Are you looking for an estate planning lawyer in Glendale, CA?
At The Werner Law Firm, PC, we are Glendale estate planning lawyers whose practice spans five decades and includes recognition from the Los Angeles Daily News.
If you want to make sure your family is provided for and your wishes are honored, a well-made estate plan is the way to do it. Our Glendale, CA estate planning lawyer can prepare the documents that put your decisions in writing, from wills and trusts to powers of attorney. The Werner Law Firm, PC has served California families since 1975, and our founder brings fifty years of practice to this work. Your first consultation is free, and it comes with no obligation.
Estate planning is the work of deciding, ahead of time, how your property should be handled and who should make decisions for you if you are unable to. A plan usually pulls together several documents that each address a different piece of that picture. The result is a clear set of instructions that spares your family confusion during a hard time.
It is a common misconception that estate planning is only for the wealthy. In reality, anyone with a home, savings, children, or particular wishes about their own care has reason to plan. Without a plan, California's default rules take over, and they may not reflect what you would have wanted. An estate planning attorney in Glendale helps you make these choices on purpose, rather than leaving them to a formula. Good planning now can save your family months of court time, needless cost, and the strain of guessing at what you would have wanted.
Estate planning usually means more than one document. Most plans combine several, and the right combination depends on your family, your property, and your goals. Our Glendale estate planning attorneys help you decide which of these your situation actually calls for. These are the estate planning services our Glendale attorneys handle most often.
Wills. A simple will names your beneficiaries, an executor, and a guardian for minor children, and it forms the base of most plans.
Living trusts. A living trust passes your assets to your beneficiaries without probate and keeps your affairs private.
Special needs trusts. These provide for a loved one with a disability without putting their public benefits at risk.
Powers of attorney. A power of attorney lets someone you trust handle your finances if you become unable to.
Advance health care directives. An advance health care directive records your medical wishes and names an agent to speak for you.
Probate. When an estate must go through probate, we guide the personal representative through the court process and the filings it requires.
Trust administration. After a death, we help trustees through the trust administration process and the duties that come with it.
An estate plan shapes your family's future for years after it is signed. We prepare each one with the care that kind of responsibility calls for, because small choices in these documents can carry large consequences later.
The Werner Law Firm, PC has guided California families through wills, trusts, and probate since 1975. Our founder, L. Rob Werner, has practiced for fifty years, is recognized by the Los Angeles Daily News as a top local attorney, and belongs to the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Our managing attorney, Troy Werner, earned his law degree through Southwestern Law School's SCALE program and brings 17 years of practice, with admission in both California and Texas. As an estate planning lawyer in Glendale, CA, our firm has prepared plans of every size, from a single will to layered trusts, and brings that range to each new matter.
Much of our work comes from clients we have helped before and the people they refer to us. Every plan begins with a free consultation and a plain explanation of what it will involve. Whatever the size of your estate, our Glendale estate planning lawyers aim to leave you with a plan you understand and can trust.
An estate plan is a set of instructions and legal authorities that work together as a whole. Some of the documents take effect while you are alive, and others only after you pass. Knowing what each one does makes it easier to decide what your own plan should contain. A plan does not have to be elaborate to be effective, and for many households a will, a trust, and a few health and financial documents cover the essentials.
A California estate plan usually rests on a few core documents, each doing a distinct job.
Will. Names who inherits your property and who cares for your minor children.
Living trust. Holds your assets so they reach your beneficiaries without probate.
Durable power of attorney. Gives someone authority to manage your finances if you cannot.
Advance health care directive. States your medical wishes and appoints an agent to speak for you. You can register it with the state's advance directive registry for quick access in an emergency.
Beneficiary designations. Route accounts such as retirement funds and life insurance directly to the people you name.
Deciding which estate planning documents you need depends on your assets and your family. Many plans are built around a trust, though a will-centered plan works well for some households. The right mix depends on what you own, whom you want to provide for, and how much involvement you want during your lifetime.
Because every family is different, no two plans look quite the same. The plan that fits a young couple with small children looks little like the plan for a retiree or a business owner. A few points call for early thought.
How your assets are titled, since joint ownership and beneficiary forms can control regardless of what your will says.
Whom you would name as executor, trustee, or health care agent.
Any special circumstances, such as a beneficiary with a disability or a business to pass on.
What should happen if you can no longer manage your own affairs.
When there is no plan, the state applies its own. Reading what happens when someone dies without a will shows why leaving it to default rules is a gamble few families would take on purpose.
Most plans are complete within a few weeks, and we set the pace to match your needs.
A first meeting to talk through your family, your assets, and your goals.
A review of what you own and how it is titled.
Drafting of your documents, with time to read them and ask questions.
A signing appointment where everything is properly executed.
Funding any trust by moving your assets into it.
Planning for incapacity planning belongs in the process as well, since a strong plan protects you during your life, not only after it. We will give you a realistic sense of the timeline once we understand what your plan involves.
A little preparation helps us give you clear direction from the first meeting.
A rough list of your assets, including real estate, financial accounts, and any business interests.
Any estate planning documents you have already signed.
The names of the people you might name as beneficiaries, guardians, or agents.
You don't need every detail settled to begin. We can start with what you bring and work through the rest together. Most people leave that first meeting with a much clearer picture of what their plan should include.
Estate planning is governed by California law, and several public resources can help you understand the basics before or after you meet with an attorney. The following are good places to start.
The California Courts self-help guide on wills and estates walks through planning and probate.
The same guide provides sample legal documents, including a statutory will and power of attorney.
The full California Probate Code is published by the state for those who want the statutes themselves.
These resources offer general information, not advice about your particular estate and family.
A thoughtful estate plan brings clarity and peace of mind, and it spares your family hard guesswork down the line. We would be glad to talk through your options and answer whatever questions arise along the way. Your first consultation is free, with no pressure to decide on the spot. Contact us to get started.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship! See full disclaimer here.
23 Corporate Plaza Dr., Suite 150
Newport Beach, California 92660
