No-Probate.com :: Estate Planning Tips

Estate Planning Tips
from

When considering if you need to hire an estate planning lawyer, consider this - estate planning is serious business. One wrong word or one missing signature can change the entire intent of a will or trust. Aside from this, the three reasons listed below should be enough to convince you to go out and find and hire a qualified estate planning attorney to draft your estate planning documents.

Estate Lawyers Are Necessary Since State Laws Rule Estate Plans

State laws are very specific about what can and can't be in a will, trust, or medical or financial power of attorney; who can and can't serve as a personal representative, trustee, health care surrogate or attorney in fact; who can and can't be a witness to a will, trust, or medical or financial power of attorney; and what formalities must be observed when signing a will, trust, or medical or financial power of attorney.

For example, in Florida, a personal representative must either be related to you by blood or marriage or, if not, then a resident of the state. Time and time again I see wills of Florida residents that designate a friend or attorney from out of state as the personal representative. These non-resident, non-relatives simply can't serve, and in fact won't be allowed to serve, in Florida. Working with a qualified estate planning attorney will help you to avoid this kind of simple and yet costly mistake.

Without an Estate Lawyer, the Buyer Must Beware

The old Latin saying, “Caveat Emptor,” or “Buyer Beware,” certainly applies to estate planning. If you think that you'll be saving a few dollars by using forms found on the internet or in a do-it-yourself book to prepare your estate planning documents, then your family will be in for a rude awakening when they learn that part or all of your will, trust, or medical or financial power of attorney isn't legally valid or won't work as you had anticipated. Thousands of dollars will then be spent by your loved ones working with a qualified estate planning attorney after the fact to fix your mistakes.

Estate Lawyers Can Help Sort Out Complex Family or Financial Situations

Take a look at your life and your assets to see if you fit into one or more of the following categories:

You're in a second (or later) marriage
You own one or more businesses
You own real estate in more than one state
You have a disabled family member
You have minor children
You have problem children
You don't have any children
You want to leave some or all of your estate to charity
You have substantial assets in 401(k)s and/or IRAs
You were recently divorced
You recently lost a spouse or other family member
You have a taxable estate for federal and/or state estate tax purposes

If one or more of these situations apply to you, then you'll need the counseling and advice of an experienced estate planning attorney to create your estate planning documents. Otherwise, it may be a probate lawyer and your state's department of revenue and/or the IRS that will receive the largest chunk of your estate.

RETURN TO BLOGSPOT

PROBATE IS

COSTLY &

TAKES TIME

If you are Ready to Prepare Now,
Contact Us HERE

Accidents Can Happen At Any Time...
That's Why They Are Called Accidents...

Who Needs a Will?
     » Parents of Minor and Disabled Children «
     » Couples and Life Partners «
     » Property Owners «
     » Business Owners «
     » Seniors, Baby-Boomers and Gen X-ers «

Confused?

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
WANT TO INVEST IN PROBATE REAL PROPERTY?
If you have total assets under $100K, you should still visit our SMALL ESTATES page.
FREE ADVANCED HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVE

Beware of Inexpensive Will Making Web Sites, they are NOT Attorneys
JUST REMEMBER:
"A Good Job is Never Cheap and a Cheap Job is Never Good"

Scott H. Linden, Esq.

ESTATE PLANNING

PROBATE

BUSINESS INCORPORATION

CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Contact Us Here for Help Now

BECAUSE A WILL IS NOT ENOUGH

You can Find Us on the Internet
Under the Following Site Names:

We serve the following cities and communities in Southern California:

Los Angeles County:
Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Big Pines, Burbank, Carson, Century City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, China Town, City of Industry, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Culver City, Downtown LA, Downey, Eagle Rock, El Monte, El Segundo, Encino, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Highland Park, Hollywood, Inglewood, Irwindale, Japan Town, Korea Town, La Canada/Flintridge, La Crescenta, La Habra, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lenox, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Nietos, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Monterey Park, Montrose, Northridge, Norwalk, Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rolling Hills Estates, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Signal Hill, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Valinda, Van Nuys, Ventura County, Verdugo City, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Westwood, Whittier and all other cities and communities of Los Angeles County.

Orange County:
Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Balboa Island, Brea, Buena Park, Capistrano Beach, Corona Del Mar, Costa Mesa, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights, Cypress, Dana Point, El Modena, El Toro, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Leisure World, Lemon Heights, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Modjeska Canyon, Newport Beach, Orange, Orange Park Acres, Placentia, Rancho San Margarita, Rossmoor, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Silverado Canyon, Stanton, Sunset Beach, Surfside, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda and all other cities and communities of Orange County.

San Bernardino County:
Adelanto, Apple Valley, Argus, Baker, Barstow, Big Bear, Bloomington, Chino, Chino Hills, Cima, Colton, Daggett, Devore, Earp, El Mirage, Etiwanda, Essex, Fawnskin, Fontana, Forest Falls, Grand Terrace, Harvard, Helendale, Hesperia, Highland, Hinkley, Hodge, Ivanpaw, Joshua Tree, Kelso, Landers, Lenwood, Loma Linda, Lucerne Valley, Ludlow, Montclair, Morongo Valley, Muscoy, Needles, Ontario, Oro Grande, Phelan, Pinon Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Running Springs, San Bernardino, Twenty Nine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Wrightwood, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley and all other cities and communities of San Bernardino County.

Riverside County:
Anza, Arlington, Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Cabazon, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Cherry Valley, Coachella, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Edgemont, El Cerrito, Gilman, Glen Avon, Glenn Valley, Hemet, High Grove, Home Gardens, Homeland, Hot Springs, Idyllwild, Indian Wells, Indio, La Sierra, Lake Elsinore, Lakeview, La Quinta, Mecca, Mead Valley, Meadow Brook, Mira Loma, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Murrieta Hot Springs, Norco, Nuevo, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Quail Valley, Riverside, Rancho Mirage, Ripley, Rubidoux, Sage, San Jacinto, Sun City, Temecula, Temescal Canyon, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, White Water, Winchester and all other cities and communities of Riverside County.

Imperial County:
Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Westmorland and all other cities and communities of Imperial County.

Ventura County:
Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, San Buenaventura, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and all other cities and communities of Ventura County.

Home	Our Attorneys	About Us	Contact Us	Useful Links	News
This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.