A General Assignment of Assets to Trust helps transfer ownership of assets into a trust to ensure they are managed and distributed according to your wishes. In Buellton and throughout Santa Barbara County, this document is commonly used alongside revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and related estate planning instruments. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists clients in preparing clear assignments that identify assets, clarify title transfer, and coordinate the assignment with other estate documents such as powers of attorney and advance health care directives. Having a properly drafted assignment reduces confusion, eases administration, and preserves privacy by keeping assets out of probate when combined with a well-structured trust.
This page outlines what a General Assignment of Assets to Trust accomplishes, when it may be appropriate, and how it interacts with common estate planning documents like revocable living trusts and pour-over wills. Whether you own real property, bank accounts, retirement assets, or personal property, an assignment can formalize the transfer to your trust and address issues of title and ownership. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides tailored guidance to ensure assignments are consistent with California law and aligned with each client’s overall estate plan. We focus on clarity and completeness to minimize later disputes and simplify trust administration.
A General Assignment of Assets to Trust plays an important role in organizing asset ownership and supporting the efficient administration of a trust. By formally assigning assets into the trust, you reduce the likelihood that those assets will need to go through probate, which can be time-consuming and public. Assignments also help ensure that title on deeds, accounts, and other records reflects the trust’s ownership, reducing confusion for financial institutions, beneficiaries, and trustees. For families, this means a smoother transition when incapacity or death occurs. Properly prepared assignments work in tandem with documents such as powers of attorney and health care directives to create a cohesive estate plan.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients throughout California with a focus on estate planning tools like revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and general assignment documents. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, practical drafting, and careful coordination among all estate documents to ensure they operate together effectively. When preparing a General Assignment of Assets to Trust, we identify the assets to be transferred, verify title and account requirements, and prepare language that reflects the client’s intentions. We also explain recordkeeping steps and next actions for trustees and family members to help avoid delays during trust administration.
A General Assignment of Assets to Trust is a written instrument that transfers specified assets into a trust, either immediately or upon a triggering event. It typically lists the assets being assigned, references the trust by name and date, and includes language clarifying the transfer of legal title or beneficial interest. Assignments can address a range of property types, including real estate, bank and brokerage accounts, personal property, and intangible assets. The document must be compatible with applicable account rules and deed requirements, and in some cases additional filings or beneficiary designations may be needed to complete transfer. Clear drafting reduces ambiguity and helps trustees administer the trust efficiently.
The assignment works alongside other estate planning documents to create a complete plan for incapacity and death. For instance, a pour-over will can direct any assets not already transferred during life into the trust upon death, while powers of attorney allow agents to handle financial matters if you become incapacitated. The assignment focuses on formalizing title to assets so they are treated as trust property. Because asset transfer rules vary by asset class, a careful review of account agreements, deeds, and beneficiary designations is essential to ensure the assignment accomplishes the intended result without creating obstacles for trustees or beneficiaries.
A General Assignment of Assets to Trust is a legal instrument that documents the transfer of ownership or beneficial interest in listed assets into a trust. It provides clear evidence of the grantor’s intent that specified property be governed by the terms of the trust. The assignment typically references the trust document by name and date, identifies the grantor and trustee, and enumerates the assets to be assigned. While some assets require additional steps to change title or beneficiary designations, the assignment serves as an overarching record of the grantor’s plan. Properly executed, it supports trust administration and helps prevent disputes about which assets belong to the trust.
Preparing a General Assignment of Assets to Trust requires identifying each asset to be assigned, confirming ownership and title requirements, and drafting clear assignment language that references the trust. The process may include reviewing deeds for real property, checking bank or brokerage account rules for payable-on-death or trust ownership, and verifying beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance. In some cases, additional documents such as deeds, transfer forms, or beneficiary updates will be needed to complete the transfer. The assignment should also include signatures, notarization if required, and instructions for recordkeeping to support future administration of the trust.
Understanding common terms helps you follow the assignment process and communicate effectively with trustees, financial institutions, and family members. Below are short definitions for terms you will encounter frequently when assigning assets to a trust. These definitions clarify ownership concepts, identify common asset types, and explain roles such as grantor and trustee. Familiarity with these terms helps ensure your assignment is effective and aligns with the rest of your estate plan, including revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and supporting documents like powers of attorney and advance health care directives.
