A revocable living trust can provide a streamlined, private way to manage assets during life and to transfer them after death without the delays of probate. In Boyes Hot Springs and the wider Sonoma County area, many families seek trusted legal planning that keeps sensitive financial details out of the public record and helps avoid lengthy court proceedings. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers personalized planning focused on your goals, whether that means simplifying administration for survivors, preparing for incapacity, or establishing clear distribution instructions for beneficiaries. Our approach begins with listening and ends with practical documents tailored to California law and your family’s needs.
A revocable living trust is one component of a full estate plan that often includes a last will and testament, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and other tailored documents. For many individuals and couples in Sonoma County, these coordinated documents create redundancy and clarity so financial and health care decisions proceed smoothly if a disability or death occurs. Working with the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman means receiving straightforward explanations about how a trust interacts with retirement accounts, life insurance, and real property, plus clear next steps for funding the trust and naming appropriate trustees and successor trustees to carry out your wishes.
A revocable living trust matters because it helps avoid probate, maintains privacy, and provides a path for efficient asset management if incapacity occurs. In California, probate can be time-consuming and costly, and families often seek alternatives that keep estate details private and distribute assets according to the grantor’s timeline. A trust also allows for tailored distribution schemes, continuing property management for minor beneficiaries, and integrated arrangements with beneficiary designations and special needs planning. The trust’s flexibility permits amendments during the grantor’s lifetime, and it can reduce stress for survivors by providing clear instructions for trustees to follow, making administration more predictable and organized.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients across Sonoma County from its base in the Bay Area, helping families create comprehensive estate plans that reflect their priorities. Our practice focuses on clear, practical legal planning for individuals, couples, and families who want to preserve assets and provide for loved ones with minimal court involvement. We combine detailed document preparation with hands-on guidance for funding trusts, coordinating beneficiary designations, and resolving common questions about trust administration. Clients appreciate straightforward communication, timely responses, and plans designed around California law and local realities in Boyes Hot Springs and nearby communities.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which a person, called the grantor, transfers ownership of assets into a trust during life while retaining the ability to modify or revoke the trust. The grantor typically names a trustee to manage trust assets and a successor trustee to step in if the grantor becomes incapacitated or passes away. Unlike a will, assets held in the trust generally pass outside probate, which can save time and maintain privacy. Funding the trust by retitling property, updating beneficiary designations, and assigning accounts is a necessary step to make the trust effective, and guidance ensures these steps are completed correctly under California rules.
A revocable living trust complements other estate planning tools such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and certifications of trust. The pour-over will serves as a safety net to transfer any assets left out of the trust into it at death, while powers of attorney and health care directives name trusted individuals to manage finances and medical decisions during incapacity. The trust approach also supports planning for dependents with special needs, pet trusts, and retirement plan trusts. Effective planning considers taxes, beneficiary designations, and practical administration to reduce potential conflicts and delays for successors.
A revocable living trust is a legal instrument that holds title to assets on behalf of beneficiaries and allows the grantor to maintain control during life. The grantor can act as trustee initially, managing assets and making distributions as needed, and can appoint a successor trustee to act if incapacity occurs or after death. Because the trust can be changed or revoked while the grantor is alive, it provides flexibility to adapt to changing family circumstances. The trust document sets forth how assets should be managed and distributed, and may include instructions for minor beneficiaries, distributions over time, and protections that can reduce family disputes during administration.
Establishing a revocable living trust typically involves drafting the trust document, selecting trustees and successors, identifying assets to fund the trust, and completing transfers to place assets into trust ownership. Additional elements include preparing a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and an advance health care directive to ensure comprehensive coverage for financial and medical decision making. Funding is a critical step in which deeds, account ownership, and beneficiary designations are updated as needed. The process also includes creating a certification of trust that trustees may use to demonstrate authority without sharing private details of the trust document itself.
Understanding common terms used in trust planning helps clients make informed decisions. This glossary explains roles like grantor and trustee, legal tools such as pour-over wills and powers of attorney, and practical concepts like funding the trust and successor trustees. Clear definitions reduce confusion and facilitate discussions about how a trust will be administered. When discussing trusts, being familiar with these terms ensures you can direct the planning toward your objectives, whether that is avoiding probate, protecting privacy, or providing ongoing management for vulnerable beneficiaries.
