situations like protecting benefits or preserving the intended distribution of retirement accounts.
Creating an effective estate plan involves identifying assets, selecting beneficiaries and fiduciaries, drafting appropriate documents, and taking steps to ensure the plan is put into effect. Important tasks include preparing a certification of trust for institutions, executing a general assignment of assets to fund a trust, reviewing retirement plan trust options, and arranging HIPAA authorization for access to medical information. When necessary, petitions such as Heggstad or trust modification filings are used to resolve title or administration issues. Clear record-keeping and periodic reviews help maintain alignment with changing circumstances and legal requirements.
A concise glossary helps demystify estate planning terms and shows how various documents work together. Knowing basic definitions—such as the purpose of a revocable trust versus a will, the role of powers of attorney, and the function of advance directives—lets you make informed choices. This section defines common items you will encounter during planning, including trust funding, beneficiary designations, pour-over wills, HIPAA releases, and guardianship nominations. Understanding these terms reduces uncertainty and helps you participate actively in creating a plan that reflects your wishes and priorities.
A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that holds assets during your life with instruction for management and distribution at incapacity or death. While you remain in control, assets placed into the trust bypass probate after death, which can reduce delay and public exposure of personal affairs. The trust typically names trustees, successor trustees, and beneficiaries, and can include specific terms for distribution timing or conditions. Funding the trust by transferring ownership of accounts and real property is an important follow-up step to ensure the trust serves its intended purpose and provides continuity in asset management.
A last will and testament is a legal document that sets out how assets not held in a trust should be distributed, names an executor to manage the estate, and can designate guardians for minor children. Wills become effective only after death and generally must pass through probate, which is the court-supervised process of administering the estate. Wills are useful for addressing matters that a trust does not cover and for creating a safety net to catch assets that were not transferred into a trust. Regular review of a will is recommended to reflect changes in family structure or financial circumstances.
A financial power of attorney grants a trusted person authority to manage financial matters on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This can include paying bills, managing bank accounts, handling investments, and dealing with property transactions. The document can be durable, remaining in effect if you become incapacitated, and it can be tailored with specific powers or limitations to match your comfort level. Choosing an agent you trust and discussing their responsibilities in advance helps ensure smooth handling of financial affairs when the power is needed.
An advance health care directive records your preferences for medical care and designates a health care agent to make treatment decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. It can express values and specific choices about life-sustaining treatment, organ donation, and comfort care, and it provides guidance to medical providers and loved ones. A HIPAA authorization often accompanies the directive to allow your agent and designated family members to access medical records. Clear, written instructions reduce ambiguity during stressful medical situations and help ensure that your treatment aligns with your personal wishes.
Deciding between a limited approach, such as a simple will or a basic powers package, and a comprehensive plan with trusts and thorough funding depends on your assets, family complexity, and long-term objectives. A limited plan can be appropriate for those with minimal assets or temporary circumstances, offering a lower upfront commitment. A comprehensive plan, by contrast, addresses probate avoidance, incapacity planning, and tailored distributions, and it often provides greater protection for beneficiaries and smoother administration. We help clients weigh the trade-offs and select an approach that balances cost, convenience, and intended protection.
A limited estate plan may be a reasonable starting point for individuals with modest assets, straightforward beneficiary arrangements, and limited real property. For students or young professionals who primarily hold bank accounts and retirement benefits with beneficiary designations, a will paired with powers of attorney and an advance health care directive can provide necessary direction without more complex structures. This approach can be cost-effective while still addressing decision-making in the event of incapacity and naming guardians for minors. It is important to revisit the plan as circumstances evolve and assets grow.
A limited plan can serve those in transitional periods, such as students away at school, employees temporarily living in another state, or individuals expecting future inheritances but not yet needing complex structures. In these cases, a basic package of a will, financial power of attorney, and health care directive provides protection while delaying or simplifying decisions about trusts. When life events occur that change asset holdings or family dynamics, the plan can be expanded into a more comprehensive arrangement that addresses probate avoidance, tax planning, or beneficiary protections as needed.
A comprehensive plan that includes a revocable living trust can significantly simplify estate administration by avoiding probate for trust assets, which reduces delay and keeps distributions private. Probate can be time-consuming and public, creating additional burdens for family members. By arranging assets to transfer through a trust and coordinating beneficiary designations, many families achieve a smoother transition and less court involvement. This approach can also include specific terms to manage how and when beneficiaries receive property, helping meet long-term goals such as education funding or staged inheritances.
