A revocable living trust can provide a flexible, private way to manage your assets during life and arrange for a smooth transition at death. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help residents of Galt and the surrounding Sacramento County area understand how a trust fits into a broader estate plan that may also include a last will and testament, powers of attorney, and health care directives. This initial discussion focuses on practical benefits such as probate avoidance, continuity of asset management, and clearer instructions for trustees and beneficiaries, all tailored to California law and local court practices.
Deciding whether a revocable living trust is right for you involves considering family dynamics, the types and locations of assets you own, and your goals for privacy and legacy. This page outlines what a revocable living trust does, how it works alongside other estate planning tools like pour-over wills and powers of attorney, and what to expect during the planning process. Whether your priorities are avoiding probate, planning for potential incapacity, or making transfers to children or charitable causes, we explain the steps and provide clear options to help you make informed decisions for your family and assets.
A revocable living trust matters because it offers control, continuity, and privacy in managing your property now and after your death. By placing assets into a trust, you can name a successor trustee to manage or distribute assets without the delays and public filings that come with probate. The trust can also include provisions for managing assets if you become incapacitated, work alongside a pour-over will, and be amended as your circumstances change. For families with real estate, retirement accounts, or blended family issues, a trust can provide clearer direction and reduce the administrative burden on loved ones during emotionally difficult times.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves individuals and families across Sacramento County with estate planning services focused on practical solutions. Our attorneys draw on years of experience handling revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and related documents. We emphasize clear communication and careful document drafting to reflect each client’s wishes and to reduce the chance of disputes. The firm assists with trust funding, beneficiary coordination, and court filings when necessary, aiming to make the planning process smooth and tailored to each family’s particular circumstances, financial picture, and future goals.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which a grantor transfers ownership of assets to a trust during life, often retaining the ability to change or revoke the trust. The grantor typically serves as trustee while alive, retaining control of assets and income. When the grantor becomes incapacitated or dies, a successor trustee steps in to manage or distribute assets according to the trust terms. This structure can help avoid probate for assets properly titled in the trust, provide a clear plan for incapacity, and offer privacy because trust administration generally does not involve public court proceedings like probate does in California.
Properly implementing a revocable living trust requires careful identification and transfer of assets into the trust, a process called funding. Real property, bank accounts, investment accounts, and closely held business interests may each require specific documentation or coordination with financial institutions. Some assets, like retirement accounts, require beneficiary designations rather than transfer to the trust. Integrating the trust with a pour-over will and powers of attorney ensures any overlooked assets can be directed to the trust and managed during incapacity. Understanding these distinctions helps reduce probate exposure and ensures the trust operates as intended when it is needed most.
A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool created during a person’s lifetime that allows them to hold title to assets under the trust name while remaining in control. The trust document sets out how assets will be managed and distributed, names successor trustees, and can include instructions addressing incapacity, care for minor children, or provisions for charitable gifts. Because the grantor can change the trust during life, it adapts to changing circumstances. The trust helps maintain privacy and can minimize costs and delays caused by probate when assets are properly placed in the trust before death.
Key components of a revocable living trust include the trust declaration, names of the grantor and successor trustee, detailed distribution instructions for beneficiaries, and terms for managing assets in the event of incapacity. The funding process involves retitling property, updating account ownership or beneficiary designations where appropriate, and preparing pour-over wills to capture any assets not transferred during life. We also prepare related documents such as powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and certifications of trust for ease of third-party acceptance. Careful documentation and coordination with banks and title companies are essential to ensure the trust operates as intended.
To navigate trust planning confidently, it helps to know common terms. This glossary highlights essential concepts such as grantor, trustee, beneficiary, funding, pour-over will, incapacity planning, and certification of trust. Familiarity with these terms makes it easier to follow the drafting process, understand trustee duties, and ensure proper titling and beneficiary designations. We provide plain-language explanations and examples so clients can make decisions about trustee selection, distribution timing, and integration with retirement accounts, life insurance arrangements, and other estate planning documents tailored to California law and local practicalities.
The grantor, also called the settlor or trustor, is the person who creates the trust and transfers assets into it. As grantor of a revocable living trust, you retain the ability to manage assets, change beneficiaries, or revoke the trust while you are alive and have capacity. The trust document records your authority and sets forth how assets are to be handled during your lifetime and after your death. Choosing a successor trustee and specifying distribution instructions in the trust are responsibilities rooted in the grantor’s initial decisions, which should reflect current family circumstances and long-term goals.
