Estate Planning
Estate planning involves making thoughtful decisions and legally organizing your assets to determine how they will be managed and distributed in the event you become disabled and after your passing.
A primary objective is to ensure that your desires are respected and any complications are minimized.
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Understanding the documents that make up an estate plan is key to realizing how these legal tools can work for you. Our firm offers expert guidance in crafting these documents to suit your individual needs and goals in California.
1
Revocable Living Trust
Revocable Living Trusts are used to manage how your assets are handled both during your life and after your death. They can help avoid probate and can offer tax benefits as well.
2
Will
A will outlines how your assets will be distributed, who will inherit them, and who will manage the execution of your wishes. It’s the foundational document of estate planning. In California, if you have only a will, you will be forced to go through the probate process with a judge in court.
3
Power of Attorney
This document allows you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs if you are unable to do so yourself. It’s essential for protecting your interests in case of incapacitation.
4
Advance Health Care Directive
This document outlines your wishes regarding medical care if you become unable to communicate them yourself. It can include decisions about life support and other critical care choices.
Our Estate Planning Process
At JLC Legacy Law, we’ve created a streamlined, attorney-led process to make estate planning as clear and stress-free as possible.
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Step 1: Initial Call with Attorney Jordan Lane Ceausu
You’ll speak directly with Jordan to discuss your goals, ask questions, and confirm we’re a good fit. If you decide to move forward, we’ll send you our Estate Planning Worksheet to get started.
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Step 2: Complete the Worksheet
This worksheet helps you gather important information about your family, finances, and wishes. Don’t worry—if anything’s unclear, we’ll walk through it together.
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Step 3: Design Meeting (In Person or via Zoom)
Once the worksheet is complete, we’ll meet to talk through your wishes and build the framework of your estate plan. Jordan will guide you through decisions and explain your options clearly.
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Step 4: Engagement Agreement
After the Design Meeting, we’ll send you a formal engagement letter outlining the scope of work and the proposed fee for your estate plan. In most cases, this is a flat fee based on the complexity of your plan. Once the agreement is signed and payment is received, we begin drafting your customized documents.
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Step 5: Draft Review
You’ll receive draft documents to review at your own pace. We’ll address any questions or changes to ensure everything reflects your intentions.
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Step 6: Signing Meeting
We’ll schedule a formal signing session with a notary and witnesses. Once signed, your plan is legally in effect.
