The Questions You Should Ask When Choosing Your Estate Planner

If you have begun the estate planning process, you may have found that it can quickly become overwhelming. Even if you are familiar with the terms and designations in your documents, you have no way of knowing whether the choices you make are the best course of action for you and your family.

Of course, there are professionals who specialize in estate planning, and each one brings different experiences and knowledge to the table. So whom do you trust with the biggest decisions of your life—the ones that could continue to have an effect on your loved ones for years into the future?

We Know How Hard it Can Be to Place Your Trust in a Stranger

That is why our attorney Philip J. Kavesh wrote The Questions You Should Ask When Choosing Your Estate Planner, a simplified but vital guide to estate planning service providers for California residents to follow.

This easy-to-follow checklist will walk you through:

How certification and specialization can set estate planning firms apart
Why it’s crucial for your advisor to have experience in estate planning AND administration
How to tell if your planner can help with future healthcare and incapacity planning
Which professionals are optimal for the tax planning concerns of your estate
The importance of your planner’s relationships to peers and standing in the community
Understanding why good planners have strict quality control methods
Free services you should ask about when shopping for an estate planner

The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc., has helped over 25,000 people across Southern California create customized estate plan and trust documents, as well as implementing thousands of plans after clients have passed. With our help, we can make the right changes to give you peace of mind for years to come.

Complete the form below to get your free guide today, and please give us a call at 800-756-5596 if you have any questions!

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Philip J. Kavesh

Nationally recognized attorney helping clients with customized estate planning guidance for over 40 years.

We have been a client of the Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis for decades. Their knowledge and skill in preparing and executing Living Trust inspires confidence. We appreciate their regular update seminars and the offer of free evaluation of our estate plan every 3 years. Elaine B.

Great presentation that covers many of the common and not so common scenarios and protection options. I would definitely recommend for anyone is thinking about creating or reviewing their trust. Shaune K.

Kavesh, Minor & Otis provided a lot of initial information regarding living trusts and estate planning through their webinar. Consultation with Peter Keon helped guide me through the process, my options and create my living trust. I feel more secure knowing I have things in order. I highly recommend Kavesh, Minor & Otis to others who are considering a living trust. Tracy W.

After the passing of both my parents, father in 2018 and mother in 2020, I decided it was time for me to establish a living trust. The living trust webinar was very informative. I contacted the firm to schedule a consultation with Peter Keon. Peter was very thorough and responsive to my needs in creating a living trust. As we were still under COVID-19 limitations at the time, we were able to accomplish everything via phone conversations and email. I highly recommend Kavesh, Minor & Otis to anyone who wants to create a living trust or have a living trust that may need updating. Tracy W.

My experience was great. I signed for a webinar and later I met Peter and he answered all my questions . I highly recommend him for a consultation and planning. Maria A.

When You Want the Very Best for Your Loved Ones, Choose Us.

Experience and Expertise. Estate planning and post-death administration are all we do. Our attorneys have over 70 years of combined expertise in the field, and three of our attorneys have passed an additional Bar examination and peer review process to become State Bar Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Two of our attorneys also have Master’s Degrees in Tax Law, giving us unique insight into how estate tax and income tax will affect your family’s inheritance.
Customization and Attention to Detail. Before we create or update your estate plan, we get to know you, your goals, and what matters to you most. We take the time to listen to your concerns and attend to each of your unique needs and desires as if they were our own. When we complete your plan, we perform a detailed quality control process to help ensure your objectives are met. We also provide you with a personalized Owner’s Manual containing all of your important documents, and your Successor Trustee with a Manual containing helpful, plain-English checklists and easy-to-follow procedures.
Lifetime Relationship. All of our estate plans include a free ongoing service package. We take phone calls any time you have questions, perform free estate planning checkups every three years, and keep you abreast of changes in the law and planning strategies with our complimentary newsletters and educational seminars. And, when the time comes, we will be there to help your trustee and loved ones.

FAQs

Do they specialize in estate planning?

At Kavesh Minor & Otis, hereafter referred to as “KM&O”, estate planning is all that we do. We don’t just dabble in estate planning while practicing other areas of law.

Are they State Bar Certified Specialists?

Anyone can say they specialize in estate planning, but only an attorney who has passed an extra Bar examination and been reviewed by his or her fellow professionals may call him or herself a “State Bar Certified Specialist”. At KM&O, we have three Specialists on staff.

Have they been in business over 35 years and set up thousands of estate plans?

KM&O has been in business for over 35 years, all of which have been devoted exclusively to estate planning. During that time, KM&O has designed and built over 15,000 Living Trust estate plans, more than just about any other law firm in Southern California.

Have they handled thousands of estates and trusts after clients have passed away?

This is when an estate plan is truly tested! At KM&O, we have handled over 4,000 trusts and estates after people have passed and we build the knowledge gained from that unique level of experience into the custom design of your Living Trust plan.

Are they recognized leaders in the estate planning field?

KM&O has pioneered numerous innovations in estate planning, including the “Personal Asset TrustSM”, the “IRA Inheritance Trust®”, and the “Driver’s Manuals” for the Client, Trustee and Beneficiary. Furthermore, hundreds of estate planning attorneys from across the nation have paid to learn, license and use KM&O’s unique estate planning techniques and tools.

Have they been quoted as estate planning authorities in prestigious national publications?

KM&O’s supervising attorney, Philip Kavesh, has been frequently quoted as an authority in The Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports magazine, as well as The Los Angeles Times, and has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows.

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