The grantor, also known as the trustmaker, is the person who creates the revocable living trust and transfers assets into it. The grantor retains control while living and can change or revoke the trust as circumstances evolve. Choosing the right successor trustee and outlining clear instructions for distributions is one of the most important decisions the grantor makes when creating a trust. In California planning, the grantor’s decisions around funding, beneficiary designation, and administrative instructions determine how efficiently assets move to heirs and how well financial and health care transitions are handled during incapacity.
A pour-over will serves as a backup document that directs any assets not already placed in the trust at the grantor’s death to be transferred into the trust. While assets still go through probate if they remain only in the will, the pour-over will ensures that those assets eventually follow the trust’s distribution plan. This measure helps maintain a single distribution scheme for the estate, making administration more straightforward for successors and reducing the risk that unintended assets are distributed outside the trust’s terms.
The trustee manages the trust assets and follows the terms set out by the grantor. Initially, the grantor often serves as trustee, keeping day-to-day control, and names a successor trustee to act if the grantor becomes incapacitated or passes away. The successor trustee is responsible for gathering trust assets, paying valid debts and taxes, and distributing property according to the trust provisions. Selecting a reliable successor and outlining clear powers and duties can ensure that management is consistent with the grantor’s intentions and that family members understand how decisions will be made.
A certification of trust is a concise document that summarizes key facts about the trust and the trustee’s authority without revealing the trust’s private provisions. Financial institutions often accept a certification of trust to confirm who can act on behalf of the trust and to allow transactions without producing the entire trust document. This tool preserves confidentiality while enabling efficient management of trust affairs, and it typically includes the trust name, date, grantor, trustee names, and a statement of the trustee’s powers as authorized by the trust instrument.
Choosing between a revocable living trust and a will or other planning tools depends on priorities such as privacy, cost, timing, and complexity of assets. Wills funnel assets through probate, which is public and may cause delays, while trusts aim to avoid probate and maintain confidentiality. For individuals with real property, multiple accounts, or a desire for ongoing management at incapacity, a trust can provide smoother transitions. For smaller estates or simpler circumstances, a will coupled with updated beneficiary designations may be sufficient. The best course considers your family structure, asset types, and whether avoiding probate and maintaining privacy outweighs the time and cost of creating and funding a trust.
A limited estate plan may be appropriate for individuals with modest estates where beneficiary designations on accounts and life insurance clearly direct assets at death. If most assets pass by beneficiary designation or joint ownership and family relationships are uncomplicated, the cost and effort of establishing and maintaining a trust might outweigh its benefits. In such situations, a carefully drafted will, powers of attorney, and health care directive can provide essential protections and cover incapacity without creating a trust structure. It remains important, however, to review beneficiary designations regularly and coordinate documents to avoid unintended outcomes.
When an individual does not own real estate and family relationships are straightforward, a limited approach can be effective and efficient. Bank accounts and retirement plans that properly name beneficiaries will transfer outside probate, and a clear will can handle any remaining property. For those who want straightforward arrangements without establishing a trust, focusing on accurate beneficiary designations, durable powers of attorney, and health care directives provides important protections while minimizing legal complexity and ongoing administrative tasks associated with maintaining trust funding and records.
A comprehensive trust approach is often chosen to avoid probate and keep the estate’s details private. Probate in California can be lengthy and requires court supervision, which may increase costs and expose personal financial information to the public record. For families with real estate, multiple accounts, or heirs who prefer discretion, a trust provides direct transitions of ownership and administration without detailed court involvement. The trust also reduces friction by providing clear instructions for successors and can make distribution and management decisions quicker and less stressful for loved ones during a difficult time.
When assets are diverse, when beneficiaries include minors or persons with special needs, or when blended family situations exist, a comprehensive trust-based plan helps address complexity with tailored provisions. Trusts permit staged distributions, professional management, and protections that help ensure funds are used as intended over time. Coordination with retirement accounts, life insurance, and business interests can reduce administrative burdens and clarify tax implications. A comprehensive approach anticipates potential disputes and provides structures for trustees to follow, which can lead to smoother administration and better protection for vulnerable beneficiaries.
