Protecting the Things That Matter Most
There is a misconception that the only millionaires and senior citizens need estate planning. In actuality, almost every adult can benefit from a well-written will or trust. You have the peace of mind knowing your wishes will be carried out after your death, and your family is spared from unnecessary fighting or guessing about your assets.
Whether you are recently married with young children, a senior who is living alone or a retired couple, an experienced lawyer can help you identify estate planning techniques that can be used to protect your loved ones and assets. At the Law Offices of William D. Kopper, we have over 25 years of experience helping clients in Davis and Woodland and throughout Yolo, Sacramento, and Solano Counties in California, prepare their wills and trusts. Contact us online or call 530-554-9218 to schedule your appointment with our attorney.
Estate Planning Documents
A well-prepared estate plan is often comprised of several legal documents, each protecting a different element of your life. When clients contact us, we help them determine which documents are needed to protect the things in their life that matter. We work with clients to draft and review:
- Wills: A will is used to make sure your children or property are protected if something happens to you. We address issues such as children getting money when they are too young to manage it, appointing guardians to take care of children, and the transfer of property without going through probate.
- Trusts: We will help you to establish the right type of trust for your family needs. Trusts are very important in California because trusts allow estate assets to pass to beneficiaries without probate. Probate fees are very high in California. Because of the rise in the per capita exemption from federal estate tax many families can now be well served by simple trusts. (See Review and Revision of Estate Plan Documents.) However, for some families, more complex trusts are appropriate, such as A-B trusts, A-B-C trusts, and Disclaimer Trusts. In some cases, we will provide special needs trusts for beneficiaries who receive public assistance.
- Advance health care directives: If you become unable to make decisions for yourself, it is important that there is someone who knows your wishes and can make decisions on your behalf. Advance health care directives and durable powers of attorney allow you to make your wishes known and appoint someone to make decisions about your health care.
-
Powers of Attorney: As part of all estate plans, we urge clients to obtain durable powers of attorney for property management. These powers of attorney usually become effective when the principal (the person who gives the power of attorney) becomes incompetent. The powers of attorney are called "durable" powers of attorney because they survive the principal's incompetence, while ordinary powers of attorney do not. The powers of attorney will allow your agent (usually your spouse) to open and close bank accounts and enter into contracts for you if you are incompetent.
-
Trust administration: We assist people in completing the accounting that is necessary for trusts, making sure all legal requirements are followed. Managing a trust is complicated, so it is important to work with a lawyer who has a good understanding of the financial and legal elements involved.
- Probate: If you are responsible for probating an estate, you may feel overwhelmed. We help clients manage the estate efficiently. This includes complying with legal requirements and proactive management to avoid unnecessary taxes.
- Elder law: We work with seniors and their families to make sure their rights are protected. There are various care situations available, and we help clients plan for the assistance they may need later. If you think there is a possibility that you will need a skilled nurse, we can help you plan ahead to protect yourself and your loved ones, while preventing your health care costs from draining your savings.
- Business succession: If you work in a small company or own a family business, we can help you make plan for the business's succession. We help clients draft buy/sell agreements and use estate planning to avoid unnecessary taxes.
Planning for the future does not need to be an overwhelming experience. Contact us online or call 530-554-9218 to work with a lawyer who will approach your situation with compassion.