Marin County is close to the top in terms of per capita income in the United States. There’s a good chance that if you live here, you’re already on the path to building wealth. But how can you preserve what you’ve earned for your family? Who will take care of your finances and other personal affairs if something were to happen to you? These and other questions are best answered by an experienced trust and Marin County estate planning attorney. At Loew Law Group, PLC, we provide wide-ranging legal services that help our clients protect their families and their futures.
Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, And More in Marin County
Good estate planning begins with the last will and testament. This critical legal instrument instructs the executor on how to dispense with your estate after you die. Who inherits your property and how debts will be paid are just some of the matters covered in your will. Every estate is different, and more complex estates especially deserve close attention. That’s why a customized approach is best when it comes to drafting and executing these documents.
Trusts provide important advantages, and not just for higher income earning individuals. A trust can help your estate avoid the complicated and expensive probate process. It can also help you minimize estate taxes, so more of your wealth is passed on to your beneficiaries. Talk to us about how a revocable or irrevocable trust might be a good option for you.
Some people choose to stop once they’ve executed a will or trust. But there are situations in which someone can suddenly become incapacitated and unable to take care of their personal matters. If you were to suddenly be in this situation, who would pay your bills? What if you own a business – who then would make decisions about your company? Healthcare decisions also need to be made by someone if you are unable to do so. You can use a variety of legal instruments to designate someone to make your personal, business, financial, and healthcare decisions in the event you cannot. Ask us about the advance medical directive, living will, durable power of attorney, and business succession plan.
Old age or a catastrophic injury can affect someone you love, and leave them unable to provide for themselves. We can help if you have a relative who has begun to show signs of cognitive or physical limitations. A conservatorship is one option that can help.
Marin County Civil Litigation Over Wills And Trusts
Even the best estate plan could be vulnerable to legal challenges, legitimate or not. Although we carefully draft and execute a number of estate planning instruments for our clients, there’s a chance civil litigation will arise over one of them. Wills and trusts in particular are often targeted for a number of reasons, such as:
- Allegations of undue influence and manipulation designed to alter a will or trust
- Allegations that the executor abused his or her powers or improperly managed the estate
- Claims that a trustee breached his or her fiduciary duties
- An heir who believes he or she was wrongfully left out of a will
Lowe Law Group has handled these and other matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Litigation is stressful and complicated, so we do what we can to save time and expense by exploring out of court alternatives. Those may include mediation or settlements that can bring a lawsuit to a positive end. If you’re facing a legal challenge of some kind involving wills, trusts, probate, or related issues, you need an attorney who understands how to litigate. Our dedicated attorneys can advocate for and protect your interests.
Trust Administration
You may have been named a trustee, and your first question is: what now? Being a trustee is an important responsibility, and you can’t carry it out simply by studying the trust. You will have to balance the needs and demands of several parties, including beneficiaries and creditors. You will also have to make sure you abide by the rules, regulations, and requirements that come with being a trustee.
We help trustee clients, first and foremost, understand what it means to be a fiduciary. It starts with a thorough understanding of the California Probate Code. Our experienced trust administration attorneys have worked with clients to help them complete such requirements as property appraisals, trust accounting, inventories, and more. We can lessen the burden so you can take care of your responsibilities and close the trust.
Fighting Elder Abuse
It’s an unfortunate reality that con artists and scammers try to cheat and defraud the elderly. Elder abuse is typically financial in nature and can include things like identity theft, telemarketing scams, and internet and email fraud. Sometimes, the abusers are close relatives taking advantage of someone with diminished capacity. Examples include attempting to coerce an older family member to change their will to improperly benefit someone.
If you believe that elder abuse is happening, turn to us. We can use the courts to put an end to it.
Probate Help
We do what we can to help clients plan their estates in a way that will avoid probate. However, most estates have to go through this expensive and lengthy process. If probate is necessary, we can assist the executor, administrator, or personal representative. From validating the will to closing the estate, we help each step of the way.
Contact Our Marin County Probate, Trust and Estate Planning, and Civil Litigation Attorney Today
Responsible estate planning starts with selecting the right law firm. At Loew Law Group, PLC, we have extensive experience dealing with issues involving wills, trusts, and probate. We also help clients handle civil litigation concerning these and similar matters. Give us a call today to schedule your confidential consultation and find out how we can serve you.