A Better Way to Plan...(start now)

There are many ways to plan an estate (what happens to your property after you check out).  Some people have no plan at all - the government has a plan for their families.  Others simply give property away during life.  Others may draw up a stand-alone will, which must be probated.  Others use probate avoidance techniques such as joint tenancy or beneficiary contracts.  These methods may be combined, and each has disadvantages.

All but the smallest estates usually benefit from a trust-based plan.  A revocable living trust (RLT) brings many advantages, chiefly avoidance of probate and better handling of incapacity due to illness or injury.

The only significant "drawback" of the RLT is that in order to obtain maximum benefit from the arrangement, you need to undergo the time and expense of properly "funding" the trust during your lifetime.  However, this is NOT an actual drawback in a properly constructed estate plan (including pour-over will and power of attorney, as well as trust etc.), because property outside trust will make it into trust after death via the pour-over will.  Of course, probate would be required for such property just as it would for the stand-alone will.

In other words, an RLT-based plan is at least as good as a standalone will, and potentially much better if proper funding is maintained.  ("Funding" simply means holding title as trustee instead of individually, thereby avoiding probate.)

So, for most people, the RLT would be recommended as the cornerstone for their plan.

Photos (this column and below) by Oleg Volk.  Please support his important work at http://olegvolk.net

What is the best way of implementing the RLT-based plan?

For just a few hundred dollars, probably less than what an online paralegal would charge, you can have a complete basic estate plan including:

• attorney-drafted estate planning documents (revocable trust, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, etc.)
• an impressive level of detail, for example with regard to asset protection, even in basic trust
  
• legal advice by attorney who will recommend specific documents with specific provisions for specific solutions relating to your specific situation [why pay an online paralegal advertising "we are not a law firm and prepare documents only at YOUR direction" (?!) - this is paying $hundred$ to someone else for a do-it-yourself project!]
• professional relationship with attorney, accessing resources of nation's premiere network of estate planning attorneys
• attorney with two law degrees, including Master of Tax Law (LL.M)
  
• ethical supervision by State Bars of both California and Washington
• first-year amendments
• first-year funding assistance
• Annual Trust Maintenance Program: option to extend funding assistance and amendments beyond first year (which is free), so your documents don't expire before you do!
• continuing client education opportunities to fine-tune your planning
  

For most clients, all of this can be provided for a flat fee of just a few hundred dollars.  (There may be aspects of your personal or family situation which require more planning and more fees, either flat or hourly.) 

Even the basic documents contain an impressive amount of detail, but you may want to fine-tune your plan over time with the included free amendments, after attending clinics and completing client education modules.  The more you put into it, the more you can accomplish.

[More detailed and advanced planning is available at an hourly rate, right at the beginning if desired.  Although planning can be more efficient, with better results, if you take advantage of client education opportunities such as clinics and instructional videos, some folks don't have that much time or patience.]

Go ahead, START NOW (or call if questions; brief phone calls are free)

• only $100 for initial one hour consultation (later fee credits)
  
• either at Laguna Hills office, or we can meet online