Are you looking for a wills lawyer in Los Angeles, CA?
At The Werner Law Firm, PC, we invite you to schedule a consultation with a Los Angeles wills lawyer trusted by California families since 1975.
If you want a say in who inherits your property and who raises your children, a will puts those decisions in your hands rather than the state's. Our Los Angeles, CA wills lawyer can prepare a will that is clear, valid, and built around your family. The Werner Law Firm, PC has drafted wills for 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.
A will is a written document that says who should receive your property when you die and who should care for your minor children. It also names an executor, the person responsible for carrying out its terms. A valid will gives your family clear direction and keeps these decisions with you rather than with a court.
Many people put off making a will, often because they are not sure where to begin. The document itself does not have to be complicated. A wills attorney in Los Angeles can prepare one that meets California's requirements and reflects your wishes, whether your estate is modest or has a few moving parts. Getting it right now can save your family a great deal of difficulty later. A will is also easy to revise as your circumstances change, so there is little reason to keep waiting for the perfect moment to start.
A will can be short and straightforward or it can carry a fair amount of weight, depending on your family and your property. These are the will services our Los Angeles attorneys handle most often.
Simple wills. For a straightforward estate, a simple will names your beneficiaries, an executor, and a guardian for minor children. It is often where a young family begins, and it can grow more detailed as your life and property do.
Pour-over wills. When you hold a living trust, a pour-over will directs any assets you did not move into the trust so they still end up where you intended.
Guardian nominations. For parents, a will is the place to name a guardian for minor children, which keeps that choice with you instead of a judge.
Living trusts. Many clients pair a will with a living trust to keep assets out of probate. We prepare both so they work together rather than against each other.
Special needs trusts. A will can create a trust for a beneficiary with a disability, so an inheritance supports them without disrupting their public benefits.
Codicils and will updates. As life changes, a codicil can amend a will without rewriting it, while larger revisions call for a new document.
Probate of a will. When a will is submitted to the court, we guide the executor through probate and the responsibilities that come with the role.
A will is a short document that decides big things. We give each one the attention that weight calls for.
The Werner Law Firm, PC has prepared wills, trusts, and estate plans for California families since 1975. Our founder, L. Rob Werner, has practiced for fifty years, earned recognition from readers of the Los Angeles Daily News as a top local attorney, and belongs to the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Our managing attorney, Troy Werner, brings 17 years of practice and is admitted in both California and Texas. As a wills lawyer in Los Angeles, CA, our firm knows how to prepare a document that stands up. Clients who want a fuller plan can also work with an estate planning lawyer in Los Angeles, CA at our office.
A good deal of our work comes from families we have helped before and the people they refer to us. Every will starts with a free consultation and a plain explanation of what your plan will involve. Our aim is a document you understand and can trust to carry out your wishes exactly as you intend them.
A will is the cornerstone of most estate plans, and it is often the first document people put in place. It is also widely misunderstood. Some people assume a will avoids probate, when in fact a will is what probate administers. Others believe a will covers every asset, when many pass by other means entirely. Knowing what a will does, and what it does not, helps you build a plan that actually works.
A will can handle several jobs in a single document. The main ones include the following.
Naming beneficiaries who inherit your property.
Appointing an executor to settle the estate and carry out your instructions.
Nominating a guardian for minor children.
Creating a trust within the will, such as one for a minor or a beneficiary with a disability, so an inheritance does not cost them their benefits.
A will controls only what you own in your own name. Assets with a named beneficiary or a joint owner usually pass outside of it, and a will often works alongside a trust that handles the rest. Fitting these pieces together so nothing falls through the cracks is a large part of what we do. A will that works in concert with the rest of your plan is far more effective than one written in isolation.
A will is only useful if it is valid and up to date. A document that fails on a technicality can be as good as no document at all, which is why the details deserve real attention. A few things decide whether yours holds up.
Meeting California's signing and witnessing requirements.
Naming an executor who is willing and able to take on the job.
Updating the will after marriages, births, deaths, and major purchases.
Coordinating the will with beneficiary designations and any trusts.
An outdated will can cause as much conflict as no will at all. That is why we help clients change a will when life shifts, and why choosing the right executor matters, since the executor's role carries real duties that can last months.
A will can be drafted quickly. The probate that may follow is the longer stretch.
A consultation to review your family, your property, and your wishes.
Drafting of the will and any documents that support it.
A signing appointment with the required witnesses.
Safe storage of the signed original, since that is the copy the court accepts.
Later, if needed, the probate process, where the court oversees distribution under the will.
Most wills are drafted within a couple of weeks. When probate is required, it usually runs several months or more, depending on the estate. How long it takes turns on the size of the estate and whether anyone contests the will, and a clearly written will tends to make that stretch shorter and less contentious.
A little preparation makes the first meeting more productive. If you can, bring the following.
A list of your property and a rough sense of its value.
The names of your intended beneficiaries and the person you want as executor.
If you have minor children, your choice of guardian and a backup.
Any will or estate planning document you have already signed.
You don't need every decision made in advance. We can walk through the choices with you and flag anything that deserves a closer look.
Wills are 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 begin.
The California Courts self-help guide on wills and estates explains wills, trusts, and probate.
The same guide provides a statutory will form and other sample documents.
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 own will and family.
A will is one of the simplest ways to protect your family and make your wishes known, and it does not have to be a burden to prepare. We would be glad to walk you through the process and answer whatever questions come up 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