The grantor is the individual who creates the trust and transfers assets into it. This person sets the trust’s terms and may serve as trustee during life for revocable trusts. The grantor’s intent is central to the assignment, which documents the grantor’s decision to place certain assets under the trust’s governance. Clarifying the grantor’s identity, signature, and capacity when signing the assignment helps prevent challenges and makes it easier for financial institutions to process transfers. The assignment should clearly reference the trust created by the grantor and confirm that the listed assets are to be treated as trust property under the trust terms.
A trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing trust assets in accordance with the trust’s terms and the grantor’s instructions. Trustee duties include safekeeping assets, making distributions to beneficiaries, investing trust property prudently, and keeping records. When assets are assigned to the trust, the trustee becomes responsible for handling them during trust administration. The assignment should identify the trustee and provide guidance about how assets will be managed, including any limitations or special directions. Clear assignment language reduces uncertainty about the trustee’s authority and helps beneficiaries understand how the trust will be administered.
A beneficiary is a person or entity entitled to receive benefits from the trust according to its terms. Beneficiaries may receive income, principal, or other distributions as specified by the trust, and they have rights to information about the trust and its administration. Assigning assets to a trust helps ensure those assets are available to fund the distributions and intentions set out for beneficiaries. When drafting assignments, it is important to consider how designating assets as trust property affects beneficiary rights, and to ensure that the trust language clearly states distribution terms to avoid later disputes over intent and allocation.
A pour-over will is a testamentary document that directs assets remaining in the decedent’s name at death to be transferred into the trust. It acts as a safety net for assets not previously assigned or retitled into the trust during life. While a pour-over will does not avoid probate for those assets, it guides the post-death transfer into the trust for distribution under trust terms. A General Assignment of Assets to Trust reduces the need for pour-over administration by moving assets into the trust before death, but the pour-over will remains an important component of a comprehensive estate plan.
When deciding how to transfer assets into a trust, clients often consider a limited or targeted assignment versus a comprehensive funding strategy that moves most assets into the trust. A limited approach may be appropriate for a small set of assets or when title transfer will be delayed for administrative reasons. A comprehensive approach seeks to re-title most assets into the trust to minimize probate and streamline administration. Each option involves trade-offs related to convenience, cost, and account rules. Careful review of each asset type, account agreements, and tax considerations helps determine the best course for a particular family’s needs.
A limited assignment may be appropriate when only a few assets require re-titling and transfer can be completed quickly with minimal paperwork. For example, transferring certain pieces of personal property or a single bank account that permits trust ownership can be handled without a full-scale retitling effort. This approach reduces immediate administrative burden and cost while addressing the most important assets. It is often chosen by individuals who want to address clear, discrete items while postponing broader retitling until a later date, or who have assets that cannot practically be moved into the trust.
A targeted assignment can also serve as a temporary measure during life transitions such as a move, sale of property, or a change in account providers. In these situations, moving some assets into the trust immediately can prevent gaps in planning while allowing time to complete more complex transfers later. It can also be useful when certain assets require additional documentation or beneficiary designation changes that will take time to process. The temporary approach provides flexibility while keeping the overall estate plan intact and moving toward the goal of cohesive asset management under the trust.
A comprehensive funding strategy aims to retitle most assets into the trust during life, which can significantly reduce the assets subject to probate and the administrative burden on family members later. When property, bank accounts, and investment accounts are owned by the trust, trustees can follow the trust terms without court supervision, which generally reduces cost, delay, and public disclosure. This approach requires careful coordination to ensure deeds, account registrations, and beneficiary designations are updated accurately. For many families, the long-term benefit of streamlined administration outweighs the upfront time and effort needed to complete the transfers.
Comprehensive assignment and trust funding provide clearer succession for asset management in the event of incapacity or death. With assets titled to the trust, the trustee can step in and administer property according to written instructions without court oversight, which helps maintain continuity in household finances, investments, and property management. This clarity benefits both the person creating the trust and the designated fiduciaries by providing a known process for decision-making and distribution. It also reduces the likelihood of disputes among heirs by documenting the grantor’s intentions and ensuring assets are allocated under the trust’s terms.