Comprehensive planning becomes particularly important for those with complex family situations, special needs beneficiaries, or significant assets that require protection over time. A full plan can provide durable powers of attorney, health directives, special needs trusts to preserve benefits, and trust provisions that address blended families or creditor concerns. These documents work together to ensure continuity of care and financial management if you are incapacitated, and they can shape distributions to protect vulnerable beneficiaries while preserving eligibility for public benefits where necessary.
A comprehensive estate plan offers coordinated protection for your financial and health care decisions and can reduce burdens on loved ones during times of loss or incapacity. With properly drafted trusts, powers of attorney, and health directives, families often experience faster administration, clearer instructions for decision-makers, and reduced likelihood of disputes. Tailored provisions can address unique needs such as retirement account planning, trust funding steps, and provisions for minor children or beneficiaries with special circumstances. This integrated approach promotes continuity and aligns legal documents with long-term goals for family care and financial stewardship.
Comprehensive planning also supports future flexibility and ease of administration. By documenting your wishes and naming reliable fiduciaries, you help ensure that financial and healthcare decisions will be made by those you trust. Additionally, assets held in trusts typically avoid probate, which saves time and reduces fees for the estate. Regularly reviewing and updating the plan keeps it aligned with life changes and legal updates. Our team assists with funding trusts, preparing certifications of trust for institutions, and coordinating beneficiary designations to ensure the plan functions as intended.
A comprehensive plan gives you detailed control over distribution timing, conditions, and management of assets for beneficiaries. Trust provisions can stagger distributions, set educational or health-related distributions, and protect inheritances from creditors or unintended uses. This level of control is particularly useful for families with young adults, beneficiaries who may need financial oversight, or those who wish to preserve assets for future generations. Thoughtful drafting ensures that your intentions are clearly stated and legally enforceable, reducing ambiguity and preventing disputes among heirs.
When assets are organized and trust-funded, the need for court involvement is often reduced, which can lower administrative costs and speed distributions to beneficiaries. Clear powers of attorney and advance directives allow trusted agents to act promptly during incapacity, preventing delays in financial and medical decision-making. These practical benefits translate into less stress for family members who are coping with an emotional time, and they allow successors to focus on carrying out your wishes rather than navigating procedural hurdles. Planning ahead brings clarity and relief when it is needed most.
Beginning estate planning early gives you time to assemble documents, make thoughtful decisions, and update plans as life changes occur. Even if your asset base is modest, having a will, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive in place protects your wishes and reduces confusion for those you leave behind. Schedule periodic reviews when you experience major life events like marriage, the birth of a child, or a significant change in finances. Regular review ensures that beneficiary designations, trusts, and other documents remain aligned with your current objectives and family circumstances.
If you have minor children, dependents, individuals with special needs, or beloved pets, include specific provisions to protect their well-being. Guardianship nominations in a will name the person you want to care for young children, while special needs trusts preserve benefits for a beneficiary who receives public assistance. A pet trust can provide for the ongoing care of an animal with designated funds and a caretaker. Clear, written instructions reduce uncertainty and help ensure that those you care about receive the support you intend.
Estate planning addresses more than the distribution of assets; it prepares for incapacity, names decision-makers for finances and health care, and can protect beneficiaries from unnecessary legal hurdles. For UC Irvine students and staff who may be balancing remote study, changing living arrangements, or growing families, having up-to-date documents provides peace of mind. In circumstances involving retirement accounts, life insurance, or property, careful planning coordinates beneficiary designations and trust provisions to reflect your intent and minimize administrative burdens after a death or during an emergency.
Additionally, modern estate planning can address tax, creditor, and benefit issues through tools like irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, or special needs arrangements. Even when immediate tax concerns are limited, drafting clear documents and taking practical steps such as funding a trust or preparing HIPAA authorizations helps avoid delays and disputes. We work with clients to assess their circumstances and recommend a path that aligns with both present needs and future goals, making it easier for loved ones to carry out intentions with clarity and dignity.
Certain life events commonly trigger the need for estate planning: marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of children, purchasing real estate, receiving an inheritance, or changes in health or employment. Students and faculty often experience transitions that affect residency and assets, so having documents in place before travel or relocation is wise. For those caring for aging parents or relatives with special needs, planning can protect their benefits and manage long-term care decisions. Addressing these situations with thoughtful documents reduces uncertainty and ensures your wishes are documented and actionable.