A comprehensive approach centered on a revocable living trust offers several advantages including probate avoidance, privacy, and continuity of asset management during incapacity. This approach consolidates planning documents so that the trust governs distribution while supporting instruments handle decision making during illness. It also simplifies property transfers for real estate and other titled assets, reduces court involvement, and can prevent delays in providing for beneficiaries. Clients benefit from a clear roadmap for trustees and personal representatives, which reduces ambiguity and potential conflict when decisions must be made during stressful times.
Beyond probate avoidance, comprehensive plans make it easier to administer estates across state lines, coordinate with retirement and insurance benefits, and implement protections for heirs who need ongoing support. The trust structure also allows for efficient handling of assets when the grantor becomes incapacitated, ensuring bills are paid and decisions are made without the need for court conservatorship. For people with family members who have special needs or who require ongoing care, trust provisions can provide stability and a controlled distribution schedule while preserving eligibility for government benefits when appropriate.
One of the most immediate benefits of a trust-centered plan is privacy. Probate proceedings are public, but a trust allows asset transfers and distributions to occur without exposing the estate to public court records. This privacy often translates into faster administration because trustees can follow the trust terms directly without waiting for probate court appointments. For families that value discretion about financial affairs, a revocable trust provides a way to keep sensitive information confidential while enabling successors to manage and distribute assets efficiently according to the grantor’s instructions.
A comprehensive trust helps ensure continuity if the grantor becomes incapacitated by naming a successor trustee who can immediately step in to manage finances and property. This avoids the need for court-appointed conservatorship and allows trusted individuals to carry out the grantor’s instructions smoothly. The trust can also include provisions to support minor children, manage distributions over time, and appoint guardianship nominations for minors, offering a stable framework that protects family interests and eases transitions during difficult circumstances.
After the trust is drafted, timely funding is essential to ensure it works as intended. Funding means retitling real property, updating account ownership, and changing beneficiary designations where necessary so assets become part of the trust estate. Neglecting this step can leave assets subject to probate despite having a trust document in place. Work through a checklist of properties, bank and investment accounts, and titled vehicles to confirm ownership is properly aligned. Regular reviews after major life events help ensure new assets are added to the trust and beneficiary designations remain current.
To avoid unintended outcomes, align beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and life insurance with the trust plan. In some cases, retirement plan accounts require special treatment and may be better left with direct beneficiary designations, while other assets are transferred into the trust. Regularly review all documents and account forms after major changes such as marriage, divorce, births, or deaths. Coordinating paperwork prevents conflicts between documents and ensures that assets pass according to your comprehensive plan rather than through outdated beneficiary forms or conflicting instructions.
People consider a revocable living trust to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and create a plan that addresses both incapacity and death in one integrated document. Trusts can make administration more efficient, reduce public exposure of estate details, and provide flexible distribution terms that can be tailored to family needs. They also offer continuity by allowing a successor trustee to step in immediately if the grantor becomes unable to manage finances. When preserving privacy and ensuring smooth transitions are priorities, a trust provides important practical advantages over a will alone.
A trust can also serve as a tool to address specific family circumstances, such as preserving assets for minor children, providing ongoing support for a family member with special needs, or protecting property in blended families. Integrating the trust with powers of attorney, a pour-over will, and health care directives creates a comprehensive plan that covers financial and medical decision making and post-death distributions. For many clients, this coordinated approach reduces uncertainty and helps successors carry out the grantor’s intentions with less administrative friction and fewer court-imposed delays.
Trusts are commonly used when individuals own real estate, have complex assets, seek privacy, or need plans that address incapacity. They are also appropriate when beneficiaries include minors, individuals with special needs, or when blended families require careful distribution instructions. Business owners, those with multiple residences, or anyone who wishes to avoid the publicity of probate often find that a trust-centered plan meets their needs. Consulting with a planning attorney can clarify whether a trust is the right fit given your assets, family structure, and goals.
Owners of real estate in Boyes Hot Springs and throughout Sonoma County frequently choose trusts to simplify the transfer of property at death. Real property titled in a trust generally avoids probate, allowing the successor trustee to convey property according to trust terms without court involvement. This can accelerate the distribution process and reduce administrative costs for heirs. Trusts also facilitate management of property in the event of incapacity, ensuring bills are paid and maintenance decisions are handled while preserving the grantor’s long-term goals for the property and family.
