Creating a will isn’t just about what happens after you’re gone—it’s about taking control of your future today. A well-crafted estate plan allows you to make clear, confident decisions about your finances, your healthcare, and the legacy you leave behind.
At the heart of any comprehensive estate plan is your Last Will and Testament. This essential document outlines how your assets will be distributed, who will care for your minor children, and ensures your wishes are honored.
At Schneiders & Associates LLP, we assist you with all matters related to developing a will and estate plan. Our lawyers have over a century of combined experience. We have a diverse legal team with extensive experience in a wide range of estate planning matters.
Call our office to schedule a consultation with our Ventura County estate planning attorneys. Let us help you develop an estate plan that protects the legacy you have worked hard to achieve for the benefit of your loved ones now and long after your passing.
How Schneiders & Associates, LLP Can Help You With Your Will and Estate Planning in Ventura County, CA
An estate plan generally begins with a will. However, estate planning involves much more than drafting a will. Comprehensive estate planning ensures you have the documents and plans in place should you become incapacitated and incapable of managing your affairs. You are prepared for all eventualities.
When you hire our top-rated Ventura County estate planning attorneys, we will help you by:
- Discuss your goals and priorities for estate planning
- Identify estate documents to accomplish your goals
- Discuss choosing beneficiaries for assets that pass outside of probate to integrate these assets into an overall estate plan
- Explain how trusts can benefit and enhance your estate plan
- Discuss the various roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in your estate plan to assist you in choosing the correct person for each role
- Prepare all documents necessary for your estate plan
Our attorneys have exceptional reputations and reviews. We consistently receive the highest honors and ratings, including Martindale-Hubbell’s top rating – the AV Preeminent Rating. We also have a 10.0 Superb rating on Avvo and appear as top attorneys in Super Lawyers and Expertise lists.
Contact Schneiders & Associates, LLP, to schedule a time to discuss your situation with a Ventura County estate planning attorney.
What Is a Will?
A Last Will and Testament (“will”) is the most basic of estate planning tools. However, it is a crucial document that should be included in all estate plans.
Your will names a personal representative or administrator who manages your estate. The will directs your representative to secure your assets and distribute them to your heirs according to the terms of your will. Generally, a will directs that your debts are to be paid before your assets are distributed to your heirs.
Even when someone uses trusts and other tools to avoid probate, they should have a pour-over will. A pour-over will works with trusts to ensure any property outside of a trust agreement or beneficiary designation is “caught” by the pour-over will to avoid creating an intestate estate.
What Happens if I Don’t Have a Will in California?
If you do not have a will when you die, your property is placed into an intestate estate. California’s intestate laws determine how your assets are distributed. The laws state who can inherit from your estate and in what amount. Intestate estates can take much longer to probate and be costlier to probate than an estate with a will. Failing to have a will may result in family disputes and probate litigation.
Benefits of Drafting a Will in Ventura County, CA
Ensuring your wishes are carried out after your death is the primary reason for drafting a will. However, avoiding intestate laws is only one benefit of drafting a will in Ventura County. Other benefits of drafting a will include:
You Choose Your Beneficiaries
Intestate succession may not be your choice for leaving your assets. With a will, you choose who receives your property. You can bequeath specific items to an heir or leave them a percentage of your estate. You can name friends, co-workers, and distant relatives as heirs. Intestate succession usually gives all your assets to your closest heirs, which does not include friends.
Charitable Giving
You can name one or more charities in your will to receive assets. Charitable giving is important to some individuals because of their philanthropic work. However, charitable giving may also be a strategy for reducing the taxable value of your estate.
Appoint a Guardian for Minor Children
Parents of minor children need to have a will to appoint a guardian for their children. Parents know their children and who would be the best person to raise their children after their death. Without a will, the court decides for the parents. The court-appointed guardian might not be the person a parent would choose.
Testamentary Trust
Parents can also insert a testamentary trust into their will to protect their children’s inheritance. A testamentary trust is a simple trust naming some as trustee to manage a minor’s trust. The parent chooses the age at which the trust ends, which allows a parent to extend the time of the trust until their child completes college.
Avoid Complications With Probate
A will streamlines the probate process. It also reduces stress, time, and cost for heirs by giving detailed instructions on distributing your estate. A will reduces family disputes by making your choices clear. A well-drafted will withstand challenges by parties whom you may have intentionally left out of your estate.
Providing for Blended Families
Blended families are quite common. A will allows parents to protect inheritance for children from previous relationships. You can also leave property to step-children who would not inherit through intestate succession.
Because a will is developed and personalized based on a person’s needs and desires, there may be other reasons why you need a will. Working with an experienced California estate planning lawyer is the best way to ensure your will is legal, valid, and accomplishes your priorities.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Ventura County Estate Planning Attorneys
Estate planning is essential to managing your finances now and in the future. It allows you to ensure your loved ones are cared for now and after you are gone. Estate planning also makes it easier for your family by avoiding legal problems with your estate and safeguarding your assets.
Whether it is drafting a will and other estate planning documents or reviewing a current estate plan to ensure it continues to meet your needs and current laws, we can help. Call Schneiders & Associates LLP to schedule a consultation with a Ventura County estate planning attorney.