Events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child often require updates to beneficiary designations and estate documents to reflect new priorities and legal rights. These transitions change who should make medical or financial decisions on your behalf and who should inherit assets. Reviewing wills, trusts, and powers of attorney after significant life changes ensures your plan remains consistent with your intentions. Taking action promptly after life events avoids situations where outdated documents create confusion or unintended outcomes for loved ones.
When you become a parent or take on guardianship responsibilities, naming someone to care for minor children and setting up financial provisions for their support becomes a priority. Guardianship nominations in a will identify who you trust to raise your children, while trust provisions can secure funds for education and living expenses. For families with blended dynamics or stepchildren, clear documentation reduces ambiguity and helps prevent disputes. Thoughtful planning ensures that children receive appropriate care and resources in line with your wishes.
Significant assets, multiple properties, or retirement accounts call for coordinated planning to ensure smooth transfer and proper tax treatment where applicable. Real estate in multiple locations, business interests, or accounts with beneficiary designations require attention to prevent unintended consequences. Instruments such as pour-over wills, retirement plan trusts, and certification of trust documents can streamline administration and protect family resources. Taking the time to organize titles and designations now reduces the administrative and emotional load on successors later.
Although based in San Jose, the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients in Orange County and throughout California, including the UC Irvine community. We offer flexible consultations to accommodate students, faculty, and staff, and provide clear guidance on documents like revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Remote meetings and telephone consultations are available to fit academic and work schedules. To start the process or schedule a conversation, call 408-528-2827 and we will arrange a convenient time to review your needs and options.
Clients seek our help because we provide practical, client-focused estate planning that balances legal precision with understandable explanations. We take time to learn about your family dynamics, future goals, and asset structure before recommending documents tailored to your situation. Whether your priorities are avoiding probate, providing for children, or preserving public benefits for a loved one, we explain the benefits and limitations of different tools and help implement the plan efficiently. Our goal is to produce clear, usable documents that serve long-term needs while remaining adaptable over time.
We emphasize a collaborative process with straightforward communication, so clients know what to expect at each step. After drafting documents, we guide clients through funding a trust, updating beneficiary designations, and preparing necessary certifications or assignments. Practical follow-up and record-keeping make it easier for successors to locate and use documents when needed. For UC Irvine community members with busy schedules, we offer flexible appointment options and concise next steps to ensure the planning process is manageable and effective.
Our firm also handles trust-related petitions and administration matters when issues arise, including trust modification petitions and Heggstad petitions when title irregularities need correction. We prepare supporting documents like certification of trust, HIPAA authorizations, and pour-over wills, and provide guidance on retirement plan trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts when appropriate. This integrated approach ensures that documents are not only well drafted but practically effective in real-world administration, reducing surprises for family members and fiduciaries.
Our process is designed to be clear and manageable. It begins with an initial review to understand your goals, followed by drafting of tailored documents, and finishes with signing, funding, and follow-up to confirm the plan operates as intended. We provide guidance at each stage and prepare any supporting documents needed by financial institutions or medical providers. Regular reviews are encouraged to ensure the plan keeps pace with life changes and legal updates. Clients appreciate the straightforward timeline and practical steps we outline at the start of each engagement.
The initial meeting focuses on gathering detailed information about your family, assets, and priorities to determine the most appropriate estate planning approach. We discuss goals for distribution, management during incapacity, guardianship decisions, and any special circumstances such as benefits eligibility or blended family issues. This step includes inventorying assets, reviewing existing beneficiary designations, and identifying potential title or funding tasks necessary for the plan to be effective. Clear documentation at this stage streamlines drafting and reduces the need for repeated revisions.
Understanding how you want assets to be used and who should make decisions is central to meaningful planning. During this conversation we focus on family structure, educational objectives, care for minors or dependents, and any preferences for timing or conditions on distributions. We also discuss potential fiduciaries and alternate decision-makers. Open discussion of values and practical needs helps shape documents that reflect your intentions and provides clarity for those who may act on your behalf in the future.
A thorough review of assets and existing documents reveals where updates or transfers are necessary to implement the plan. This step includes checking real estate titles, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, bank accounts, and business interests. We assess current beneficiary designations and identify accounts that should be retitled or assigned to a trust. Gathering this information early reduces delays and helps ensure that the drafted documents operate as intended once executed and funded.
Based on the initial review, we prepare tailored documents and review them with you to confirm accuracy and intent. Drafts typically include revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, and any special trusts such as special needs or irrevocable life insurance trusts when appropriate. We explain each document in plain language, suggest practical provisions, and make revisions as needed. The goal is to ensure clarity and durability so the documents perform reliably when they are needed most.
