Build an Estate Plan That Actually Reflects Your Wishes

A will only takes effect after death and is administered through the probate court — it does not avoid probate. A trust can take effect during your lifetime, is managed by a trustee you choose, and — if properly funded (meaning your assets are actually retitled into it) — can avoid probate for those assets entirely. Many complete estate plans use both: a funded living trust as the main vehicle, and a simple backup will to catch anything left outside the trust.

We’ll talk through your family situation, your assets, and what you’re trying to accomplish — avoiding probate, providing for minor children, protecting a beneficiary, planning for incapacity, or something else. From there, we’ll explain which documents and strategies fit your situation and what the process and cost would look like. There’s no obligation to move forward afterward.

Estate planning isn’t only about large estates. A basic plan — a will or trust, a durable power of attorney, and a healthcare directive — determines who makes decisions for you if you’re incapacitated and who’s responsible for your affairs and any minor children if you die, regardless of estate size. Without these documents, California default rules (or a court proceeding) decide for you, which often isn’t what someone would have chosen for themselves.

It depends entirely on what your plan needs to include — a simple will-based plan costs less than a plan built around a funded living trust with more complex provisions. We’ll give you a clear cost estimate during your free consultation once we understand your specific situation, rather than a generic number that may not apply to you.