Law Firm Helping You Protect Your Assets and Loved Ones

Most younger people are busy working, raising children, and doing other activities. These younger people may rarely consider estate planning as essential and consider it is only for older folks. In fact, if you own a home, may receive an inheritance, or have children, estate planning could not be more critical.

Without a basic estate plan, which includes putting a will and trust in place, should the unexpected occur and lead to a sudden death, California law will determine who gets what. If you have children, the state will decide who will raise them. If you need medical interventions, your wishes will not be in writing, and you may be subject to treatments you would never choose for yourself.

What Is an Estate Plan?

A basic estate plan includes several documents. These documents clearly state your wishes regarding the distribution of your property, your wishes regarding medical care, and who you want to manage your finances if you cannot do so. The basic set of documents in an estate plan includes the following:

• Last Will and Testament – A will can be drafted to clearly outline who should inherit your assets and name the guardians you select to raise your minor children.
• Revocable Living Trust – A trust allows your assets to be managed during your lifetime and helps avoid probate, ensuring a smoother transfer to beneficiaries.
• Durable Power of Attorney – This document appoints someone you trust to handle financial and legal matters if you become unable to do so yourself.
• Advance Health Care Directive – Also known as a living will, this specifies your medical treatment preferences and designates a trusted person to make health care decisions on your behalf.
• HIPAA Authorization – This allows your chosen representatives to access your medical information when needed.

What is a Living Trust?

A living trust is a legal arrangement that holds your assets, including your real estate, bank accounts, and investments, and still allows you to control them during your lifetime. You are listed as the “trustee,” meaning you have complete control while living. When you pass away, the assets in the trust are transferred directly to your listed beneficiaries without the cost and time associated with probate, saving time, expense, and stress for your loved ones. A living trust is useful for many people, not just those with large estates. You may want to consider one of these trusts if:

• You own a home or other real property in California.
• You want to avoid the delays and costs of probate for your family.
• You have minor children or dependents who need long-term financial protection.
• You own assets in multiple states and want a smoother transfer process.
• You want to keep your estate matters private, as trusts are not a public record.

At Equal Justice Law Group, we help clients determine whether a living trust makes sense for the individual. For many families, it is a practical way to protect their loved ones and ensure their wishes are carried out as they intended, with less time and expense.

What is a Living Will, and Do I Need One?

A living will, or “advance health care directive,” is a legal document that explains your wishes about medical treatment if you cannot communicate them yourself. It can include instructions about life-sustaining measures, resuscitation, pain management, and organ donation. By putting your preferences in writing, you relieve your family from making stressful decisions in a crisis and ensure that your voice is heard when it matters most.

Many people benefit from having a living will. Illnesses, accidents, or age-related conditions can leave someone unable to speak for themselves at any stage of life. Without clear instructions, doctors may make choices you would not have wanted, or family members may disagree about what to do. Having a living will helps prevent conflicts and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

What Happens When You Don’t Have an Estate Plan?

If you die without an estate plan in California, state law will determine what happens to your property. This process is called probate, and it can take months or, for larger estates, even years. Probate matters are public, so your personal and financial details are revealed to others as they are issued in the court record.

Without a will or trust, California’s “intestate succession” (intestate means dying without a will) laws determine who inherits your assets. That usually means your closest relatives. These are usually a spouse, children, or parents, who will inherit all you own. This might seem fine, but the outcome may not be what you would have wanted. For example, unmarried partners, stepchildren, or close friends will get nothing included unless you have written documents in place.

The lack of an estate plan can also lead to serious family conflicts. Family members may not agree on the medical treatments you would want or could argue about how your property is divided. The last thing anyone needs is the added stress of trying to figure out what you would have wanted. The other problem is that your estate will go through probate, which takes months or even years. Meanwhile, the people you love will have no access to your bank accounts or other assets and can struggle financially. We don’t recommend leaving your loved ones in this position.

Why Choose Us?

When it comes to planning your future, you deserve a Northern California estate planning lawyer who will treat you like more than someone who needs to sign a stack of paperwork. At Equal Justice Law Group, we are committed to guiding families across Northern California through the estate planning process with clarity, compassion, and care.

• Personalized Guidance: Every family is different. We take the time to learn about your goals and concerns, then build a plan that fits your life. You’ll always get clear answers in plain language, never in confusing legal jargon. We work WITH you, not just for you.
• Local Knowledge: With decades of experience serving the communities of Sacramento, Jackson, Bakersfield, and beyond, we understand how California laws affect your estate plan. Our team ensures your documents are prepared correctly and are effective when your family needs them most.
• Compassionate Support: We know these conversations can be difficult. Our role is to make the process simple and comfortable, so you feel confident about the choices you’re making for your loved ones.
• Practical Solutions: Whether you want to protect your home, name guardians for children, or prepare for healthcare decisions, we provide tools that work in real life. From wills and trusts to powers of attorney and healthcare directives, we design plans that offer true peace of mind.
• Ongoing Relationship: Life doesn’t stand still, and as things change, your estate plan must change with it. Many clients return to us over the years to update their plans, knowing they have a trusted partner to serve them for the long term.

