Wills
It’s easy to put off creating a will, because most people think they’ll live for many years and prefer not to think about their own passing. But by putting off the creation of your will, you’re not helping yourself, and the only people you are hurting are your family and loved ones who will still be here when you are gone.
The Benefits of Having a Will in California
If you die without a will in California, then a state probate court will have to determine how your property should be distributed upon your death. The judge overseeing your probate matter will have to follow state probate law in deciding who should receive your assets, and any desires you made known during your life regarding who should receive your property will not be taken into account, unless they were memorialized in a legally valid will.
By having your estate go into probate, you may be forcing your relatives and other people who were counting on you to have to hire attorneys to argue against one another in court over your estate. The people you want to receive your property may face significant delay or never receive it all.
By creating a legally valid will, you will be able to obtain the following benefits:
- You, and not the state, will decide who gets your property
- Your true beneficiaries will avoid having to hire attorneys
- You avoid fights and drama between your family and associates
- You get the peace of mind now knowing you’ve prepared for the future
Why Working with an Estate Planning Attorney Makes Sense
Many discount retailers offer do-it-yourself “kits” for creating a will, but such options cannot necessarily provide you with the hands-on legal advice and direction to make sure that:
- You have validly created and executed your will in California
- Your will has comprehensively and specifically disposed of all of the property in your estate, including investments, business interests, real estate, etc.
- You have taken advantage of time-saving and cost-effective options including annuities, trusts, and other devices which can save your beneficiaries time and money
Even if you have already created a will, our firm’s estate planning attorneys can work with you to make sure your will is updated to reflect your current situation (e.g. new family members or new property) and is valid under California law, while maximizing your estate planning options.
Create or Update Your Will with the Help of Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys
The estate planning attorneys at The Law Offices of Omar Gastelum and Associates, APLC, can help you create or update a will that will fully distribute your estate and provide for your beneficiaries. To discuss all of your estate planning needs, call our offices today.
