Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Hiring A Lawyer For California Estate Planning

By Ina Hunt


Planning is an important part of life. In order to get all aspects in order, it is advisable for one to have an elaborate plan of how things are to be done. The same case applies for California estate planning. If one owns a number of properties, it is advisable to find a legal professional who will assist in putting up a comprehensive plan on how management is to be done. There are various factors to consider with respect to this matter.

It is imperative to find an attorney who is able to achieve the objectives set. Estate planning involves a number of legal affairs that need to be streamlined. The best experts are those who have the necessary qualification as far as these matters are concerned. Dealing with all these processes without seeking assistance from the right people will create even bigger problems thus so much energy could be spent in court litigation, in case legal documents are not acquired.

It is also imperative to designate a guardian for the children. If an individual will not be able to do this, the judge will certainly pick whoever they deems fit. They have the capacity and authority to appoint any person to look after the kids in case the parents die. Designating a guardian for the children will help to prevent the relatives from arguing and fighting one another on who is to become the legal guardian. A backup custodian must also be chosen as a precautionary measure just in case the first option cannot serve.

Planning should be done earlier. In most cases, people make wise and informed decisions when the minds are intact. A mentally incapable individual will not be in a position to develop a good plan. In turn, this makes life rather difficult for people and their loved ones especially in cases where they are still minors.

During the planning process, it is important to provide the attorney with all necessary documents. Nothing must be left to chance. This will go a long way in executing a valid plan that will be effective even when the property owners are not available. Some of these include the title deeds to the properties, shareholders agreements, divorce document and prenuptial agreements.

Honesty is also important. An individual should be open and willing to share vital information with their lawyers. This is what makes the plan easy to execute. Withholding some information is not advisable since problems might manifest in the coming future. If there are any previous plans, such must be known to the lawyer. This is essential if one is to prevent battles and wrangles between the heirs.

Letting fiduciaries know about their appointment is essential in ensuring that all plans are in place. Hiring a fiduciary who is not aware of the appointment is not recommended. This can create problems if designated person is not willing to serve or cannot be found.

When appointing a lawyer for estate planning in California, it will be imperative to have the following pointers in mind. While at it, make sure that the Revocable Living Trust is offered with complete funding in order to prevent the property from ending up in probate.




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