When beneficiaries include minor children or adults with disabilities, trusts offer flexibility to structure distributions over time and to appoint trustees who manage assets responsibly. Trust provisions can set ages or milestones for distributions, provide income and principal according to needs, and protect assets from mismanagement or creditors. Trust language can also coordinate with public benefits for those with disabilities so that support is provided without jeopardizing eligibility. Thoughtful drafting ensures that vulnerable beneficiaries receive steady support in line with the grantor’s intentions.
Complex financial situations, such as business ownership, multiple investment accounts, or blended family dynamics, often benefit from a trust-based approach that organizes how assets are managed and distributed. Trusts can protect business continuity, direct distributions to different family branches, and set terms for managing shared property. In these scenarios, clear instructions reduce the risk of disputes and provide mechanisms for trustees to handle difficult decisions. A trust plan tailored to complex circumstances can bring order and predictability to estate transitions.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides local estate planning services tailored to residents of Boyes Hot Springs and neighboring Sonoma County communities. We help clients develop revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and related documents such as certifications of trust and HIPAA authorizations. Our team guides clients through funding the trust, coordinating beneficiary designations, and identifying successor trustees. If you have questions about how a trust would work for your family or want an organized plan that reflects California law, we can walk you through the options and create a practical path forward.
Clients choose our firm for clear communication, practical planning, and responsive service tailored to California’s legal landscape. We focus on building plans that reflect your priorities and reduce burdens on survivors, including funding assistance and coordination of beneficiary designations. Our goal is to provide straightforward solutions so you understand the options and how they impact your family. Whether you are creating your first estate plan or updating an existing trust, we aim to deliver documents that are easy to use and that provide continuity in times of incapacity or loss.
Our approach emphasizes careful drafting and hands-on support during the funding process so your trust functions as intended. We review titling of real property, retirement and investment accounts, and beneficiary forms to align with the trust document. This attention helps prevent assets from being left out of the trust inadvertently. We also prepare supporting documents such as a pour-over will, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and certifications of trust that facilitate efficient administration and protect your privacy under California procedures.
Clients appreciate the firm’s attention to detail and practical guidance during major life events like marriage, divorce, births, and deaths. We help update plans to reflect changing circumstances and ensure that trusts remain effective and properly funded. For families with special needs loved ones or complex assets, we craft provisions that align with long-term goals while coordinating benefits and distributions. To start the process, call our office at 408-528-2827 to discuss your objectives and arrange a consultation focused on practical planning and clear next steps.
Our process begins with a consultation to learn about your assets, family, and planning goals. We then recommend an appropriate trust structure and draft tailored documents, including a revocable living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and advance health care directive. Next, we review funding steps, prepare deeds or transfer instructions, and provide a checklist to complete account retitling. We also prepare a certification of trust for practical use with financial institutions. The goal is to create a cohesive plan that functions smoothly and to support you through funding and implementation under California law.
The initial meeting focuses on understanding your family dynamics, asset inventory, and distribution goals. We discuss strategies to achieve privacy, avoid probate, plan for incapacity, and protect beneficiaries. This conversation clarifies whether a revocable living trust, a will, or a combination of tools best meets your needs and identifies any special provisions required for children, people with disabilities, or blended families. From there, we outline recommended documents, the funding process, and a timeline so you know the practical next steps and approximate time to completion.
We help compile an asset inventory detailing real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, business interests, and personal property. This inventory allows us to identify which items should be retitled, which require beneficiary designation updates, and any potential tax or creditor considerations. A thorough inventory reduces the risk of assets being omitted from the trust and helps us provide precise instructions for funding. Accurate documentation also speeds administration later by giving successors a clear picture of estate holdings.
We work with you to develop distribution provisions that reflect your wishes, whether that means outright distributions, staged payments, or ongoing support for beneficiaries. We also define trustee powers and responsibilities to ensure trustees can manage assets, pay expenses, and make prudent investment decisions while following your intent. Clear instructions for successor trustees reduce the likelihood of disputes and provide a roadmap for administration. This design phase ensures the trust document addresses foreseeable situations and aligns with your family’s needs.
