Estate Planning

Estate Planning Attorney Los Angeles

A California Estate Plan is a collection of documents that typically include a will, trust, quitclaim deed, power of attorney and advance healthcare directive.
An estate plan should at least accomplish the following three goals for you in California:
1. Avoid Los Angeles Probate Court
2. Plan for Guardianship of Minor Children
3. Plan for Incapacity
At Best Coast Estate Law we offer flat rate packages that are custom tailored to each client. Your estate plan allows you to control what happens to you in the event of incapacity and the transfer of your assets after your death. It should encompass your private assets, real estate, business assets and even intellectual property or royalties and residuals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our team specializes in simplifying the estate-planning process so you and your loved ones can feel certain about every decision. Start with this overview, and then book a consultation when you’re ready to talk more.
In California, if you do not have an estate plan, the Probate Court will determine who controls your estate after your death, who can manage your affairs during a period of incapacity and who should take custody of your children if you are unable to. An estate plan gives you the power to make these choices yourself.
No! There are many reasons to avoid this, including but not limited to capital gains tax consequences, increased legal liability and potential elder abuse. You can avoid probate of your California real estate by creating a trust or by executing a transfer on death deed (in limited circumstances). If you put your child’s name on your home you can never change your mind, but an attorney drafted estate plan gives you flexibility to make updates throughout your life.

In California, the primary difference between a trust and a will is that a trust avoids Probate Court. If you only have a will, your assets will likely be subject to court administration after your death or during a period of incapacity. A trust allows you to avoid California Probate Court. Probate Court is very time-consuming and expensive. If you own real estate, have minor children or have other significant assets, a trust is your best option for avoiding court.

In California a Probate Administration typically takes 1 – 2 years to complete. There are many expenses related to a probate such as publishing fees, filing fees, courier fees, appraisal fees and of course, attorney fees. A California Probate Attorney is paid a percentage of the gross value of the assets. A Probate also exposes your estate to potential creditors against your estate- most significantly Medi-Cal estate recovery.
If you have minor children, you can nominate a loved one to serve as guardian of your children if you are unable. This nomination should be made in your Will. A guardian has the rights and responsibilities of a parent and would have custody of your child. You can name a guardian on the condition that they are still married or reside in a particular area. You can also make sure funds are available to the guardian for your child’s expenses so that he or she is not financially burdened by caring for your child.

We offer flat fees for clients beginning the process of estate planning. If you have an existing estate plan, we will review and modify that plan at our hourly rate. Learn more about our flat-rate packages and pricing

Client Testimonials

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I highly recommend Britton Law Group. I called for a consultation and spoke to Lisa. She's got a heart of gold. She was so honest that after explanation my...
Do your loved ones a favor and work with Brittany Britton to get your affairs in order before it's too late. She is super personable and makes everything so...
A year ago, my husband suddenly passed away. I needed a local law group to help me since he left no will or living trust. Brittany and Lisa were very...
Brittany Britton (cool name) and her assistants not only are very knowledgeable and professional, but they also are very kind, understanding and gentle....
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Britton Law Group, P.C. is now Best Coast Estate Law, P.C.