Planning for the future is an important step for anyone who wants to protect family, assets, and health-related wishes. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help people in Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo County understand the estate planning options available under California law. This introduction outlines the documents commonly used, the decisions you will face, and how a thoughtful plan can reduce stress for your loved ones. We focus on practical solutions including revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives tailored to your needs in a coastal community setting.
Estate planning involves a series of decisions about how property will be managed and distributed, who will make financial and medical choices if you cannot, and how to reduce unnecessary court involvement for beneficiaries. Residents of Pismo Beach often have family, retirement accounts, real property, and unique asset types that require careful attention. This paragraph introduces the essential items to consider, including guardianship nominations for minor children and arrangements for pets. Proper planning brings clarity, preserves privacy, and helps ensure that your intentions are honored while minimizing administrative burdens for those you leave behind.
Creating an estate plan provides peace of mind by documenting your wishes about property, medical care, and guardianship. For residents of Pismo Beach, an effective plan helps manage coastal property, retirement funds, and family heirlooms while reducing the potential for disputes. A sound plan can help avoid the delays and public procedures of probate, maintain privacy for beneficiaries, and designate who will manage finances or healthcare decisions when you cannot. It also offers opportunities to coordinate beneficiary designations and trusts so loved ones are cared for without unnecessary legal hurdles or confusion during difficult times.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serve clients across California with a focus on straightforward, practical estate planning. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, careful document drafting, and personalized client service. We guide clients through the selection of the right combination of documents—such as living trusts, wills, power of attorney, and healthcare directives—based on each family’s circumstances. We work to explain legal concepts in accessible language, assist with paperwork that aligns with California rules, and provide ongoing support when life changes require plan updates, always prioritizing your family’s needs and peace of mind.
Estate planning covers a range of legal documents and decisions designed to control how your assets are managed and distributed, who will make decisions for you if you cannot, and how minors or dependents will be cared for. In California, options commonly include revocable living trusts that allow property to avoid probate, pour-over wills that work alongside trusts, and durable powers of attorney that designate someone to handle financial affairs. Understanding these options helps you choose the right strategy to protect assets, simplify transfer procedures, and express end-of-life wishes with documents that comply with state requirements.
Choosing the right estate planning instruments depends on personal goals, family structure, and the types of assets you own. For people with real estate, retirement accounts, or blended family situations, combining a living trust with a will and financial and health care directives can be effective. Some clients need additional tools like irrevocable life insurance trusts, special needs trusts, or pet trusts to address specific needs. The firm helps identify appropriate documents, explain tax and probate implications, and coordinate beneficiary designations to ensure your plan functions together in California’s legal framework.
Common estate planning documents include the revocable living trust, which holds title to assets and enables transfers outside of probate, and the last will and testament, which directs distribution of any remaining property and nominates guardians for minor children. A financial power of attorney designates someone to manage financial matters if you are incapacitated, and an advance health care directive sets out medical preferences and appoints a healthcare decisionmaker. Additional documents like a general assignment of assets to a trust and a certification of trust support trust administration without revealing sensitive details in public records.
Creating a solid plan involves identifying assets and beneficiaries, selecting trusted people to serve as trustees or agents, and deciding how to handle debt, taxes, and long-term care. The process typically includes drafting documents, funding a trust by retitling assets, completing beneficiary designations for retirement accounts and life insurance, and documenting medical and financial directives. Ongoing maintenance is important after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, or changes in property holdings. Regular review ensures documents still reflect current wishes and comply with California law.
Understanding common terms helps you make informed choices while preparing your estate plan. This glossary covers essential vocabulary such as trust, will, power of attorney, probate, beneficiary designation, and trust funding. Each term clarifies how different tools work together to protect assets and ensure decisions are made according to your preferences. Knowing the meaning of these items reduces uncertainty during planning conversations and supports clearer communication with family and those who will carry out your intentions.
A revocable living trust is a flexible planning tool that holds legal title to assets you designate while you remain in control. It allows for continuity of asset management during disability and facilitates a transfer of property to beneficiaries without probate. The trust document names a trustee to manage trust assets and successor trustees who will act if you are unable to. Because the trust is revocable, you can amend or revoke it as circumstances change. Funding the trust by transferring property into its name is a key step to realize its benefits under California’s laws.