A successor trustee takes over management of the trust if the grantor becomes incapacitated or dies. This person or institution must follow the trust terms, manage investments prudently, pay debts and taxes, and distribute assets to beneficiaries according to the trust instructions. Naming a reliable successor trustee, and specifying backup options, reduces the chance of disputes or interruptions in asset management. Clear guidance in the trust about successor trustee powers, compensation, and decision-making authority can prevent confusion and protect family relationships during what is often a difficult time.
Funding a trust means transferring ownership or changing beneficiary designations so assets are controlled by the trust. Different asset types require different steps: real estate needs a deed transfer, bank and brokerage accounts need retitling, and some assets must remain individually owned with beneficiary designations directed to the trust. Proper funding is essential for the trust to avoid probate and to operate as intended. Failure to fund the trust correctly can leave assets subject to probate or create unintended outcomes that require court involvement to resolve.
A pour-over will complements a revocable living trust by directing any assets not transferred to the trust during the grantor’s lifetime to be distributed to the trust at death. While it does not avoid probate on its own, the pour-over will ensures the grantor’s overall plan consolidates assets within the trust for eventual distribution according to trust terms. The pour-over will acts as a safety net to capture overlooked assets and simplifies administration by directing remaining estate matters to the trust’s provisions, aligning estate settlement with the grantor’s intentions.
When planning an estate, you can choose among several tools each with different benefits. A last will and testament names guardians and distributes assets through probate, while a revocable living trust aims to avoid probate for assets properly funded and provides private administration. Powers of attorney and advance health care directives address decision-making during incapacity. Some individuals combine instruments to address different needs — for instance, using a trust for major assets and a will for personal bequests. Understanding the costs, timelines, and privacy implications of each option helps families design a plan aligned with their priorities and California law.
For some individuals with modest assets and straightforward family situations, a simple will combined with basic powers of attorney can provide adequate planning. If most assets are already held jointly with beneficiaries or are under a small estate threshold, the costs and administrative steps of a trust may not be necessary. A straightforward plan can still name guardians for minors, direct final distributions, and provide decision-making authority during incapacity. Choosing this path depends on asset composition, family dynamics, and comfort with having certain matters handled through probate if necessary.
If you do not own real estate, business interests, or assets located in multiple states, and if beneficiary designations already cover financial accounts, a revocable living trust may offer limited additional benefit. In those scenarios, a focused approach using a will, durable power of attorney for finances, and advance health care directive may achieve your goals with less administrative setup. It remains important to review account titles and beneficiary designations to ensure they align with your wishes and to update documents as circumstances change over time.
For many families the desire to avoid probate and maintain privacy around asset dispositions makes a revocable living trust an attractive option. Probate in California can be time-consuming and involve public filings that disclose estate contents. A properly funded trust can reduce court involvement and help ensure a faster, more private transition of assets to beneficiaries. This approach also provides continuity in asset management through successor trustee arrangements, which is particularly important for those with real estate, multiple properties, or complex family arrangements that require careful, confidential handling.
A revocable living trust can contain provisions to manage assets during incapacity, avoiding the need for a court conservatorship. By naming a successor trustee and providing clear instructions for asset management and distributions, the trust helps protect financial stability if the grantor becomes unable to manage affairs. Additionally, integrating powers of attorney and health care directives ensures decisions about medical care and finances are made according to the grantor’s preferences. These coordinated documents work together to protect both assets and personal wishes in challenging circumstances.
A comprehensive, trust-centered plan provides several advantages including smoother asset transition, reduced public court involvement, and clearer management during incapacity. Trusts can be tailored to stagger distributions, establish conditions for inheritances, and provide ongoing management for beneficiaries who may not be ready to receive large sums all at once. This approach can also simplify interactions with financial institutions by using certifications of trust and clear trustee powers. For families concerned about privacy and continuity, the comprehensive plan aims to reduce burdens on loved ones and provide predictable, documented instructions for handling assets.