Fully funding a trust through comprehensive assignments can result in more efficient administration, fewer assets subject to probate, and greater privacy for family affairs. When assets are already owned by the trust, those assets typically pass to beneficiaries without the need for probate court involvement, saving time and often reducing costs. Trustees can access trust property according to the trust’s timetable and instructions, which helps uphold the grantor’s wishes. While the initial effort to retitle assets may require coordination with financial institutions and transfer of deeds, the long-term administrative benefits commonly justify the investment.
Comprehensive funding also simplifies financial management in cases of incapacity by enabling appointed fiduciaries to access and use trust assets for care and household needs without court-appointed conservatorship. It allows for consistent management of diverse asset types under a single governing document and clarifies distribution mechanisms for beneficiaries. By addressing recordkeeping and providing organized documentation of ownership, a fully funded trust reduces the potential for confusion, delay, and conflict among family members who may otherwise need to reconstruct ownership history during a difficult time.
When assets are assigned to and held by a trust, administration is usually more streamlined because fewer assets must pass through public probate proceedings. Trustees can follow the trust document to make distributions and manage assets privately, which preserves family confidentiality and often reduces administrative expense. The assignment creates a clear record that specific assets are trust property and helps banks, title companies, and trustees verify authority. For many families, this privacy and predictability provide comfort and practical advantages during what can otherwise be a stressful transition period.
Comprehensive trust funding supports continuity if the grantor becomes incapacitated by allowing a successor trustee to manage trust assets without court oversight. This continuity ensures bills are paid, property is maintained, and investments are managed according to the trust terms. It avoids the disruption and delay of seeking conservatorship and provides a preplanned path for decision-making. During the original planning, identifying which assets should be moved into the trust and how to handle accounts with contractual beneficiary provisions is an essential step toward creating a reliable, responsive plan for incapacity and eventual distribution.
Before preparing an assignment, review the current title on real property, account registrations, and beneficiary designations. Some assets can be retitled directly into a trust, while others require changes through an institution’s transfer process or beneficiary form. Confirming how each asset is titled and whether joint ownership or account rules apply will save time and prevent incomplete transfers. Keeping a checklist of deeds, account numbers, and contact details for financial institutions helps streamline the assignment process and provides the trustee with essential information when administration is needed.
Ensure the assignment language is consistent with your trust document, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and advance health care directive. Aligning terminology and dates across documents helps prevent conflicts and clarifies intent. If you make changes to the trust or acquire new assets, update assignments and account registrations promptly to maintain coherence in your estate plan. Coordination among documents provides a cohesive framework for how assets should be managed and distributed, which benefits both your appointed fiduciaries and your intended beneficiaries.
A General Assignment of Assets to Trust is worth considering if you want to centralize asset ownership under a trust, reduce the likelihood of probate for certain assets, and provide clear instructions for trustees and beneficiaries. Assigning assets can also support incapacity planning by ensuring a successor trustee can access trust property to pay bills and manage obligations. For families concerned about privacy, timely administration, and minimizing court involvement, completing assignments for key assets is an important step in building a cohesive and effective estate plan tailored to California law and local needs in Buellton and Santa Barbara County.
Additionally, assignments can address specific concerns such as property owned individually that you want managed under trust terms, or accounts that must be retitled to align with your retirement planning. When used together with a revocable living trust, pour-over will, and appropriate powers of attorney, assignments help create a practical roadmap for asset management and distribution. Families with blended assets, out-of-state property, or complex account arrangements may find assignments particularly valuable for clarifying ownership and streamlining eventual transfer to beneficiaries.
Assignments are commonly used when clients create or update a trust, acquire new property that they want governed by an existing trust, or discover assets still titled in their individual name that should be moved into the trust. They are also useful when retiring trustees need clear documentation of which assets belong to the trust, or when family members need guidance about how to locate and manage trust property. Assignments can be part of estate updates after marriage, divorce, or significant changes in financial holdings, and they help integrate new assets into an existing plan with documented intent.
When creating a new revocable trust, a general assignment provides an efficient way to list and transfer assets into the trust’s ownership. Rather than retitling each asset immediately, an assignment can document the grantor’s intent to place specified property under the trust and serve as a roadmap for later retitling or additional transfer steps. This approach helps reduce oversights and ensures trustees understand which assets are intended to be trust property. It is particularly helpful for clients who are consolidating estate planning efforts and seeking a clear record of transferred assets for future administration.