Trust and will drafting focuses on naming trustees and successor trustees, specifying beneficiaries, and setting distribution terms that align with your wishes. For clients who want to avoid probate, a revocable living trust is drafted and coupled with a pour-over will to catch any residual assets. For those with special circumstances, provisions can be included to protect beneficiaries, direct educational spending, or address creditor concerns. Each document is reviewed in detail to confirm that it reflects your intentions and that practical steps are identified for implementation.
Drafting powers of attorney and advance directives involves selecting trusted agents and setting clear instructions for financial and medical decision-making. These documents can be customized to grant broad authority or to impose specific limits, depending on your preferences. A HIPAA authorization is often included to allow agents to access medical records. We ensure that the documents are properly executed under California law and provide guidance on how agents should be advised of their responsibilities in the event they must act on your behalf.
After finalizing documents, the signing process is completed according to legal formalities, and follow-up steps are taken to fund trusts and update account titles and beneficiary designations. We provide instructions and assistance for transferring assets, preparing a certification of trust for banks and institutions, and creating organized records for successors. Periodic reviews are recommended to keep the plan current with life changes, new assets, or law changes, and we offer support for updates, trust modifications, or filings as needed to maintain the plan’s effectiveness.
Funding a trust often requires retitling real estate, transferring bank or investment accounts, and designating the trust as beneficiary where appropriate. Without these steps, assets may remain outside the trust and subject to probate. We provide clients with detailed instructions and assistance to coordinate transfers and prepare any necessary deeds or beneficiary change forms. Completing these tasks ensures the trust functions as intended and reduces the administrative burden on successors after incapacity or death.
Life changes and evolving laws make periodic reviews important to keep an estate plan aligned with current circumstances. We recommend reviews following major events such as births, marriages, divorces, inheritances, or changes in health. When adjustments are needed, trust modification petitions or related filings can implement updates without starting from scratch. We also assist trustees and executors with their responsibilities, providing guidance on trust administration, required filings, and distribution tasks to ensure smooth, compliant handling of estate matters.
As a UC Irvine student, prioritize documents that address immediate decision-making and unexpected events. A basic package typically includes a financial power of attorney to authorize someone to manage bank accounts and bills if you are temporarily incapacitated, an advance health care directive to state your medical preferences, and a simple will to designate guardians or direct modest assets. These documents provide essential protections during college years, especially if you study away from family or travel frequently, ensuring someone can act on your behalf if needed. Beyond the immediate essentials, consider how your assets and responsibilities may change over time and plan accordingly. If you hold substantial accounts, scholarship funds, or property, a revocable living trust and coordination of beneficiary designations can help avoid probate and clarify distribution. Even students with modest means benefit from clear documents and a plan to update them as life evolves. Consulting with counsel can help you select the most appropriate combination of documents and set a schedule for future reviews and updates.
A revocable living trust and a will serve different roles in California estate planning. A will takes effect only at death and typically must be processed through probate for distribution of assets held in your individual name. It also allows you to name guardians for minor children and an executor to manage the probate estate. A revocable living trust, by contrast, can hold assets during life and provides a mechanism to transfer those assets to beneficiaries after death without probate, offering greater privacy and potentially faster distribution. Both tools are often used together: a pour-over will accompanies a trust to capture any assets not transferred into the trust during life. The trust requires active funding through title changes or beneficiary designations to be effective. Choosing between or combining these documents depends on factors such as asset complexity, the desire to avoid probate, and family circumstances. We help clients assess those factors and prepare the documents that best match their objectives.
Yes, you can create a California estate plan while living outside Orange County, and many people do so while studying, working remotely, or temporarily relocating. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients statewide and can arrange remote consultations to review your situation, prepare tailored documents, and advise on execution requirements. Important considerations include selecting a proper governing law and ensuring documents are executed according to California formalities if you intend the plan to be governed by California law. If you plan to return to California or hold property here, it is important to use documents that align with California statutes. For students or workers who move frequently, we provide guidance on how to execute, store, and activate documents while away from home. We also advise on practical steps like updating beneficiary designations and funding a trust so your plan will be effective regardless of where you are living at the time.
A financial power of attorney is a legal document that appoints another person to manage your financial affairs if you are unable or unwilling to do so. The appointed agent can be authorized to pay bills, manage bank accounts, handle tax matters, sell property, and undertake other financial transactions specified in the document. You can grant broad authority or limit the powers to specific tasks and set conditions for when the authority becomes effective, such as upon incapacity or immediately upon signing. This document is especially important for students and young professionals who travel or live apart from family, and for anyone who wants to name a trusted person to step in during hospitalization or incapacity. Choosing an agent who understands your financial priorities and communicating expectations in advance helps ensure responsible management of your affairs when the power is needed. Regular review and updates are recommended to reflect changes in relationships or circumstances.