Beyond probate avoidance, a fully integrated plan can address tax planning, creditor protection where appropriate, and coordination with retirement and life insurance benefits. While revocable trusts do not shield assets from all creditors, careful planning can align beneficiary designations and trust provisions to reflect family goals. The plan also ensures that guardianship nominations, HIPAA authorizations, and special needs or pet trusts are in place if needed. Thoughtful drafting helps avoid ambiguity, reduces the potential for disputes, and preserves the grantor’s intentions across a range of personal and financial circumstances.
One of the main benefits of a comprehensive trust plan is continuity in managing assets when the grantor cannot act or passes away. Named successor trustees step in according to the trust terms, which reduces interruption in bill payment, investment management, and property oversight. Clear succession instructions minimize family disagreements about who should manage finances and how distributions should occur. This planned transition can be especially valuable for families with minor children, closely held businesses, or multiple properties that require ongoing attention and coordinated decision-making over time.
A revocable living trust allows many asset transfers to occur without the public process of probate, preserving privacy around the size and distribution of an estate. Streamlined administration through a trust can reduce delays and administrative costs associated with probate proceedings. Beneficiaries receive distributions according to a privately administered trust, and financial institutions often accept a certification of trust rather than a full court order. This confidentiality and efficiency can be particularly important for families who value discretion, wish to minimize disruption after a death, or need to maintain continuity of asset management during periods of incapacity.
One important step in trust planning is reviewing and updating account titles and beneficiary designations to ensure they align with the trust and your current wishes. Financial accounts, retirement plans, and life insurance policies often distribute outside the trust via beneficiary designations, so coordinating those forms with your trust terms prevents unintended distributions. Periodic reviews, particularly after life events such as marriage, divorce, births, or asset purchases, help maintain consistency. Taking time to gather deeds, account statements, and policy documents before drafting the trust will streamline the funding process and reduce the chance of assets being overlooked.
Keeping trust documents and related estate planning materials accessible to the right people reduces delays during times of incapacity or after a death. Provide trusted individuals with information on where originals are stored, who the trustee and successor trustees are, and how to access key accounts. Schedule regular reviews to update documents as laws, family circumstances, and asset holdings change. Maintaining current documentation helps ensure that intentions are followed and that the trust continues to function as intended, particularly in a state like California where familial and property arrangements can evolve over time.
There are several reasons to consider creating a revocable living trust, including avoiding probate, preserving privacy, and ensuring continuity in asset management during incapacity. Trusts can be customized to address concerns about minor beneficiaries, blended families, or specific distribution timing. By combining a trust with powers of attorney and health care directives, you create a coordinated plan that addresses both financial and personal decision-making. The trust also simplifies estate administration in many cases and provides clear, written instructions for trustees and beneficiaries to follow, reducing uncertainty and potential disputes among family members.
A revocable living trust is also a flexible planning tool that can be revised as your life changes. Whether you acquire additional property, welcome new family members, or shift philanthropic goals, the trust can be amended or revoked while you retain capacity. The ability to adapt the plan without court involvement allows families to respond to changes in finances, health, or relationships. For those with assets in multiple states or with complex ownership arrangements, a trust-centered plan can reduce administration across jurisdictions and provide a cohesive approach to passing assets to heirs.
Certain circumstances often make a revocable living trust a practical choice, such as owning real estate, having adult beneficiaries who may need staged distributions, owning business interests, or wanting to avoid probate publicity. Families with blended relationships or beneficiaries who require ongoing management of funds may also find trusts helpful. Additionally, individuals who wish to designate clear directions for incapacity or to protect privacy regarding asset distributions often prefer trust arrangements. Each situation is unique, so considering the nature of your assets, your family dynamics, and your goals will determine whether a trust is the best fit.
If you own real estate, especially multiple properties, a revocable living trust can simplify transfers at death and reduce the need for probate court involvement. Real property placed into the trust generally passes according to the trust terms without a separate probate proceeding, which can speed up the process for beneficiaries and reduce public records related to transfers. Proper deed preparation and recording are essential for each property you place into the trust to ensure ownership aligns with your overall estate plan and that successor trustees can manage or sell property when necessary.
Individuals who prefer to keep the details of their estate private often select a revocable living trust because trust administration avoids many of the public probate filings required by a will. A trust allows distributions to occur through private administration, which can help maintain family privacy and minimize public scrutiny of asset values and beneficiary arrangements. For those with sensitive family dynamics, charitable gifts, or concerns about public disclosure, the privacy afforded by a trust-centered approach is a significant consideration when crafting an estate plan.
