Estate Planning

While we can’t predict our futures, we can dictate how variables such as finances, distribution of assets, caretaking needs, etc. will be handled when we are no longer able to attend to them ourselves. Establishing how you would like your estate, taxes, and other important matters handled after you’re gone can be accomplished with the help of an estate planning attorney.

At P. Arnsen Blakely, our services include: asset protection, breach of fiduciary duty, court proceedings, distribution of assets, estate administration, estate litigation, estate taxes, and tax planning. Establishing an estate plan will afford you and your family the peace of mind you both need and deserve about what the future holds. Contact us today to get started or click here to learn more about our full spectrum of estate planning services.

Wills

Drafting a will can be complicated, especially considering the fact that guidelines for doing so are relatively loose. Knowing where to start, what to include, and how to ensure the document is executed according to your wishes is best accomplished under the guidance of a qualified estate planning attorney. In general, you will want to be sure to include language on: debt management, division of assets, naming an executor, and creating a no-contest clause. We can help you do all of these and more at P. Arnsen Blakely. For more information about our will services, click here.

Trusts

Creating a trust can ensure your funds are distributed to your beneficiaries as you see fit. However, decisions regarding which type of trust to create and who to name as your trustee can be difficult if you don’t have the necessary information beforehand. For more information about the different types of trusts available —irrevocable trust, living trust, revocable trust, special needs trust— and how trust administration works in the state of California, visit our trusts page here. Then, call our office to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team to discuss in more detail.

Probate

Probate is the process by which a decedent’s financial and legal matters are resolved by the court. When a valid will or trust is in place, the probate process is significantly easier because the executor of the estate (the person responsible for carrying out the process of estate administration) will already have a clear set of instructions for distributing the remaining estate.

More specifically, the executor will be responsible for: gathering assets, taking inventory, paying off existing debt, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. This is not a fast or easy process, and many challenges can arise along the way. When this happens, we are here to help. Click here for an overview of our probate services.