A carefully structured and implemented estate plan that addresses your unique personal and financial circumstances protects you and your assets, provides for your loved ones after you pass away, preserves your financial legacy, and addresses potential unpredictable events in the future. An estate plan crafted with professional assistance can also minimize tax exposure, avoid unnecessary estate expenses and time delays due to probate requirements, and ensure distribution of assets to your beneficiaries efficiently and expeditiously.

If you do not have an estate plan, California state law makes all your decisions for you, determining who gets your property after death, who administers your estate, and who makes decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated due to a medical issue, injury, accident, or another reason. The state’s statutory rules on all those issues may not coincide with your wishes and do not provide an opportunity to preserve and protect assets, avoid probate, save administration expenses, distribute assets expeditiously, or take your own needs and goals into account.