Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

When estate planning isn't crafted by design, it will be handled by default. If a California resident dies without a will, trust, or other estate planning instruments, asset transfers will be made according to the state intestate statute. The distribution under this statute may or may not bear any relation to the wishes of the decedent.

At the Law Offices of H. Michael Soroy, we provide knowledgeable legal advice for individuals and families creating estate plans. We take a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to the practice of law. We begin with your ultimate goals and then craft legal strategies tailored to your situation to reach those goals.

For a free consultation regarding estate planning matters and asset protection concerns, contact our Los Angeles estate planning lawyers today. From offices in Los Angeles, we serve clients throughout Southern California.

Establishing a Will, Trust, or Durable Powers of Attorney

A comprehensive estate plan allows you to prepare for surprises and plan for the inevitable. By developing an estate plan, you can express your wishes clearly, avoid probate, minimize estate taxes, and ensure that your family is protected regardless of what else may happen.

We routinely create a wide range of estate planning instruments, from wills and trusts to powers of attorney. Our estate planning services include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and updating your last will and testament
• Establishing and administrating revocable trusts/living trusts and other trusts
• Resolving complex trust litigation
• Advising trustees and beneficiaries regarding trustee fiduciary responsibility and handling related trust disputes
• Crafting advanced health care directives and durable powers of attorney tailored to your wishes
• Creating estate plans that address asset protection needs and tax issues
• Addressing other estate planning needs

We frequently create estate plans for families with young children. By establishing a living trust, parents can ensure that children are financially secure in the event of unexpected parental death, and that minimal assets are lost to administrative expenses. By designating a guardian, parents can make their wishes for future care clear and legally enforceable, and avoid difficult disputes during an emotionally unstable period for the children.

Southern California Probate Lawyer — Planning Effectively to Avoid Hassles

A properly constructed estate plan can help avoid probate. Probate can be a time-consuming process — property transfer through probate can often take up to a year. Probate is a public process, with court documents becoming part of the public record. Probate can also be an expensive process, with substantial fees going to the executor and the probate administration attorney. Transfers outside of probate are generally less expensive and faster but must be planned in advance and in accordance with state and federal rules. Otherwise, your family could still be subjected to taxes, expenses, and delays that you were intending to avoid.

Protecting Your Family's Financial Security — When Litigation Is Necessary

In addition to preparing wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents, our Southern California attorneys have extensive experience handling probate and trust litigation matters. As a result of these experiences, we are very familiar with the problems that can develop with estate planning instruments. Accordingly, we know how to draft estate planning documents carefully to avoid many of these problems.

For a free initial consultation with a skilled Los Angeles estate planning attorney regarding your simple or sophisticated estate planning or asset protection needs, contact our law firm.