Estate planning involves creating a clear, comprehensive plan for the transfer of your assets after your death to your loved ones. What many people do not know is that estate planning also includes instructions for your own care in the event you become incapacitated. Almost 1/5 of adults do not know what an Advance Health Care Directive is, or how it could benefit them. If you do not want your loved ones to deal with chaos following your death or incapacitation, then you need an estate plan. While it can seem like a daunting task, when you choose the right estate planning attorney serving Sebastopol from Gullotta Law Group, the process becomes as easy and simple as possible.
Why Choose Gullotta Law Group for Your Sebastopol Estate Planning Needs?
When choosing an estate planning attorney, you want to ensure your attorney has significant experience in the field of estate planning. This usually means that estate planning is the primary focus of the firm. The lawyers at Gullotta Law Group have fifteen years of experience in the field of estate planning and have been prominently featured in the media as a result.
We offer trusted legal opinions and consistently garner positive recommendations from past and current clients. Our simple flat-rate fees mean you can ask all the questions you need answered without watching the clock. Our goal is to help you plan for your future in the most comfortable manner possible. Our friendly, skilled, attentive staff offer a highly personalized experience as we work to ensure that should the unexpected happen, you have a plan in place that accurately reflects your wishes.
Overview of Estate Planning Areas Handled by Gullotta Law Group
Every single person is unique, with a situation in life that does not mirror anyone else’s. Your estate plan should be just as unique. You want an estate plan that accurately reflects your goals and wishes while adhering to all rules and laws that govern estate plans in California. The documents in your estate plan will reflect how you want your assets to be distributed and what decisions you would want medically and financially in the event you become incapacitated. The documents can include—but are not limited to—the following:
Last Will and Testament
A will is the most basic estate planning document which may or may not be a part of your estate plan. If you die without a will or any other type of estate plan, the state of California will determine who will receive your assets and act as guardian for your children. Even if you choose a trust as your vehicle of choice for asset dispensation, you may still need a will if you have minor children. Only a will allows you to name a guardian for your children, however, a will must go through the probate process while a trust does not have to go through probate.
Trusts
Many different types of trusts could help you reach your estate planning goals. The most commonly used type of trust is a revocable living trust. This is a trust that can be changed as you wish. You can name yourself as trustee until your death when a successor trustee named by you will take over. A trust can detail how you want your assets distributed and can also allow your successor trustee to take over in the event you become incapacitated. An irrevocable living trust can be useful for minimizing tax burdens, and a Special Needs Trust can ensure an adult child with a disability can continue receiving government benefits while still receiving an inheritance.
Power of Attorney Documents
You can have a financial power of attorney or medical power of attorney prepared, depending on your needs. A financial power of attorney can be as limited or broad as you wish. A medical power of attorney allows another trusted person to make medical decisions based on your wishes in the event you are unable to make those decisions yourself.
Advance Health Care Directive
If you have specific wishes for end-of-life care, these are best memorialized in an Advance Health Care Directive. You can state what heroic measures you would choose, including a feeding tube, breathing tube, CPR, etc. You can also state whether you want to be an organ donor in your Advance Health Care Directive. When you have this document in place your loved ones do not have to wonder or argue about what medical treatments you would want.
What Is Estate Planning and How Much Does It Cost?
Estate planning involves designating beneficiaries for all your assets as well as planning for a potential incapacitation or long-term care. When you make these plans well ahead of time, your loved ones have one less thing to worry about and your assets will smoothly and easily transfer to those you choose. The cost of an estate plan depends significantly on your level of assets and what documents you want or need your plan to include. As such, your estate plan could cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 or more. At Gullotta Law Group we offer flat fee pricing, believing this allows you to ask the questions you need to ask and get the plan you need without having to watch the clock.
Does Having an Estate Plan Only Mean Having a Will?
While a will is an important document if you have children and need to name a guardian, a trust may better suit your needs as far as the distribution of assets after your death and making plans for incapacitation. An estate plan goes much further than having a will. Your estate plan will deal with the distribution of your assets, and your legacy wishes, and can help you and your heirs pay significantly less in taxes, fees, and court costs. It is always the wisest course of action to consult an experienced estate planning attorney serving Sebastopol to ensure your unique situation will be reflected in your estate plan.
Why Should I Hire an Attorney Instead of Using a DIY Estate Planning Platform?
America has turned into a DIY nation. While this is a good thing in many instances, there are still some areas where you are much better served by having a professional by your side. Estate planning is one of these areas. Yes, you could download generic documents from the Internet and spend several hours researching and preparing your estate plan. There are significant risks to this DIY approach that could end up negating all your hard work. One simple mistake made on your estate planning documents could void them, leaving your loved ones with a chaotic mess. Your assets might not be distributed as you wish, and the state of California could end up choosing a guardian for your minor children. Estate planning is a serious, important matter that affects you and your loved ones and you need a serious, experienced attorney to help you through the process.
Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney Serving Sebastopol to Help You
When you choose Gullotta Law Group and attorney Eric Gullotta, you have taken an important step toward a comprehensive estate plan that accurately reflects your goals and wishes. With fifteen years of solid experience in estate planning, attorney Eric Gullotta is a former CPA who holds a master’s degree in taxation. Eric works closely with each client to develop an accurate, highly individualized estate plan. Our unique insights have resulted in the firm being featured in the media, highlighting our trusted legal opinions. We are proud of our friendly, attentive staff, and believe our simple flat-fee rates make your estate planning as easy and comfortable as possible. Contact Gullotta Law Group today for highly skilled assistance in all your estate planning needs.
