ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY
IN REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA

A 2021 wills and estate planning study by Caring.com found that only 32.9% of American adults have an estate plan in place. Creating a formal estate plan and ensuring that it's enforceable with legally valid documents is a major step toward putting your affairs in order. Whether you have a large or small estate, crafting a detailed estate plan can help you protect your assets and your family's future while preparing for the uncertainties of life.

The Elder & Disability Law Firm, APC has the resources and experience to guide individuals and families in all matters of estate planning, including wills, trusts, advanced healthcare directives, and powers of attorney. Our attorney is available to assess your unique situation and help you determine the best course of action. Whether you need assistance drafting your will or living trust, or you want to understand how the estate planning process works, they can offer you the comprehensive legal counsel and advocacy you need.

The Elder & Disability Law Firm, APC is proud to serve clients throughout Southern California, including Redlands, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, and Palm Springs.

THE IMPORTANCE OF
ESTATE PLANNING

Estate planning can be described as the process of creating a detailed plan in advance about how an individual's assets will be handled or distributed in the event of their incapacitation or death. Through an estate plan, you can leave behind assets to your selected beneficiaries and state your wishes regarding how you want your final affairs to be settled. An estate plan allows you to do the following:

• Prepare for the uncertainties of life

• Protect your family's future, assets, property, business, and other investments

• Provide detailed instruction for your long-term care and financial affairs

• Provide details regarding business succession

• Minimize estate taxes, court costs, and legal fees

• Choose options to avoid the expensive and lengthy probate process

• Protect minor children and make adequate provision for their welfare and future

• Appoint a guardian for minor children and dependents

• Name a personal representative or executor for your estate

• Mitigate possible conflicts among family members over property distribution

• Ensure that you do not die intestate (without a will)

IMPORTANT ESTATE
PLANNING DOCUMENTS

Creating an estate plan means more than drafting your will or living trust. Depending on your unique circumstances, there are a number of different legal documents to include your estate plan.

WILL

A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document that gives detailed instructions about how the testator's assets and property should be distributed to their beneficiaries or disposed of upon their death.

TRUST

A trust can be described as a fiduciary relationship that allows you (the trustor or guarantor) to name a third party (successor trustee) who will help settle your final affairs and distribute assets put in the trust to designated inheritors upon your death.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint a person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) to manage your financial, property, tax, or legal affairs should you become unavailable or unable to handle those matters yourself.

ADVANCED DIRECTIVE

An advanced directive is a legal document that provides specific instructions regarding a person's preferred long-term care or medical care when the need calls for it. You may need an advanced healthcare directive due to aging, sudden incapacitation, disability, or critical illness.

SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING

Special needs planning is a fiduciary relationship that allows a person to name a person who will help in managing funds, assets, and property left behind for minor children, or vulnerable adults who are unable to make crucial decisions on their own.

WORK WITH A
KNOWLEDGEABLE ATTORNEY

Getting your affairs in order can never happen too early. In the event that you become unavailable or unable to voice your opinion, your surviving loved ones can achieve peace of mind and benefit from knowing your true wishes. A knowledgeable California estate planning attorney can help protect your family's future, assets, and best interests by directing you toward the ideal estate plan that fits your unique needs.

At The Elder & Disability Law Firm, APC, our attorney are dedicated to offering comprehensive legal guidance and advocacy to clients in the legal matters of estate planning. As your legal counsel, we can explore all of your possible legal options and help you determine the right estate plan that best suits your personal situation. A skilled attorney can offer you the assistance you need to draw up your will, living trust, special care needs, advanced healthcare directive, or establish a power of attorney.