Sacramento Estate Planning Lawyers

Many of the clients who come to our firm for a probate matter would like to take steps now to make the administration of their own estate simpler and less expensive for their loved ones. At the law firm of Johnson, Fort, Meissner, Joseph & Palley, we provide complete estate planning services for clients throughout northern California.

We will sit down with you and plan out what techniques are best for your estate plan. Then we will draft the documents which will be the "blueprints" for your future estate. If you choose to implement a living trust as a part of your estate plan, we will help you "move" your assets into the trust to facilitate the process. By placing your assets in a trust, you can avoid probate and have your property pass directly to heirs and beneficiaries in the manner you direct. Trusts also protect the privacy of your family's financial information.

A common estate planning problem we see in our practice is that people have completed different pieces of the estate plan at different times in life, without thinking a lot about how all the pieces fit together. This "piecemeal" approach can often lead to oversights, which can be devastating to your overall plan. Overlooked by many, but equally important to your estate plan are:

• A Living Will to specify which artificial steps you want taken to prolong your life in the event of a terminal illness.
• A Health Care Power of attorney to name a trusted person to communicate your health care wishes if you are unable to communicate those wishes yourself.
• A Financial Power of Attorney to name a trusted person to pay bills and handle other financial needs if you are unable to do so yourself.
• Special Needs Trust which allows you to plan for the special needs and / or healthcare of a disabled child or spouse.
• Conservatorship / Guardianship for elderly people who need assistance administering their financial affairs.

Each piece of your estate plan is critical to the overall effectiveness of your plan. We will help you update your estate plan when life events dictate!

Our Sacramento estate planning lawyers will work with your existing advisors, such as life insurance professionals, stockbrokers, certified financial planners, certified public accountants and realtors. If you don't have financial advisors, we can refer you to highly ethical and knowledgeable professionals. Please contact us today!

Serving the estate planning needs of clients in northern California, including Sacramento, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova and the counties of Yolo, Solano, Sutter, Sacramento, Placer, Yuba, and El Dorado.

For a FREE Initial Probate Consultation
Call Probate Lawyer John Palley at 888-920-5983 / 916-920-5983