A last will and testament is a legal document that expresses how you want remaining assets distributed and may appoint a personal representative to oversee the estate. Wills also allow you to name guardians for minor children and create testamentary trusts under certain conditions. While a will can direct disposition of property, items held in a revocable living trust are typically governed by the trust rather than the will. Because wills generally must pass through probate to be effective, many people use them in combination with trusts for comprehensive planning that reduces court involvement.
A durable financial power of attorney is a document that authorizes a chosen agent to manage financial affairs if you are unable to do so yourself. It can specify when the agent’s authority begins, what powers are granted, and any limits on decision-making. This instrument helps avoid court-appointed conservatorship by providing a trusted person with legal authority to pay bills, manage investments, and handle real estate transactions as needed. Selecting an agent who understands your priorities and maintaining clear records supports smooth financial management when the power is in use.
An advance health care directive documents your preferences for medical treatment and identifies a healthcare agent to make decisions on your behalf if you can’t speak for yourself. It can outline specific instructions about life-sustaining treatments, comfort care, and organ donation, and ensures that medical teams understand your wishes in critical situations. In California, combining this directive with a HIPAA authorization helps providers access necessary health information and allows designated decisionmakers to communicate with healthcare professionals without delay.
Estate planning ranges from limited measures, such as a simple will and beneficiary updates, to comprehensive packages that include trusts, powers of attorney, and specialized trusts for unique situations. A limited approach may suit those with modest assets, uncomplicated family situations, or immediate short-term needs. A comprehensive approach tends to be appropriate when clients seek to avoid probate, coordinate complex assets, protect dependent family members, or plan for long-term care. We help compare these choices so you can select a plan aligned with your objectives, timeline, and budget while remaining compliant with California rules.
A limited plan can be appropriate when assets are limited in number and beneficiaries are clearly identified, such as a single bank account, standard retirement accounts with up-to-date beneficiaries, and minimal real estate. If you want to ensure a basic transfer of property, appoint a guardian, or leave clear instructions without the need to avoid probate, a well-drafted will combined with beneficiary designations and a power of attorney can suffice. This approach keeps costs and complexity lower while addressing immediate distribution and decisionmaking concerns for individuals in simpler financial situations.
Some people require short-term planning because of an upcoming life event, such as a health diagnosis, a pending move, or a temporary family arrangement. In these circumstances, a limited plan that includes a will, a temporary power of attorney, and a healthcare directive can provide protection until a more permanent solution is appropriate. This pathway allows immediate decisions to be documented while preserving the option to move to a trust-based plan later if asset complexity or family considerations increase over time, ensuring continuity and flexibility for changing circumstances.
A comprehensive plan using a revocable living trust often helps avoid probate, which can save time and reduce public exposure of estate matters. For families with real estate, multiple accounts, or heirs in different locations, a trust facilitates smoother administration and may minimize delays that arise with court-supervised probate. A trust-based plan can also provide clear instructions for successor trustees to manage assets during incapacity and after death, decreasing administrative friction and helping beneficiaries receive intended assets with fewer procedural obstacles under California law.
Comprehensive planning becomes particularly important when beneficiaries include minors, individuals with special needs, or those who require structured distributions. Instruments such as special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and retirement plan trusts can be used to preserve eligibility for government benefits or to control how and when funds are distributed. Additionally, complex assets like business interests, multiple properties, or out-of-state holdings benefit from coordinated planning to ensure continuity, tax awareness, and clear transfer mechanisms tailored to each family’s long-term goals.
A full estate plan can reduce the time, cost, and public nature of probate, while providing continuity in decision-making during incapacity. By combining documents such as revocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, clients create a cohesive framework that directs how assets are managed and distributed. This cohesive approach often simplifies administration for heirs, provides clear authority for agents and trustees, and makes it easier to update the plan as life changes occur. Overall, it promotes certainty and ease for families dealing with difficult transitions.