To name a guardian for minor children, you include a guardianship nomination in your last will and testament that identifies the person you prefer to act as guardian of your children if you are unable to care for them. The court generally gives significant weight to a parent’s nominated guardian, so clearly documenting your choice in a will provides important direction. It is also wise to name alternate guardians in case the primary choice is unavailable when needed. Beyond the nomination itself, you should discuss your wishes with the prospective guardian to confirm their willingness and ability to assume responsibility. Consider practical matters such as the guardian’s location, parenting style, and financial readiness. Complementary provisions in a trust can provide the financial support needed for a guardian to care for children, and naming temporary guardians in separate documents can address interim arrangements while longer-term plans are implemented.
A special needs trust is a carefully drafted trust designed to provide for a beneficiary with disabilities without jeopardizing eligibility for public benefit programs such as Supplemental Security Income or Medi-Cal. Funds held in a special needs trust can be used for supplemental care, enrichment, medical-related expenses not covered by benefits, and quality-of-life items, while means-tested programs continue to provide essential services. Special needs trusts can be created during life or funded at death through a testamentary trust or payable-on-death designation, depending on the circumstances. Determining whether a special needs trust is appropriate involves reviewing the beneficiary’s current benefits, income, and long-term needs. Proper drafting and funding are essential to preserve public benefits and ensure funds are used as intended. We work with families to evaluate options, design trust provisions that align with benefit rules, and coordinate funding mechanisms so the trust supports the beneficiary without unintended consequences.
Including provisions for a pet in an estate plan allows you to provide for the animal’s care after you are no longer able to do so. Common methods include creating a pet trust with designated funds for care, naming a caretaker, and outlining instructions for the pet’s routine and health care. Pet trusts can specify how funds should be used and include oversight provisions to ensure the caretaker uses funds appropriately. Alternatively, a bequest in a will can provide funds for a named caregiver, though trusts often provide stronger enforceability and oversight. When planning for a pet, consider naming a primary and alternate caregiver and designating an amount sufficient for expected care costs. Providing veterinary records, feeding instructions, and information about temperament helps the caregiver provide continuity of care. We can draft tailored provisions that reflect your wishes for your pet’s welfare and structure funding to be practical and enforceable for the designated caregiver.
It is wise to review and update your estate plan periodically and whenever major life events occur. Typical triggers for review include marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a change in residence, significant acquisitions or dispositions of property, the death of a beneficiary or fiduciary, or changes in health. Regular reviews ensure beneficiary designations, trustee and agent selections, and document provisions remain aligned with current intentions and legal developments. For many people, a review every three to five years is reasonable, while others may benefit from more frequent updates after significant events. During a review, we assess whether trust funding is complete, beneficiary designations match the plan, and whether any trust modifications or petitions are needed. Maintaining current documents reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that the plan will operate smoothly when needed.
If you have a properly funded revocable living trust, most assets held in the trust do not pass through probate at death. Assets that remain titled solely in your name or that have outdated beneficiary designations may still be subject to probate, which is why funding and account coordination are important steps after signing trust documents. A pour-over will can capture any assets inadvertently left out of the trust and direct them into it for distribution, but such assets may still require probate if not properly titled prior to death. Probate may still be necessary for certain types of property or complex disputes, but many families reduce or avoid probate by using trusts and careful titling. We assist clients with trust funding, certification of trust preparation, and reviewing account designations to minimize the likelihood of probate. If probate becomes necessary, we can provide guidance through the process and seek to minimize its duration and cost where possible.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists UC Irvine community members with every stage of estate planning, from initial assessment to document drafting, trust funding, and ongoing reviews. We prepare revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, and specialized trusts such as special needs or retirement plan trusts. We also provide supporting documents like HIPAA authorizations, pour-over wills, and certification of trust to help ensure institutions recognize and implement your plan efficiently. Beyond drafting, we guide clients through practical follow-up steps including property retitling, beneficiary updates, and transfer coordination, and we support trustees, executors, and families with administration tasks and filings when needed. Remote consultations are available to accommodate busy schedules, and we tailor our approach to the circumstances of students, faculty, staff, and their families to provide clear, actionable estate planning solutions.
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