Once the plan design is complete, we draft the trust instrument and accompanying documents, including a pour-over will, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, and any specific trust attachments such as special needs or pet trust provisions. We review the drafts with you to confirm language and make any adjustments. We then prepare detailed instructions for funding the trust, draft deeds for real property transfers if needed, and create certifications of trust for practical use with banks and institutions to confirm trustee authority without revealing sensitive terms.
After drafting, we review each document line by line with you to ensure accuracy and clarity, discussing how provisions will operate in practice. This step allows final adjustments for distribution timing, trustee powers, and contingencies. Once approved, we arrange for execution formalities, which may include notarization and witnessing as required by California law. Clear review and client approval prevent misunderstandings and ensure the documents reflect current intentions and planning goals before they are finalized and funded.
Funding the trust involves retitling property, updating account registrations, and changing beneficiary designations where appropriate. We provide clients with a checklist and draft required deeds or transfer documents to ensure assets are properly moved into trust ownership. We also prepare a certification of trust that financial institutions accept to confirm trustee authority while keeping the trust’s private terms confidential. Regular follow-ups help verify that funding steps are complete and address any issues that arise during transfers or account updates.
After funding and execution, we finalize the plan by confirming account changes, recording deeds if necessary, and providing you with organized copies of your trust and supporting documents. We explain how to communicate the plan to successor trustees and where to store documents. We also recommend periodic reviews, especially after major life changes or financial shifts, to confirm that beneficiary designations and funding remain aligned with the trust. Ongoing review ensures the plan continues to meet objectives and adapts to new circumstances or changes in California law.
We deliver organized trust documents and supporting forms, explain how to use the certification of trust, and provide guidance for successor trustees on administrative duties. Orientation helps trustees understand record-keeping obligations, distribution mechanics, and how to access assets when necessary. Clear instruction reduces delays at a critical time and helps trustees carry out the grantor’s wishes effectively. We also offer recommendations for safe storage of original documents and discuss options for sharing necessary information with trustees in advance to facilitate smoother transitions.
Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant financial changes may require updating trust documents, beneficiary designations, or powers of attorney. We recommend periodic reviews to ensure the plan still reflects current wishes and that new assets are properly funded into the trust. Making timely adjustments preserves the integrity of the estate plan and prevents unintended distributions. Ongoing maintenance helps guarantee that the trust continues to serve its intended role in your overall financial and family planning strategy.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement created during a person’s lifetime in which assets are held by the trust for the benefit of designated beneficiaries. The grantor typically retains the ability to change or revoke the trust and may serve as trustee initially. A trust differs from a will in that assets owned by the trust generally pass outside of probate, which can reduce administrative delays and keep estate matters private. While a will governs assets that remain outside the trust at death, a trust provides continuous management during incapacity and often a quicker path to final distribution. Deciding between a trust and a will depends on your goals, asset types, and family dynamics. Wills still play an important role as a safety net, using a pour-over provision to transfer any overlooked assets into the trust at death. The combined approach often provides comprehensive coverage for incapacity and death, with a trust minimizing court involvement and a will ensuring no property is unintentionally omitted from the estate plan.
A revocable living trust by itself does not eliminate estate taxes. Because the trust is revocable, the grantor retains control and the assets are typically treated as part of the grantor’s estate for tax purposes. Estate tax planning requires additional strategies tailored to your financial situation and the applicable federal and state tax rules. For many clients with modest estates, estate taxes are not an immediate concern, but larger estates may need specialized planning to address potential tax liabilities. If minimizing estate taxes is a planning goal, we discuss options such as irrevocable trusts or other planning techniques that may reduce the taxable estate. These measures often involve transferring control or ownership of assets in ways that are not reversible, so careful consideration and coordination with tax advisors are important. A comprehensive plan balances tax considerations with family priorities and long-term management needs.
Funding a revocable living trust involves transferring assets into the trust by retitling property, updating account registrations, and changing beneficiary designations when appropriate. For real property, this often means executing and recording a deed that transfers ownership to the trust. For bank and investment accounts, the account owner typically changes the title to the trust or establishes payable-on-death designations that align with trust goals. Retirement accounts and insurance policies require careful coordination because changing ownership can have tax and beneficiary implications. To complete funding, follow a checklist of assets, prepare deeds and transfer forms, and confirm that institutions accept the trust’s certification of trust. Regular follow-up ensures that transfers are processed correctly and that no significant assets remain outside the trust. Proper funding is essential for the trust to function as intended and for beneficiaries to avoid probate for those assets.