Comprehensive planning also allows for tailored solutions that address specific family dynamics, tax considerations, and long-term goals. Whether the priority is protecting a spouse, ensuring care for children, preserving assets for future generations, or supporting a favorite charity, a trust-centered plan offers flexibility. It can include provisions for charitable giving, business succession, or special trust arrangements for dependents with unique needs. Careful coordination of beneficiary designations and asset titling further ensures that the client’s intentions are carried out efficiently and with minimal dispute.
One substantial benefit of a comprehensive plan is that trusts frequently avoid probate, allowing asset transfers to occur without public court proceedings. This privacy protects family financial details from becoming part of the public record and can spare heirs the time and expense often associated with probate administration. Maintaining privacy also helps minimize disputes by providing clear instructions to successor trustees and beneficiaries. For many clients, the ability to preserve family confidentiality and streamline the estate transition process is a top reason to choose a trust-based approach.
A comprehensive plan ensures that trusted individuals have the authority to manage financial and medical matters if you become unable to do so. Documents like durable financial powers of attorney and advance health care directives provide legal authority for agents to act, while a revocable living trust allows a successor trustee to manage and protect trust assets seamlessly. This continuity helps prevent gaps in bill payment, investment oversight, and medical decision-making, reducing stress for family members and preserving asset value during a period when clear leadership is most needed.
Begin your planning process by compiling a thorough inventory of assets, account numbers, real property deeds, insurance policies, and current beneficiary designations. This record makes it easier to determine which items should be included in a trust and which pass outside of it, such as certain retirement accounts or jointly titled property. Identify who you want to name as trustees, agents, and guardians, and make preliminary decisions about distribution preferences. Having this information organized improves the efficiency of document preparation and provides a clear foundation for long-term planning under California law.
Estate plans are not static documents; they should be reviewed after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, property purchases, or significant changes in finances. Periodic review ensures beneficiary designations remain correct, trusts are properly funded, and appointed agents continue to be appropriate choices. Updating documents when circumstances change prevents unintended consequences and maintains alignment with current wishes. Scheduling regular check-ins and keeping records accessible to key people supports a plan that remains effective and responsive to evolving family needs.
Estate planning provides clarity and protection for you and those you care about, particularly in communities like Pismo Beach where property values, retirement plans, and family arrangements may be complex. A plan documents medical preferences, appoints financial and healthcare decisionmakers, and arranges for efficient distribution of assets. It also permits you to name guardians for minor children and to create provisions for pets or family members with special needs. Starting sooner rather than later ensures decisions reflect current wishes and reduces the likelihood of last-minute scrambling during a crisis.
Proactive planning can reduce stress, prevent unnecessary court involvement, and help preserve assets that you intend to pass to heirs. For many people, having clear legal instruments in place means families avoid disputes and confusion at difficult moments. Whether you own a home in San Luis Obispo County, hold retirement accounts, or manage a small business, the right combination of documents can organize your affairs and provide practical instruction to those who will act for you. Consulting on these matters helps align legal tools with your personal and financial priorities.
Common triggers for estate planning include getting married, welcoming children, purchasing significant property, starting or selling a business, and changes in health. Additionally, people with aging parents or adult children who have special needs often seek planning to ensure continuity of care and financial security. Retirement planning, caregiving responsibilities, and the desire to minimize probate all motivate families to put legal documents in place. Addressing these circumstances in a timely way helps ensure both immediate and long-term intentions are carefully documented and actionable.
Changes in marital status prompt updates to legal documents and beneficiary designations to reflect new family structures and intentions. Marriage may lead to joint planning and reconsideration of property ownership, while divorce often requires revising wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to remove or replace previously appointed agents or beneficiaries. New partnerships also bring the need to clarify how assets will be managed and distributed. Addressing these changes promptly helps prevent unintended transfers and ensures that documents accurately represent current relationships and wishes under California law.
The arrival of children or grandchildren is a major reason to create or update an estate plan. Parents often want to name guardians, set aside assets for education or care, and provide instructions that support long-term stability. Trusts can be structured to distribute assets over time for younger beneficiaries rather than delivering lump sums, and special provisions can be included for children with particular needs. Planning for the next generation ensures that parents’ wishes are honored and that children are cared for according to a considered strategy when the time comes.