When updating an older estate plan, assignments can be used to bring newly acquired assets into alignment with the current trust structure. Life events such as the acquisition of real estate, receipt of inheritance, or changes in financial accounts can leave assets outside the trust if not retitled appropriately. An assignment documents the intent to include those assets in the trust and identifies specific steps needed to complete transfers. This helps maintain consistency across the estate plan and reduces future administrative hurdles for trustees and beneficiaries.
Assignments help prepare for potential incapacity by clarifying which assets are part of the trust and therefore accessible to the successor trustee to cover care needs, bills, and household expenses. While powers of attorney handle certain financial matters, a trust funded with assigned assets provides a direct mechanism for trustees to manage property under the trust’s terms without court involvement. This clarity can reduce delays in care and financial support during difficult periods and helps designated fiduciaries act quickly and confidently on behalf of the grantor.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists individuals and families in Buellton and across Santa Barbara County with General Assignments of Assets to Trust, trust funding, and related estate planning documents. We work to ensure assignments reflect your intentions and coordinate with instruments like revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Our process includes reviewing asset titles, recommending necessary steps for retitling, and preparing clear documentation so trustees and family members can administer the trust efficiently when needed. Call 408-528-2827 to discuss your specific circumstances and options.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman because we focus on practical, well-drafted estate planning documents and thorough coordination among related instruments. When preparing a General Assignment of Assets to Trust, we carefully review deeds, account registrations, and beneficiary designations to ensure the assignment accomplishes its intended effect. Our goal is to reduce uncertainty and simplify trust administration by providing clear paperwork and guidance on next steps for retitling and documentation. We prioritize communication so clients understand how assignments fit into their broader estate plan.
We also help clients anticipate common pitfalls and address asset-specific requirements, such as deed requirements for real estate transfers, account transfer forms for banks or investment firms, and beneficiary rules for retirement accounts and insurance. By coordinating the assignment with a revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive, we provide a coherent plan that reflects the client’s goals and complies with California procedures. Clear instructions and organized records ease administration when the time comes for trustees to act.
Our team is available to explain the assignment’s scope, prepare the necessary documents, and advise on whether additional filings or title changes are needed. We aim to make the process manageable and transparent, helping clients in Buellton and Santa Barbara County protect their assets and plan for the future. If you have specific assets such as real property, retirement plans, life insurance, or personal property you want included in your trust, we can outline the steps to complete the assignment reliably and promptly.
Our process for General Assignment of Assets to Trust begins with an inventory of assets and a review of current titles and account rules. We discuss your goals and the terms of your trust, then draft an assignment that clearly identifies the assets and references the trust document. We advise on any additional paperwork needed to complete transfers, such as deeds for real property or transfer forms for financial accounts, and we provide guidance on where to file or record documents. Finally, we deliver organized copies and instructions for trustees and family members to ensure the trust can be administered smoothly when needed.
The first step in preparing an assignment is a comprehensive inventory and title review to determine which assets are owned individually, jointly, or by contract with payable-on-death or beneficiary designations. This review helps identify assets that can be assigned directly and those requiring additional steps. We document account numbers, deed information, and ownership details so the assignment accurately reflects the property intended for trust ownership. Thorough review reduces the chance of surprises later and ensures that the assignment accomplishes the client’s goals effectively.
We confirm deed status, vesting language, and any liens or mortgages that may affect the ability to retitle real property into the trust. In some cases, deeds must be recorded to reflect trust ownership, while in others joint ownership or mortgage clauses necessitate additional steps. Accurate verification of deed language and county records is essential to ensure that the assignment and any deed transfers accomplish the intended outcome without triggering unintended consequences such as due-on-sale clauses or tax impacts.
We examine bank, investment, and retirement account agreements to determine how each institution handles trust ownership or beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts and certain annuities may not be transferable to a revocable trust without tax or distribution considerations, so we advise on alternatives such as beneficiary designations or retirement plan trusts. Clear documentation of these rules allows the assignment to be tailored for each asset and prevents mismatches between account contracts and the trust’s intended ownership.