Planning for potential incapacity is a primary reason many clients choose a trust-based plan. A revocable living trust enables a successor trustee to manage assets immediately if the grantor becomes disabled, helping avoid delays and court-appointed conservatorships. Combined with powers of attorney and advance health care directives, the trust provides a comprehensive framework for both financial and medical decision-making. This arrangement supports continuity of bill payments, investment oversight, and long-term care planning, offering peace of mind that affairs will be handled according to the grantor’s written instructions.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides local trust and estate planning services in Galt and throughout Sacramento County. We work with clients to draft revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, and to guide the funding process. Our goal is to produce clear, practical documents that reflect your wishes and reduce the administrative burden on loved ones. Call to schedule a consultation so we can review your assets, family circumstances, and prepare a plan that addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals while complying with California law.
Choosing a law firm for estate planning should be about clear communication, careful drafting, and practical problem solving. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman focuses on creating documents that reflect each client’s specific intentions and that are drafted with attention to administrative clarity. We guide clients through the funding steps, coordinate with financial institutions and title companies, and prepare complementary documents like HIPAA authorizations and guardianship nominations. Our approach emphasizes planning that anticipates future needs and reduces uncertainty for family members tasked with administering the plan.
We place importance on listening to clients’ goals and explaining the options available under California law in straightforward terms. Whether you need a simple trust for probate avoidance or a more comprehensive plan addressing incapacity and beneficiary needs, we tailor documents to your circumstances. The firm also assists with trust administration issues, trust modification petitions when circumstances change, and Heggstad or pour-over will filings when assets were not funded during life. Practical planning and clear documentation help minimize disputes and ease the transition for those left to manage the estate.
Our services extend beyond document preparation to include assistance with post-death administration, coordination with accountants and financial advisors, and representation when legal challenges arise. We help trustees understand their duties and guide beneficiaries through distribution processes. By offering comprehensive support, we aim to reduce stress for families and provide a dependable path forward. If you are considering a revocable living trust or need to review an existing plan, we can help identify gaps, update documents, and implement steps to ensure your intentions are carried out effectively.
Our process begins with a detailed intake to understand your assets, family situation, and goals, followed by tailored recommendations for a trust-based plan or alternative documents if appropriate. We draft the trust and related documents, explain funding steps, and provide guidance on transfers and beneficiary coordination. After signing, we assist with recording deeds, retitling accounts, and preparing certifications of trust for financial institutions. We remain available to answer questions and to support trustee administration or probate matters should they arise, offering continuous client service through each stage of the plan’s life.
The first step involves a comprehensive consultation to collect information about your assets, family dynamics, and goals. We review real estate holdings, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, business interests, and any existing estate planning documents. During this meeting we discuss guardian nominations, beneficiary preferences, and incapacity planning needs. Collecting this information up front enables accurate drafting of a revocable living trust tailored to your situation and helps identify funding tasks and coordination with third parties to ensure the trust functions as intended.
During the initial meeting we focus on your objectives, whether they include avoiding probate, protecting privacy, providing for minors, or planning for incapacity. We explain how a revocable living trust interacts with wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Based on your goals and asset profile, we outline recommended provisions, trustee selection considerations, and distribution timing. This conversation helps shape the trust terms so the resulting documents reflect your intentions while offering practical directions for trustees and beneficiaries to follow.
Collecting necessary documents is a key part of the first step. We ask for deeds, account statements, retirement plan details, insurance policies, and any existing estate planning documents. This information allows us to identify assets that should be retitled into the trust and accounts that require beneficiary updates. Thorough documentation reduces surprises during funding and helps anticipate issues such as out-of-state properties or jointly held assets that may affect the plan. Preparing a checklist and verifying ownership records expedites the trust implementation process.
Once we have the necessary information, we draft the trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, advance health care directive, and any other documents you need. We review draft documents with you, explain key provisions and trustee duties, and revise terms as necessary. After finalizing the documents, we arrange for execution with proper witnessing and notarization to ensure they take effect under California law. We also provide guidance on where to store originals and how to inform trustees and beneficiaries of the plan without creating confusion or conflict.
