There is a stark difference between estate plans that are built, maintained and work properly and those that don’t. The problem is, you probably won’t know what kind of plan yours is until you or your spouse becomes disabled or passes, and it’s too late to fix it!
At The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc., we understand how abruptly everything can change. Unlike other firms that offer a “one and done” estate plan, we will be with you for years to come, utilizing our unparalleled experience and expertise to safeguard your plan.
Table of Contents
How We Help You With Your Estate Plan
Distribution
Of your lifetime’s hard-earned assets to the right people of your choosing, in the right amounts and at the right times.
Management
Of your assets for you, while you’re living but incapacitated or unable to handle your own affairs, by the persons you choose. And management for those of your beneficiaries who may need help with financial matters after you’re gone.
Preservation
Passing the maximum to those you intend to have it, with the least subject to income taxes, courts, divorces, third part predators, loss of government benefits and unnecessary estate taxes when assets pass down to the next generation.
We have helped over 25,000 of your neighbors reduce their anxiety about their and their loved ones’ future. At our free seminars, we educate consumers just like you on how to properly control your assets while you are still alive and after you’re gone.
Not Every Estate Plan Is The Same. Work With Lawyers Who Understand That.
Every estate plan we create is unique because no two clients are exactly the same. When you meet with us for a free consultation, we begin by listening to your concerns and asking questions so that we can create a plan that serves you and your loved ones best. If you already have a living trust plan, we identify any gaps in your current estate plan and modify it based on customized recommendations, to protect what and whom matters most to you.
Our Most Frequently Asked Estate Planning Questions
If you are thinking about creating or updating an estate plan, these answers can help you better understand what documents you may need, when to update your plan, and why working with an experienced estate planning attorney matters.
What Documents Are Needed for an Estate Plan?
A comprehensive estate plan typically includes a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, a durable power of attorney for finances, an advance health care directive, and a HIPAA authorization. Together, these documents help protect you during your lifetime and after your death.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Estate Planning?
California does not legally require you to hire an attorney, but working with a qualified estate planning lawyer is strongly recommended. Improperly drafted documents can lead to costly court proceedings, family disputes, and unintended outcomes.
Can I Do Estate Planning Online or With a DIY Kit?
Online tools and DIY kits may create documents that appear valid, but they often contain errors, omissions, or provisions that may not comply with California law. An experienced estate planning attorney can help make sure your plan works when your family needs it most.
How Often Should I Update My Estate Plan?
You should review your estate plan at least every three years and after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary, or a significant change in your assets.
How Does An Estate Plan Cost?
The cost of an estate plan varies depending on the complexity of your situation, but it is typically far less than the expense of going through probate in California, which can run approximately 4% of the gross value of your estate. For most homeowners, a properly prepared living trust pays for itself many times over.
Free Resources to Help You Plan with Confidence
The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. can help you with a wide range of estate planning needs, including:
Set Up of Your Living Trust
Your Living Trust Plan will include not only the customized Trust document containing our unique Personal Asset Trusts℠ for beneficiaries but also a unique Owner’s Manual, containing copies of other supporting legal documents (such as your Advance Health Care, Durable Power of Attorney and Property Agreement, if you’re married. It also contains supporting tools (such as title and beneficiary transfer letters, a Trust ID card, a Health Document Emergency Card, Asset Location and Key Contacts Lists). Besides the Owner’s Manual, you’ll receive a Trustee Manual to assist your chosen person in charge when you’re ill, disabled or pass. And you’ll get a Free Secure Package including a free attorney review of your plan every 3 years. That’s a complete plan!
Review and Modification of Your Existing Plan
If you have a plan created elsewhere, we offer a free attorney review of your plan, provided you just attend our Living Trust Seminar.
Trust changes often happen over time. As your wishes change and so do your needs and circumstances and those of your beneficiaries. We can assist with trust modifications such as changing the trustee(s), how assets will be distributed due to changing relationships, or providing for a family member with a disability. Even if the trust maker is now incapacitated, we may be able to make changes without first going to court.
Blended Family Planning
If you’re married and you or your spouse have children from a prior marriage, we can help you update an existing plan or create a new plan to carry out your wishes while maintaining family harmony.
Disability & Pre-Death Planning
We provide a range of legal services to relieve the stress of a terminal diagnosis. Some of these include reviewing all provisions of your Living Trust and other related documents to be sure they are up-to-date, making sure all your assets are owned by the trustee, checking on beneficiary designations to certain assets (such as IRAs), installing the “attorney in fact” under your durable power of attorney so that they can attend to immediate financial details, and installing your “agent” under your advance health care directive so they can make medical decisions on your behalf.
Asset Protection for Beneficiaries
Our cutting-edge Personal Asset Trust℠ protects your beneficiaries’ inheritance from spouses, divorces, lawsuits, creditors, loss of government needs-based benefits, and additional estate taxes when they pass their inheritance to the next generation.
Tax Planning
We use a variety of techniques to minimize tax liability, such as property agreements for married couples to avoid needless capital gains taxes and personalized trusts to reduce or eliminate federal estate taxes and income taxes for beneficiaries.
Our legal team creates lasting relationships with clients in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California.
Why Choose Kavesh, Minor & Otis, INC. To Help With Your Estate Plan?