Major changes in asset holdings, such as inheriting property, selling a business, or relocating, require revisiting your estate plan to ensure alignment with current circumstances. Similarly, a serious health event or diagnosis often motivates people to document their medical preferences and designate trusted healthcare agents. Updating documents after such changes protects your interests and ensures appointed decisionmakers understand your priorities. Timely reviews help integrate new assets into trusts, update beneficiary designations, and confirm that the plan continues to fulfill its intended purpose.
Residents of Pismo Beach have access to estate planning services that address local real estate matters, family considerations, and California-specific rules. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides assistance in preparing documents such as revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and other instruments tailored to your situation. We aim to create plans that are understandable and practical, guiding clients through the steps of funding trusts, coordinating beneficiary designations, and documenting medical and financial decisionmaking preferences for reliable use when they are needed most.
Choosing legal assistance for estate planning means selecting a team that communicates clearly about available options, drafts documents to reflect your wishes, and provides support for implementation. Our office focuses on practical planning for families and individuals throughout California, including Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo County. We help clients understand how trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives operate together, and we aim to draft documents that minimize administrative burden for loved ones while preserving flexibility for future updates and changes in your life.
Our approach emphasizes careful document preparation and attention to the details that matter most, such as funding a trust properly, coordinating beneficiary designations, and naming appropriate agents and successor trustees. We assist clients with specialized needs including retirement plan trusts, special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and pet trusts. Each plan is tailored to reflect personal priorities, family dynamics, and the types of assets involved, always with a focus on compliance with California requirements and efficient implementation for your heirs.
We also provide ongoing guidance when life events require updates, and we help clients prepare supporting documents like HIPAA authorizations and guardianship nominations. Clear communication and practical planning are central to our service so clients understand how their documents function and how to keep them current. For those in Pismo Beach seeking to create or revise an estate plan, we work to make the process straightforward and to protect the interests of both the client and their family.
Our process begins with a focused intake conversation to understand your family, assets, and goals. From there, we recommend a set of documents and prepare drafts that reflect your choices. After review and any needed revisions, we finalize documents and advise on steps to fund trusts and complete beneficiary designations. We emphasize clear instructions for trustees and agents, and we provide clients with executed originals and guidance for safekeeping. Periodic plan reviews are encouraged to keep documents current with changing circumstances and California law.
The first step involves gathering information about assets, family structure, and planning goals, including any special circumstances such as minor children, dependents with disabilities, or business interests. We discuss the benefits and trade-offs of different tools like trusts and wills and identify who you would like to appoint as agents or trustees. This stage helps clarify priorities such as avoiding probate, protecting privacy, or arranging structured distributions, and lays the groundwork for drafting documents that reflect your intentions under California rules.
After gathering information, we recommend a tailored set of documents that match your objectives, which may include a revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive. For certain situations, we may suggest additional instruments like special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, or a retirement plan trust. We discuss how each document works together and the steps required to implement the strategy, ensuring you understand both immediate actions and ongoing responsibilities like trust funding.
Selecting the right people to serve as agents, trustees, and guardians is a key decision that affects how your plan operates. We talk through options and potential back-ups to ensure continuity. The chosen individuals should be willing and able to manage responsibilities such as handling finances, administering a trust, or making healthcare decisions. We help clients consider qualities like reliability, proximity, and availability, and recommend documenting clear instructions for those who will act to reduce uncertainty and make transitions smoother when the time comes.
Once the plan design is agreed upon, we draft the documents carefully to reflect your wishes in clear, legally effective language. Clients receive drafts to review and request changes, and we discuss any implications of particular provisions. Our goal is to prepare documents that function as intended and reduce ambiguity for successors and agents. We also explain any additional steps required after signing, such as retitling property, completing beneficiary designation forms, or preparing a certification of trust to facilitate transactions without exposing trust details to the public.
We coordinate signing and notarization to meet California formalities so the documents are legally effective. Proper execution matters for instruments like trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives, and we ensure all necessary witnesses or notary acknowledgments are obtained. We also provide clear instructions for where original documents should be stored and how copies may be used. Ensuring correct execution helps prevent challenges or questions later and supports a seamless transition when trustees or agents need to act on your behalf.
