Legal Solutions With Your Family In Mind

What Makes A Good Estate Plan?

The best estate plan is one that works for you. Whether that includes a simple will, a trust, a power of attorney or an advance health care directive, it should meet your needs and represent your interests.

If you’re not sure where to begin, the first place to start is by speaking with an attorney about creating a simple will. A simple will doesn’t have to be long; it should include basic instructions for how you want your assets to be distributed. This is a good place to start for individuals who may not have a long list of assets to protect.

Benefit From 30-Plus Years Of Estate Planning Experience

At the Law Offices of Mary L. Symons, attorney Symons provides estate planning guidance for people from all walks of life. She draws on more than three decades of experience to empower clients to make informed decisions about their legacies. She understands the intricacies of California estate planning law, and she takes a thorough approach to craft tailored plans designed to meet the unique needs of each client.

Putting The Right Tools Into Place

Once you have children or you own a few valuable assets, your estate plan may need to be updated to meet your change in circumstances. At that point, you may want to consider creating a trust to protect your assets from probate and potentially pass money to your heirs. Probate is an expensive process that can drain financial reserves you want to pass on to your family, which is why creating a trust or multiple trusts may offer the additional protection you need.

Regardless of how complex or simple your estate plan is, you should consider creating a power of attorney and an advance health care directive. These documents are intended to preserve your wishes for your health when you are no longer able to make decisions or communicate. Not only will this be important after you have passed away, but it can also be valuable if you are seriously injured and unable to tell your loved ones how they should handle the situation. An advanced health care directive lets you communicate your wishes regarding your health care to your family and medical care providers when you are not able to do so.

A good estate plan is flexible to meet your needs as times change. To read more about what happens after a loved one’s death, see our post-death administration page.

Discuss Your Estate Planning Goals

To speak with lawyer Mary L. Symons about your estate planning goals, whether you need a brand new estate plan or are looking to revisit an existing one, please reach out online or call us at 415-256-5408.