After identifying assets and confirming transfer requirements, we draft the General Assignment of Assets to Trust with language that names the trust, identifies the grantor and trustee, and lists the assets being assigned. We also prepare any supporting documents such as deeds, transfer forms, or beneficiary designation instructions needed to finalize the transfers. The drafting phase focuses on clarity, consistency with the trust terms, and compliance with recordation or institutional requirements to ensure the assignment functions as intended when the trust is administered.
The assignment must include clear statements of intent, accurate identification of the trust by name and date, and signature lines for required parties. Notarization and witness requirements vary by document type, so we advise on necessary formalities to ensure legal enforceability. Proper signatures and notarization help financial institutions and title companies accept the assignment and minimize disputes about the grantor’s intentions or the document’s validity during administration.
We assist with coordinating the practical steps to complete transfers with banks, brokers, and title companies, providing cover letters, certified copies of trust documents, and assistance with forms required by institutions. Timely coordination and correct documentation help reduce processing delays and ensure accounts and deeds are updated to reflect trust ownership. Working directly with institutions when needed streamlines the process and reduces the burden on clients and trustees during the retitling phase.
Once assignments and transfers are complete or in process, we conduct a final review to confirm that titles, account registrations, and beneficiary designations align with the trust plan. We deliver organized documentation, including executed assignments, copies of deeds, and a summary of account changes, and provide trustees with instructions about recordkeeping and administration. This final step helps ensure trustees have the information they need to manage trust assets and distribute property according to the trust terms when the time comes.
We compile a trustee package that includes copies of the trust, any assignments, deed recordings, and an inventory of assets showing current ownership and account contact information. This package helps the trustee locate assets, verify authority, and follow the trust’s distribution instructions. Clear documentation reduces delays and helps the trustee make informed decisions consistent with the grantor’s wishes, particularly during the initial administration period when prompt action may be required to protect trust assets.
Estate planning is an ongoing process, and we advise clients to update assignments and account registrations when acquiring new assets, changing beneficiaries, or making other significant life changes. Periodic reviews help ensure the trust continues to reflect current circumstances and that newly acquired property is properly coordinated with the trust. Providing guidance for ongoing updates reduces the likelihood of assets slipping through the cracks and keeps the plan effective across different life stages.
A General Assignment of Assets to Trust is a document that records the transfer of certain assets into a trust and expresses the grantor’s intent that those items be governed by the trust’s terms. It typically names the trust, the grantor, and the trustee, and lists the assets intended to become trust property. While some assets may require additional steps such as recording a deed or completing an institutional transfer form, the assignment serves as a clear record of the grantor’s planning decisions and supports trust administration when incapacity or death occurs. The assignment is used to reduce uncertainty about asset ownership, coordinate with other estate planning documents like a pour-over will, and provide trustees with documentation of trust property. It can help minimize probate for assets that are properly transferred and simplify the process of managing and distributing trust assets, provided account rules and title requirements are properly addressed during preparation.
A General Assignment can help avoid probate for assets that are successfully retitled or otherwise transferred into the trust, but it does not automatically avoid probate for every asset. Some property, such as certain retirement accounts or assets with designated beneficiaries, may be governed by contractual terms or tax rules that prevent direct transfer into a revocable trust without additional planning. A careful review of each asset is required to determine whether the assignment will accomplish the desired probate avoidance. For assets that cannot be transferred directly into a trust, alternatives like updating beneficiary designations or using ancillary trusts may be appropriate. A pour-over will can capture assets left outside the trust at death and move them into the trust through probate, but the goal is generally to minimize reliance on probate by aligning titles and designations during life whenever feasible.
Transferring real property into a trust in California typically requires preparing and recording a new deed that conveys the property from the individual owner to the trust. The deed should accurately state how the property is held and reference the trust by name and date. Mortgage terms and lender requirements should be reviewed first to address any due-on-sale clauses or lender consents that may be necessary. Recording the deed in the county where the property is located finalizes the change in public records and helps demonstrate trust ownership. Before recording, it is important to confirm that the transfer aligns with tax and lending considerations, and to address any title issues such as liens or judgments. The assignment can document the intent to include the property in the trust and serve as a companion document, while the recorded deed provides the public notice necessary for clear title and future transactions.