Finalizing the trust includes clear instructions for successor trustees, specifying distribution timing, and including any conditions or protections you want for beneficiaries. We ensure trustee powers are defined so that institutions will accept certifications of trust, and we address trustee compensation and decision-making authority. Clear, precise drafting reduces ambiguity and supports smooth administration. We also provide clients with an overview of trustee duties and an implementation checklist so successor trustees can begin their responsibilities effectively if and when the time comes.
Execution requires proper signing, witnessing, and notarization under California law to ensure documents are enforceable. We coordinate a signing session, explain each document’s purpose, and provide guidance on storing originals and sharing necessary copies. After execution we provide certified copies and a certification of trust that trustees can present to banks, title companies, and other institutions. This phase also includes delivering instructions for immediate next steps in funding and ensuring beneficiaries and trustees understand the location of key documents and contact details for follow-up questions.
Funding the trust and maintaining it over time are essential to achieving the intended probate avoidance and orderly administration. We guide clients through transferring deeds, retitling accounts, and updating beneficiary designations where appropriate. We also advise on periodic reviews to update the trust as family circumstances or assets change and assist with trust modifications or trust amendment petitions if revisions are needed. Ongoing maintenance includes confirming that new assets are addressed, reviewing beneficiary designations after major life events, and keeping documents current with changes in law or personal circumstances.
Transferring real estate into a trust typically involves preparing and recording a deed that conveys property to the trust name. Likewise, bank and brokerage accounts must be retitled or re-registered in the trust’s name where appropriate. We prepare the necessary deeds and coordinate with title companies and financial institutions to complete transfers and ensure there are no unintended tax or mortgage issues. Proper documentation and recording protect the trust’s effectiveness and reduce the need for probate for titled assets at the grantor’s death.
A trust should be reviewed periodically to ensure it continues to reflect current wishes, asset holdings, and family circumstances. We recommend reviews after significant events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, relocation, or large changes in finances. Amendments can be prepared to update trustee appointments, distribution plans, or other provisions, and in some cases a trust modification petition may be appropriate to resolve issues. Regular check-ins keep the plan aligned with your intentions and help prevent gaps that could lead to disputes or administration challenges down the road.
A revocable living trust and a will serve different roles in estate planning. A will takes effect only after death and directs how assets subject to probate should be distributed, and it is a public document filed with a court. In contrast, a revocable living trust can operate during your lifetime and at death, enabling assets properly titled in the trust to pass to beneficiaries without probate. The trust also often includes provisions for incapacity and gives instructions for successor trustees, providing continuity in management. While both documents can be part of the same plan, the trust generally offers greater privacy and can speed transfers of titled assets. A pour-over will complements the trust by directing any assets not transferred during life into the trust at death, though those assets may still require probate. Choosing between or combining these tools depends on asset types, family needs, and goals for privacy and administration.
Funding a revocable living trust involves retitling assets into the trust name, recording deeds for real estate, and re-registering bank and brokerage accounts. Retirement plans and some investment accounts often require beneficiary designations rather than direct transfer to the trust, so those forms must be coordinated to match your overall plan. If you forget to transfer an asset into the trust, a pour-over will can direct that asset to the trust after death, but it may still be subject to probate depending on the asset type and how it is titled. To minimize oversights, we recommend compiling a complete inventory of assets before drafting the trust and following a checklist during the funding process. Regular reviews after major life events help capture newly acquired assets or changes in account ownership so the trust continues to function as intended without unexpected probate administration.
Yes, a revocable living trust is designed to be changed or revoked by the grantor during their lifetime while they remain capable. Amendments can update trustee appointments, change distribution provisions, add or remove beneficiaries, or address new circumstances such as property acquisitions or family changes. When more significant restructuring is required, a restatement of the trust can replace earlier terms while keeping the original trust’s identity and asset titles intact. It is important to execute amendments properly with the same formalities as the original trust to avoid disputes. We recommend consulting with counsel when making changes to ensure consistency with other estate planning documents and to confirm that funding remains appropriate for the revised terms.