At Equal Justice Law Group, we believe estate planning is about protecting people, not just property. Let us help you create a plan that brings security, clarity, and confidence for the future.

You Are Always In Control

By making an estate plan, you stay in control. You choose who will manage your finances and health care if you cannot, who will inherit your assets, and how your legacy is passed on. A little planning now can save your family unnecessary hardship later.

At Equal Justice Law Group, we guide clients through creating living wills that are legally valid in California and tailored to their personal values. Adding this document to your estate plan is a simple but powerful way to protect your dignity and give your family clarity in uncertain times.

A Customized Approach to Estate Planning

Every person’s situation is unique, and a basic plan may be expanded with additional tools depending on your goals. Our Northern California estate planning lawyer provides personalized guidance, so your estate plan reflects your values, protects your family, and minimizes complications down the road.

Estate planning determines how your money and possessions will be managed during your lifetime and distributed to your beneficiaries upon your death. It can seem overwhelming to plan for the future, but having an estate plan in place is important if you want to protect your family and your assets. The proficient Northern California estate planning lawyer at Equal Justice Law Group can simplify the process and give you peace of mind! Call us today to book a consultation.

Equal Justice Law Group Will Work With You To Preserve A Lasting Legacy Through Personalized Estate Planning

What will happen to your property when you die? If you have minor children, who will raise them, and who gets the authority to make decisions for them? What about your savings accounts? How will they be divided among your family members? If you are injured in an accident and can’t make medical decisions for yourself, who do you want to make those choices for you, and what do you want those choices to be?

These are all questions an estate plan can answer. If you pass away without an estate plan, your loved ones may never know what your wishes are, and the state of California, through an expensive, lengthy, stressful court process known as probate, will answer the above questions for you. That’s not the legacy you want to leave behind, which is why you need an estate plan.

Many people put off estate planning because they think they’ll have more time later in life or think that only wealthy people need legal tools like trusts and advance directives. The truth is that no one is guaranteed tomorrow, and estate plans are critical for anyone who owns property or has family, not just the rich. Estate planning can be complicated, but it can be straightforward with the right law firm. Equal Justice Law Group can lead you every step of the way! Our Northern California estate planning attorney will explain precisely what you need in a plan and draft a plan that considers everything you care about. We’ll make sure your plan protects your assets from the government, taxes, and court fees; we’ll also ensure your plan will protect your family from being left in a difficult financial situation when you pass away or become incapacitated.

Rely On Our Northern California Estate Planning Lawyer To Tailor Your Estate Plan To Your Specific Needs.

Most Californians realize they probably should have a will, but they are mistaken when they think that’s all they need. A will alone can’t help your family if an emergency occurs before you pass away. A will only takes effect after you pass away and can’t prevent probate. Your estate plan will need to include a variety of different legal tools, including: A will (who receives what when you pass)

A living will/advance directive (clarifies your wishes for medical treatment in cases where you can’t speak for yourself) A trust (provides for the owning of assets outside your name, the management of those assets during your lifetime, and the management/distribution of those assets after your death) A durable power of attorney (gives someone you trust the ability to make legal and financial decisions for you when you can’t speak for yourself) And more.

Why Use an Attorney Rather Than a DIY Online Resource?

There are many types of estate plans, with various types of trusts and other plan elements to create a custom estate plan. Some people are tempted to take a DIY approach and download templated documents online. These documents cannot cover an individual’s unique circumstances and may not be compliant with state laws. At Equal Justice Law Group, we understand that everyone’s life is different. We will take the time to explain all your options so you feel empowered to choose wisely and understand how your estate plan will work for you and your family. Our attorney will then customize your comprehensive estate plan to your unique goals, finances, and family dynamics.

Estate Planning Can’t Wait. Call Equal Justice Law Group Today To Book A Consultation!

You can’t know the future, but you can prepare for the unexpected. Estate planning gives you control in deciding what will happen to your family and your assets should a serious illness or sudden death occur. Equal Justice Law Group won’t just craft a pile of legal documents to sign and send you on your way. Our Northern California estate planning lawyer, David Foyil, will invite you into the process. During your consultation, you can meet our friendly team members, ask questions, learn about your options (without confusing legal jargon), and get the facts. We have offices in Sacramento, Jackson, and El Dorado Hills for your convenience! Call our law firm to schedule your initial consultation and get started.

Book A Consultation

Call us at (209) 699-8508 to reach our Jackson office, or (916) 884-2179 for our Sacramento office.

Our Locations

Equal Justice Law Group, Inc., Sacramento

3626 Fair Oaks Blvd, Ste 100
Sacramento, CA 95864

Equal Justice Law Group, Inc., Jackson

601 Court St, Ste 106
Jackson, CA 95642

Equal Justice Law Group, Inc., El Dorado Hills

1020 Suncast Ln, Ste 101
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762