The main way in which a person can prepare their estate for the future is by drafting a detailed and comprehensive will or trust. For individuals with smaller estates, a will may be all that is necessary to avoid estate litigation and to make the process of probate progress much easier. In a will, an individual can designate exactly who receives what property after their death and they can designate an estate administrator to ensure that their last wishes are honored after they pass. Trusts, on the other hand, are far more detailed and can be much more beneficial for everyone involved.
Living trusts are the only form of estate planning that can help your family side-step the probate process. By drafting a trust, you will choose a trustee and a trust administrator—often the same person—to handle the property listed in your trust and to administer or distribute it after you've passed. The entirety of your estate will therefore pass directly into the hands of another individual or entity instead of having to undergo probate. Estate taxes can be avoided, or at least greatly diminished, and your family will not have to go through the stress of estate litigation. Hire a Pasadena estate planning attorney today to get started!
Do not hesitate to speak with an attorney from our firm right away to learn exactly how we can help you draft a detailed, comprehensive, and unambiguous will or trust. You must be precise in your wording in order to prevent disputes and litigation in the future, so be sure to have a skilled attorney by your side. Our firm has over 54 years of combined family law experience, and is AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Contact our offices at your earliest convenience to schedule your initial consultation!