Estate Planner Serving Your Needs in California
Wills ● Trusts ● Probate ● Conservatorships/Guardianships
● Powers of Attorney ● Trust Administration
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Protecting your property and ensuring that your assets are distributed based on your wishes is essential for clients from all walks of life. When death hits a family, you need an Attorney you can trust that will handle your case with the care you deserve.
What is Probate?
If a loved one has passed away with or without a WIll, in order to transfer his/her assets to his/her beneficiaries, Probate may be required. Probate administration means the affairs of the estate are overseen by a probate court and executed according to the California Probate Code. In these matters, the Law Office of Jill G. Webster represents personal representatives (Administrators and Executors). This representation includes obtaining the appointment of the personal representative by the court and advising and representing the representative throughout the probate administration. The probate administration process includes inventorying the assets of the deceased, paying debts and taxes of the deceased and estate, and distributing the balance to the beneficiaries or heirs.
What is Trust Administration?
If a loved one created a Living Trust, I work with the trustee to administer the trust. In these matters, the Law Office of Jill G. Webster represents the trust. This includes advising and representing the trust throughout the trustee administration process. The trust administration process includes inventorying the assets of the deceased, paying debts and taxes of the deceased and estate, and distributing the balance to the beneficiaries.
What is Estate Planning?
Estate Planning is a process to look at alternatives for and to set up legal documents and arrangetments that will meet your specific wishes if something happens to you or a loved one. A good estate plan will involve not only what should happen to your assets upon your death, but who will manage those assets, and who will carry out your wishes regarding health care matters and what your wishes are regarding health care. A good estate plan can coordiate what will happen to your home, investments, business, life insurance, retirement acocunts and other proeprty in the even you become disable or if you die.
Some Estate Planning Documents
Will
A Will is a legal document by which a person names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property upon death.
Living Trust
A living trust is an arrangement under which one person, called a trustee, holds legal title to property for another person, called a beneficiary. You can be the trustee of your own living trust, keeping full control over all property held in trust. A "living trust" is simply a trust you create while you're alive, rather than one that is created at your death under the terms of your will. Different kinds of living trusts can help you avoid probate, reduce estate taxes or set up long-term property management.
Advance Health Care Directive
In this document, you appoint someone you trust to be your healthcare agent (sometimes called an "attorney-in-fact for healthcare" or "healthcare proxy") to see that doctors and other healthcare providers give you the type of care you wish to receive. This can also include your wishes in regards to the type of care you want (or don't want) if you become incapacitated.
Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney for finances is a simple, inexpensive and reliable way to arrange for someone to make your financial decisions should you become unable to do so yourself.
The Law Office of Jill G. Webster has been providing estate planning services to clients in Los Angeles County and all parts of California for more than 7 years. We provide creative, practical and cost-effective estate planning advice so you can protect your loved ones and have your wishes followed.