Yes, a grantor can serve as trustee of their own revocable living trust, allowing them to manage assets and make distributions during life. The trust document should name one or more successor trustees to assume management if the grantor becomes incapacitated or dies. The successor trustee steps in without court appointment, which helps avoid conservatorship proceedings and allows for immediate management of finances, payment of bills, and care for dependents according to the trust’s provisions. Preparing for incapacity also involves drafting a durable financial power of attorney and an advance health care directive so appointed agents can handle health care and other decisions if needed. Together with a successor trustee, these documents create a coordinated plan for continuity of decision making and asset management that reduces disruption during periods of incapacity.
A pour-over will acts as a safety net by directing any assets that were not transferred into the trust during life to be transferred to the trust at death. While this ensures that unintentionally omitted property ultimately follows the trust’s distribution plan, assets that pass through a pour-over will typically still go through probate before being poured into the trust. Therefore, funding the trust during life remains important to avoid probate for those assets in the first place. The pour-over will complements the trust by capturing stray assets and providing continuity for the estate plan. It also names a personal representative to administer probate matters if necessary, ensuring that any remaining affairs are handled consistently with the trust’s overall objectives.
A revocable trust can provide flexible distribution options that may limit immediate access to principal or set conditions for distributions. Trustees carry out the grantor’s instructions, which can include staged payments, discretion to provide for health and education, or specific terms for support. While beneficiaries may not receive immediate control in every case, the trust can be designed to balance protection with access, ensuring resources are used responsibly while meeting beneficiaries’ needs. Trust administration also involves regular accounting and adherence to fiduciary duties, which helps protect beneficiaries and provides transparency regarding trust management. Clear instructions in the trust reduce the likelihood of disputes by defining the trustee’s responsibilities and the timing and manner of distributions.
A complete trust plan typically includes the revocable living trust document, a pour-over will, a durable financial power of attorney, an advance health care directive, certifications of trust, and any specialized trust attachments like special needs or pet trusts. These documents work together to address financial management during incapacity, medical decision making, and the orderly distribution of assets at death. Having all of these documents in place creates a cohesive plan that covers the main contingencies families face. Organizing these documents and reviewing beneficiary designations helps ensure consistency across your estate plan. We provide guidance on where to store originals and how to provide successor trustees and agents with necessary information, while preserving confidentiality and limiting exposure of private financial details.
Review trust documents and related estate planning instruments after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant changes in financial status, or changes in health. Even absent major events, periodic reviews every few years help ensure that beneficiary designations and funding remain aligned with your goals and that the trustee structure still meets your needs. Keeping documents current prevents outdated provisions from producing unintended results and ensures that the trust continues to function as intended under California law. When circumstances change, making timely updates can prevent conflicts among heirs and reduce administrative burdens. We recommend scheduling a review when life events occur or at regular intervals to confirm the plan remains effective and tailored to evolving family dynamics.
A trust can be an effective tool for providing for a family member with special needs while protecting their eligibility for public benefits. Special needs provisions can direct supplemental support for quality-of-life expenses without disqualifying beneficiaries from government assistance programs. Establishing a properly drafted trust vehicle helps balance private support with public benefit rules and provides long-term oversight tailored to the beneficiary’s circumstances. Careful coordination with benefit rules and thoughtful drafting are essential to avoid unintended consequences. We work with clients to create language that preserves eligibility while allowing for meaningful supplemental support. Consulting with benefits advisors in conjunction with trust planning ensures the approach is aligned with current regulations and the beneficiary’s long-term needs.
Choosing a successor trustee involves assessing trustworthiness, willingness to serve, and the ability to handle administrative responsibilities. Many people select a trusted family member or friend, but others appoint a professional fiduciary when neutrality or long-term management is a priority. The successor should be able to communicate with beneficiaries, keep accurate records, and follow the trust’s directives while making prudent financial decisions on behalf of the trust. It is also wise to name alternate successor trustees in case the first choice cannot serve. Clear communication with chosen individuals about their potential role and providing them with a certification of trust and access to key documents will help ensure a smooth transition if they must assume responsibilities.
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