Estate Planning Lawyer in Rocklin, California

According to a 2021 Wills and Estate Planning Study put together by Caring.com, only one-third (32.9%) of American adults have a will, trust, or estate plan in place. Crafting a detailed estate plan can be an essential step that can be taken to mitigate disputes and possible challenges when settling a deceased loved one's final affairs or distributing assets to beneficiaries. Regardless of how large or small your estate may be, creating an estate plan can help you protect your assets, provide for your loved ones, and prepare for life's uncertainties.

If you are looking for knowledgeable guidance when drawing up a will or living trust, or you simply want to understand more about how the estate planning process works — it’s important that you speak with an experienced California estate planning attorney. The Law Office of Geoffrey Fong is dedicated to offering reliable legal services that can guide clients through the various complexities of creating an estate plan. Attorney Geoffrey Fong is available to review the details of your situation and guide you through the process of drafting various estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, advanced care directives, and powers of attorney.

The Law Office of Geoffrey Fong is proud to serve individuals, families, and businesses across Rocklin, California, and the surrounding areas, including Roseville, Folsom, and Citrus Heights.

Why is Estate Planning Important?

Estate planning involves making plans in advance regarding how a person's assets will be managed or distributed in the event of their death or sudden incapacitation. An estate planning document is a legal document that outlines how to settle the decedent's affairs or transfer assets to beneficiaries and heirs. Estate planning can help with all of the following:

• Prepare you for an uncertain future

• Protect your property, assets, business, and other investments

• Give you absolute control over who inherits your assets and property

• Appoint a trusted person as your personal representative

• Make suitable provisions for your surviving family members, spouses, and other loved ones

• Bypass the costly and time-consuming probate process

• Protect assets and investments from frivolous lawsuits and creditors

• Protect minors and ensure that they are properly cared for

• Help heirs and beneficiaries avoid gift, inheritance, and estate taxes

• Avoid potential challenges and dispute between family members over asset distribution

• Prevent you from dying intestate (without a will)

Important Documents to
Include in Your Estate Plan

Depending on your personal situation, there are a number of different estate planning documents that could be beneficial to you and your family. Some of these important documents include:

Will

A will is a legal document that contains specific instructions that detail how a person's property and assets should be transferred to inheritors or disposed of upon their death. A will can also allow you to name a guardian to help manage any inheritance left for minor children.

Trust

A trust is a fiduciary relationship that allows you (the guarantor) to choose another person (successor trustee) to manage your final affairs and help distribute assets left in the trust to any beneficiaries and heirs after you pass. Once you are gone, the appointed successor trustee will step in and administer your estate in accordance with the provisions that you have laid out in the trust document.

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint a person or entity to help manage your property, tax, financial, or legal affairs in the event that you're unavailable or unable to do so. You can designate such legal authority, duty, and power to a trusted advisor, lawyer, friend, or loved one.

Advanced Healthcare Directive

An advanced healthcare directive is a legal document that provides certain instructions about a person's preferred medical care should they become unable to make such decisions by themselves, maybe due to disability, sudden incapacitation, or terminal illness.

Work With an Experienced
Estate Planning Attorney

At the end of the day, it’s never too early or too late to start preparing for an uncertain future by getting your affairs in order. Should you become unable or unavailable to voice your opinion, your surviving family members can benefit from knowing your exact wishes. An experienced California estate planning attorney can help protect your assets, interests, and loved ones by determining the right estate planning option for you.

Estate planning attorney Geoffrey Fong has the experience and resources needed to assist you with all of your estate planning needs. As your legal counsel, he can explore all of your legal options and help you choose the right estate plan that best suits your unique needs. Whether you want to draft a will, a living trust, an advanced care directive, or establish a power of attorney, attorney Geoffrey Fong can guide you through each step of the process from start to finish. He will work diligently to address your needs and concerns and craft a solution that works best for you. So don’t wait. Call or reach out to the Law Office of Geoffrey Fong today and get the reliable legal guidance you need.