Retirement accounts and life insurance often have beneficiary designations that determine who receives proceeds at death, and those designations typically control over trust assignments unless the account owner changes beneficiaries. Some retirement plans cannot be retitled into a revocable trust without tax consequences, so using beneficiary designations or a retirement plan trust may be preferable. Life insurance policies can be assigned to a trust if the insurer and contract allow it, but beneficiaries named in the policy may still take precedence unless changed to the trust. When preparing an assignment, it is important to review each retirement and insurance contract to determine the best method to ensure the asset benefits the trust. In some cases, updating beneficiary designations to name the trust or establishing specialized trust arrangements for retirement assets will align the account with the overall estate plan while addressing tax and distribution considerations.
Not every bank or investment account needs to be retitled into the trust, but retitling many accounts can reduce the assets subject to probate and simplify administration. Some accounts, such as those with pay-on-death designations or certain brokerage arrangements, may be handled without full retitling by updating beneficiary forms. For accounts that are easily retitled into the trust, doing so can provide greater certainty that they will be administered under trust instructions rather than through probate. The decision to retitle depends on institution rules, account type, and the client’s overall goals. Reviewing account agreements and balancing convenience with the desire to avoid probate helps determine which accounts should be moved into the trust and which can remain in individual ownership with appropriate beneficiary designations.
A pour-over will complements a General Assignment by directing any assets remaining in the decedent’s name at death to be transferred into the trust for distribution under its terms. While the pour-over will helps capture overlooked assets, those assets will still pass through probate to effect the transfer, which is why funding the trust during life is generally preferable. The assignment helps minimize the need to rely on the pour-over will by documenting asset transfers into the trust before death. Using both tools together provides a safety net: assignments and funding manage assets during life, while a pour-over will ensures that any assets not previously transferred are ultimately brought into the trust. This dual approach supports a more complete estate plan that covers both anticipated and unanticipated assets.
After completing assignments, provide your trustee with organized documentation that includes copies of the trust, executed assignments, recorded deeds, account summaries, and contact information for financial institutions. A trustee package should also include instructions on how to access accounts, any passwords or location of original documents, and a list of ongoing obligations such as mortgage payments or subscriptions. Clear records empower the trustee to act efficiently and reduce the time needed to locate and verify assets when administration begins. It is also helpful to provide the trustee with information on beneficiaries, copies of relevant insurance policies, and directions for who to contact for professional assistance. Well-prepared documentation reduces delays and supports the trustee in fulfilling duties consistent with the trust’s terms and the grantor’s intentions.
Review and update assignments and trust documents periodically, particularly after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, significant changes in assets, or relocation to another state. Regular reviews ensure that newly acquired property is incorporated into the trust and that beneficiary designations remain aligned with your overall plan. Changing financial institutions or account types also calls for an update to assignments and account registrations to maintain coherence across the estate plan. A periodic review every few years is a practical benchmark, but proactive updates following any major change will keep the plan current. Ongoing attention reduces the risk of assets being unintentionally excluded from the trust and helps preserve the plan’s effectiveness for beneficiaries and trustees.
Assigning assets to a revocable living trust typically does not create immediate federal income tax consequences because the grantor generally retains control over trust assets during life and is treated as the owner for tax purposes. However, transferring certain appreciated property or retirement accounts may have separate tax considerations, and local transfer taxes or reassessment rules for real property should be evaluated. It is important to review potential tax implications for specific assets before finalizing transfers to avoid unintended results. Because tax consequences can vary by asset type and individual circumstances, coordinating assignments with tax advisors or financial planners is advisable. This coordination helps ensure transfers are handled in a way that supports estate planning goals while taking into account tax and reporting requirements that may apply to particular assets.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman can assist with preparing a General Assignment of Assets to Trust, reviewing titles and account agreements, drafting clear assignment language, and coordinating necessary transfers with financial institutions and title companies. We help identify which assets should be moved into the trust, recommend alternatives for assets that are not suitable for direct transfer, and prepare the documentation trustees will need to administer the trust. Our practice focuses on practical solutions to align ownership and documentation with your estate planning objectives. We can also provide guidance on related documents such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and specialized trusts when appropriate. By assembling organized documentation and advising on the required steps for each asset type, we aim to simplify the process for clients in Buellton and throughout Santa Barbara County so trustees and family members can manage affairs with clarity and confidence.
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