Estate Planning

Estate planning is the process of determining 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 it is important to have an estate plan in place if you want to protect your family and your assets. The experienced estate planning attorneys at Equal Justice Law Group can simplify the process and give you peace of mind! Call us today to book a free consultation.

What will happen to your property when you pass away? 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 up 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 of the questions that 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 – via an expensive, lengthy, stressful court process known as probate – will answer the above questions for you. That’s not the kind of legacy you should 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 on in life, or they 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 also be straightforward with the right law firm. Equal Justice Law Group can lead you every step of the way! Our Sacramento estate planning attorneys will explain exactly what you need in a plan and draft a plan that takes all of the things you care about into account. 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.

Most Californians realize that they probably should have a will, but they are mistaken when they think that’s all they need to have. A will alone can’t help your family if an emergency occurs before you pass away – it only takes effect after death – and it also can’t prevent probate from needing to occur. 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. There are many different types of wills and trusts available to you, and many different considerations to make when creating your estate plan. Some people are tempted to take a DIY approach and download templated documents online, but these documents don’t take their unique circumstances into account 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 of your options, so you feel empowered to choose wisely and understand how your estate plan will work for you and your family. Our attorneys will then customize your comprehensive estate plan to your unique goals, finances, and family dynamics.

You can’t know what the future holds, but you can prepare for it. Estate planning gives you as much control as possible in terms of deciding what will happen to your family and your assets if something happens to you, so it’s important to start creating your plan now! Equal Justice Law Group won’t just draft confusing legal documents and send you on your way; our Sacramento estate planning attorneys, led by David Foyil, will take the time to 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 right expectations. We have offices in Sacramento, Jackson, and El Dorado Hills for your convenience! Call our law firm to schedule your free initial consultation and get started.