A revocable living trust does not generally shield assets from current creditors while the grantor is alive, because the grantor retains control and can revoke the trust. Regarding long-term care costs, such as Medi-Cal planning, revocable trusts alone are not a substitute for eligibility planning and may not provide the protections that certain irrevocable arrangements can offer. Addressing creditor exposure or long-term care implications typically requires a different set of planning techniques and careful timing under California rules. For those concerned about creditor claims or future benefit eligibility, discussing broader planning strategies is essential. We can review your circumstances and advise on whether changes to your estate plan or use of other planning tools may help align protection goals with legal requirements and timing constraints.
Choosing a successor trustee is an important decision that should balance financial prudence, impartiality, and availability. Many people select a trusted family member or friend who understands the grantor’s wishes and can communicate effectively with beneficiaries. Alternatively, some choose a professional fiduciary or institution when asset management needs are complex or potential disputes may arise. It is helpful to name successor trustees and backups to ensure continuity in case one person cannot serve. A successor trustee must manage assets in accordance with the trust terms, pay bills and taxes, keep accurate records, and distribute assets as directed. Providing clear instructions in the trust and briefing trustees in advance helps them understand responsibilities and locate necessary documents and account information. Preparing successor trustees ahead of time reduces delays and eases administrative burdens when they must act.
Creating a revocable living trust does not eliminate tax obligations; income earned by assets during your lifetime is typically taxable to you, and estate or gift tax considerations depend on federal and state law and your estate’s size. Trusts are part of a broader tax and financial picture, and planning to minimize taxes may involve coordinating lifetime gifting, beneficiary strategies, and tax-aware distributions. Consulting with a tax professional in conjunction with estate planning helps align the trust with tax objectives and reporting requirements. Additionally, certain transfers or modifications may have tax consequences or reporting obligations, so it is important to proceed with an understanding of how trust decisions interact with income, estate, and gift tax rules. We work collaboratively with financial and tax advisors to ensure trust provisions coordinate with overall tax planning goals.
A pour-over will functions as a safety net for a trust-based plan by directing any assets not transferred into the trust during life into the trust at death. While the pour-over will ensures the decedent’s overall intentions consolidate within the trust, it does not prevent those particular assets from passing through probate if they were not retitled. The pour-over will simplifies final administration by funneling remaining probate assets into the trust’s distribution scheme once probate is complete. Because relying solely on a pour-over will can result in probate for overlooked assets, it is better to follow the funding checklist and retitle assets proactively. The combination of a funded trust and a pour-over will provides both immediate control of trust assets and a backup mechanism for any items unintentionally left out of the trust during life.
Retirement accounts require special consideration because beneficiary designations usually control who receives retirement plan assets, not the trust, unless the account owner names the trust as a beneficiary. Naming a trust as beneficiary can be appropriate in certain situations, but it also carries tax and administrative implications that should be considered. For many clients, maintaining direct beneficiary designations while coordinating them with the trust plan achieves intended results without unintended tax consequences. Reviewing beneficiary forms and discussing options for IRA and 401(k) accounts ensures your retirement assets pass as intended and align with the trust’s distribution plan. We recommend a coordinated review with retirement plan administrators and tax advisors to determine the best approach for each account while keeping the overall estate plan cohesive.
If real estate is not transferred into the trust before death, it generally remains part of the probate estate and must go through the probate process to transfer title to heirs or beneficiaries. That can cause delays and public court proceedings, and beneficiaries may face added costs to clear title. In some situations, heirs can petition the court to transfer property into the trust or use probate alternatives if the estate qualifies for simplified procedures, but these approaches take time and may complicate administration. To avoid such outcomes, it is important to retitle real property into the trust during life and confirm recording of deeds. If you discover untitled property after death, prompt coordination with counsel can help identify the most efficient path to clear title and carry out your final wishes while addressing any mortgage, tax, or creditor issues that may arise.
Trusts and related estate planning documents should be reviewed periodically and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or substantial changes in finances or residency. Changes in family composition, new property acquisitions, or changing beneficiary preferences often warrant amendments to ensure documents continue to reflect your intentions. Regular reviews every few years help catch issues like outdated beneficiary designations, newly acquired assets that need funding, or changes in trustee availability. Keeping documents current avoids unintended distributions and reduces the potential for conflict. During reviews we confirm that deeds and account titles remain aligned with the trust, update instructions for trustees, and make any necessary amendments to reflect new goals or legal changes that impact estate plan effectiveness.
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