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No one wants to think about their death, that much is true. But not preparing for it can have devastating consequences for you and your family. That’s where estate planning attorneys come into play. We draft legally valid wills, ensure that your assets reach those you choose, and can advise you on legal tax avoidance and setting up trusts to avoid probate. Working with an estate planning lawyer ensures that your wishes are abided by when you are no longer here to make them known. 

What Do Estate Planning Attorneys Actually Do?

Estate planning attorneys help people: 

• Draft their last will
• Establish a health care and financial proxy
• Ensure that your dependents are cared for after you pass
• Ensure that your assets are distributed with as little cost to you as possible
• Can help you set up special needs trusts
• Can help you set up trusts to avoid probate
• Feel at peace that their loved ones will be provided for after their death

 Fundamentally, an estate planning attorney’s job is to ensure that their clients are prepared for the eventuality of their passing. This ensures that your assets go where you want, to whom you want, while simultaneously avoiding all avoidable taxes. 

 In addition to helping you plan for what comes after your death, estate planning attorneys can also help you prepare for what happens should you become incapacitated and no longer able to make decisions on your own behalf. 

How Can Having an Estate Planning Attorney Help Me?

Wills, trusts, and other documents regarding your estate plan are official legal documents and must be notarized. If you need to update your will, you’ll need to make it official. Otherwise, any updates you make may not be admissible in court. 

For obvious reasons, estate plans that were put into place when you were 30 bear little resemblance to your needs once you turn 50 or 60. These will need to be updated on occasion and having an estate planning attorney guide you through the process who is familiar with you, your estate, your wishes, and your needs will streamline the process making it much easier for you.

 Those who attempt a DIY approach to estate planning generally don’t have very large estates. On the other hand, they still run the risk that their estate plan won’t do what they want it to do. In many cases, errors made in the drafting of an estate plan aren’t caught until after the person passes. This can lead to significant confusion for your heirs and the court.

 With an estate planning attorney, you can be assured that your estate plan will be professionally drafted and then executed. 

What Should I Look for in an Estate Planning Attorney?

Estate planning attorneys are accredited lawyers who are legally allowed to practice in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean that anyone with a law degree is a good choice for helping you execute an estate plan. You want someone who specializes in estate planning and business law and can ensure that your estate plan meets your exact needs.

 On a less academic note, an estate planning attorney should be someone you are comfortable discussing these very difficult decisions with. They should put you at ease and make recommendations that make sense given your situation.

Talk to a California Estate Planning Attorney Today

Working with an estate planning lawyer should not be difficult, time-consuming, or unpleasant. Estate planning attorneys are there to ensure that your wishes are executed when you are no longer here to make your wishes known. For more information on how we can help, call The Herbert Law Office today.