To make a trust function as intended, assets that are meant to be governed by the trust must be retitled in the trust’s name or otherwise assigned to it. We advise on retitling real property, transferring account ownership, and completing beneficiary designation forms for retirement plans and life insurance to coordinate with the trust. This step is essential to ensure that the trust controls the assets and that distributions follow your documented instructions, avoiding unintended probate administration for assets left outside the trust.
An estate plan requires periodic review and maintenance to remain effective as life events occur. We recommend revisiting your plan after major milestones such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, property sales, or changes in health. Updates may include revising trustees, changing beneficiaries, modifying trust terms, or preparing petitions such as a trust modification petition or Heggstad petition when needed. Regular maintenance keeps documents aligned with your current intentions and ensures they continue to serve your family effectively under California rules.
When circumstances change, legal documents should be updated to reflect new realities and priorities. Whether modifying trust provisions, replacing agents or trustees, or updating guardianship nominations, timely changes prevent confusion and preserve the plan’s purpose. We guide clients through amendments, restatements, and petitions necessary to effect changes while maintaining the legal integrity of the plan. Handling these updates proactively helps avoid unintended outcomes and ensures seamless administration when a plan must be followed.
After a plan takes effect, trustees and agents may need assistance administering assets, interpreting trust directions, or completing filings required for asset transfers. We provide practical support for trustees, including preparing certifications of trust, advising on distributions, and addressing creditor or tax matters as they arise. Our goal is to make the administration process as straightforward as possible for those charged with carrying out your wishes, offering clear guidance so they can fulfill their duties with confidence and in compliance with California law.
A revocable living trust is a document that holds title to assets and allows those assets to be managed and transferred outside of probate while you are alive and after you pass away. You serve as trustee during your lifetime and can change the trust at any time. The trust names successor trustees who will manage and distribute trust assets according to your instructions if you become incapacitated or pass away. This arrangement can streamline administration and preserve privacy compared with a will that must pass through probate. Whether you need a revocable living trust depends on your goals, asset profile, and family circumstances. People who own real property, have beneficiaries in multiple states, or want to minimize the time and public exposure of probate often choose a trust. Others with simpler estates may use a will and beneficiary designations instead. We can discuss how a trust would work with your assets, the steps required to fund it, and whether it aligns with your priorities for managing and distributing property under California laws.
A pour-over will works alongside a living trust to capture any assets that were not transferred into the trust during your lifetime. It directs that those assets be transferred to the trust upon your death so they can be administered according to the trust terms. While a pour-over will provides a safety net, assets passing under it still usually go through probate unless they are otherwise exempt, so funding the trust during life is often recommended to avoid added administration. The combination of a pour-over will and a living trust ensures that assets are ultimately governed by your trust instructions even if some items were unintentionally left out of the trust. The pour-over will acts as a backup mechanism and can simplify asset coordination between probate and trust administration. We can review account titles and beneficiary designations together to minimize reliance on the pour-over will and to ensure a smooth transfer of intended assets to the trust.
You should review and potentially update estate planning documents after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant changes in assets, or relocation. Changes in family dynamics, the addition of new property, or new financial responsibilities can all affect how your plan should function. Regular reviews help confirm that appointed agents, trustees, and beneficiaries still reflect your wishes and that documents comply with current California requirements. Beyond major events, periodic check-ins are advisable every few years to account for legal and financial changes. Updates may include changing trustee designations, modifying trust terms, updating beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, or creating new documents such as special needs trusts or irrevocable life insurance trusts. Keeping records current reduces the risk of unintended outcomes and ensures your plan remains effective and responsive to your goals.
A power of attorney is a document that empowers a chosen agent to act on your behalf for financial or legal matters while you are alive, particularly during periods of incapacity. It can be durable, so it continues to operate if you become incapacitated, and it typically includes powers to manage bank accounts, pay bills, and handle transactions. A guardian, by contrast, is usually appointed by a court to make personal and medical decisions for an incapacitated person when no power of attorney exists or when the court intervenes. Choosing a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-appointed guardianship because it provides a clear legal authorization for someone you trust to manage affairs. It is important to carefully select and document who will serve in that role and to provide clear instructions. We advise clients on drafting powers of attorney that match their preferences and on how to ensure the documents will be honored by institutions and medical providers in California.
To provide for a family member with special needs while preserving eligibility for government benefits, it is often helpful to create a special needs trust. This type of trust holds funds for the benefit of the individual without making them directly available in a way that would disqualify them from means-tested programs. The trust terms can be drafted to supplement care, pay for services, and maintain benefits while providing more comprehensive financial support than government programs alone. Drafting an appropriate supplemental trust requires careful attention to the trust language and coordination with existing benefits. Naming a trustee who understands both the trust’s purpose and the beneficiary’s needs helps ensure funds are used appropriately. We assist families in structuring special needs trusts and integrating them with the overall estate plan so that long-term care and support goals are met while protecting access to public benefits.
Funding a trust involves transferring ownership of assets into the trust name so the trustee can manage them under the trust terms. For real property, this typically means recording a new deed transferring title into the trust. For bank and investment accounts, it may involve retitling accounts or completing beneficiary or transfer-on-death designations. Retirement accounts and life insurance should be coordinated carefully with beneficiary designations to achieve the intended outcome, and some accounts may remain outside the trust for tax or legal reasons. Proper funding is essential for the trust to achieve its goals, and missing this step can leave assets subject to probate despite having a trust. We guide clients through the necessary steps, prepare deeds and transfer documents when needed, and advise on beneficiary coordination. Clear documentation and follow-through ensure the trust functions as intended and reduces the likelihood of unintended probate administration in California.
You can name a trusted friend, family member, or a professional fiduciary such as a bank to serve as trustee or agent, depending on what best suits your plan and family circumstances. Selecting a person involves considering their ability to manage responsibilities, geographic availability, willingness to serve, and the relationship dynamics involved. A bank or trust company may offer institutional continuity but may have fees and less personal familiarity with family nuances, while an individual may offer a more personal approach but require support for complex administrative tasks. When choosing someone, consider naming successor trustees or agents in case the first choice cannot serve. Clear instructions and documentation help those named fulfill their duties. We discuss the pros and cons of various choices and help structure provisions that support a smooth transition, including guidance on trustee duties, compensation, and the use of co-trustees or professional advisors when appropriate.
Digital assets include online accounts, email, social media, digital photos, and cryptocurrency. Addressing them in your estate plan involves documenting access information, naming someone to manage these assets, and specifying instructions for their handling. A combined approach that includes a secure inventory of account details, a durable power of attorney that covers digital property, and specific directives for preservation or deletion of online content helps ensure your digital legacy is handled according to your preferences. Because platform terms and access methods differ, it is helpful to provide clear, updated information and legal authorization for your designee to access or manage accounts. Including a HIPAA authorization for medical records and a general directive for digital asset custodianship can prevent administrative barriers. We assist clients in creating practical plans for digital assets that align with the broader estate plan and reduce obstacles for fiduciaries who must act.
A Heggstad petition is a request to the court to recognize that certain assets were transferred to a trust during your lifetime even if the formal title transfer was not completed. Filing such a petition can help avoid probate for assets that were intended to be in the trust but were left in a personal name. It is typically used when circumstances make it difficult or impractical to re-title an asset prior to the grantor’s death, and the petition asks a court to give effect to the trust’s terms for those assets. Using a Heggstad petition involves demonstrating clear intent and evidence that the asset was meant to be part of the trust. Because the outcome depends on the specifics of the case, it is helpful to assess whether alternative measures, such as correcting title or using beneficiary designations, may achieve the desired result. We can advise on when a Heggstad petition is appropriate and assist with the documentation needed to support the request under California procedures.
Guardianship nominations allow parents to designate preferred individuals to care for minor children in the event of the parents’ incapacity or death. Including guardianship nominations in estate planning documents provides guidance to courts and loved ones about your preferences for who should raise and care for your children. While nominations do not prevent a court from selecting someone else if circumstances dictate, they are highly persuasive and reduce uncertainty during emotionally difficult times. It is important to periodically review guardianship nominations as family circumstances change and to discuss your choices with the nominated individuals to ensure they are willing and able to serve. Combining guardianship nominations with financial arrangements—such as trusts that provide for a child’s support and education—creates a coordinated plan that addresses both care and finances. We help families document nominations and create complementary financial tools to support appointed guardians.
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