Comprehensive Services from an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney in Irvine, California

What Documents Do I Need In My Estate Plan?

Each estate plan drafted by Hamud Law Group addresses the specific needs of each client and includes the following core documents:

Revocable Living Trust: The primary reason for creating an estate plan is to allow your assets to be transferred directly to your loved ones without going through a costly probate court process. A Revocable Living Trust, when drafted correctly, will ensure your assets avoid probate once you pass away. Probate is the lengthy court proceeding that delays the distribution of your assets and pays a potentially large percentage of your assets to attorneys and court costs. This process can be avoided with the use of a properly drafted and funded revocable living trust. The person creating the trust is called a grantor, and they will designate the person to be in charge once the grantor has passed. The person left in charge is called a trustee. The trustee is responsible for managing the trust assets and overseeing distributions to the beneficiaries. As long as the grantor is alive, the trust can be amended. This allows you, as the grantor, to control the distribution of assets to the beneficiaries if your circumstances change after you create your trust. Distributions to beneficiaries can be limited by age or circumstance and can be used to provide for children with special needs. A revocable living trust allows you a great deal of flexibility while protecting your assets and your family. Hamud Law Group clients will be counseled through their options, so they can make the best choices to benefit themselves and their loved ones.

Pour Over Will: A pour over will act as a companion to a properly drafted revocable living trust. This document will assist in transferring any assets to the Trust that may have been forgotten. By ultimately naming your trust as the beneficiary of the pour over will, you have made your intent clear as to who should ultimately receive your assets. Perhaps even more importantly, for those with minor children, your Will names who you wish to be the guardian for your minor children. The most important decision a parent can make is who will take care of their children if something unexpected happens to you. If you do not make these wishes known, the court will have to decide “what you would have wanted”. It is never a wise decision to leave the wellbeing of your children in the hands of strangers. Take control of your choices during your lifetime with a thorough estate plan that designates a guardian for your children.
Certification of Trust: When transferring your assets to your newly created revocable living trust, financial institutions will request to see a copy of your trust. It is not necessary for these institutions to have your private family information. A certification of trust removes your private information and only provides the key provisions any institution will need to verify the existence of your trust.
Durable Power of Attorney: A Durable Power of Attorney allows you to select the person who will make financial decisions for you if you become incapacitated. This document can give you peace of mind knowing that your bills and expenses will be taken care of if you are unable to do so yourself. By naming an attorney, in fact, to act on your behalf, you can also avoid having a court-imposed conservator to manage your finances. This avoids the costly court administration of a conservatorship, while also maintaining your privacy and dignity. A durable power of attorney allows for a seamless transition in the event you are unable to make your own financial decisions.
Advance Healthcare Directive: An advance healthcare directive leaves instructions for your family members and friends indicating what type of medical treatment you wish to receive if you are unable to make the decision for yourself. Would you like to continue life-sustaining treatment as long as possible? Would you like to donate your organs? Do you have arrangements made for a certain type of burial or cremation? Your wishes need to be clear to avoid leaving your loved ones to guess if they are making the right decision. An advanced healthcare directive allows you to leave clear instructions and designate who you would like to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Additional funding documents are prepared based on each client’s specific assets. A properly drafted revocable trust is not effective unless your assets are funded into your trust. At Hamud Law Group, we will review all of your assets with you and help ensure your trust is properly funded. This funding includes transferring real property, bank accounts, stock accounts, timeshares, and business interests into your trust. We also work with each client to change the pay on death beneficiaries and advise on how to properly handle retirement accounts and life insurance policies.

How Do I Get Started?

Hamud Law Group knows that creating your estate plan often gets pushed to the end of any family to-do list. Estate Planning is often a source of anxiety for many people. We help our clients overcome this anxiety, take this important step, and make it an easy task to check off your list.

We understand the pressures of everyday life, and help you balance these responsibilities by making it easy to book an appointment that fits your schedule. Hamud Law Group offers virtual appointments to cut down on travel time that can cut into your busy day. For your convenience, we have streamlined our process to help make sure your estate plan doesn’t get pushed to the bottom of your to-do list.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Step One

Complementary

Most people have a vague idea of what is included in an estate plan, and often have many questions about what the process entails. During the initial meeting, we spend some time getting to know you and understanding your goals. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you have and gain some insight into the process. During our initial consultation we also discuss the pricing of our trust packages so there are no surprises or hidden costs. Following our initial consultation you will be sent our custom estate planning workbook which we will review with you during our second meeting. This initial consultation typically takes about 30 minutes.

Step Two

Workbook Review Meeting

During the workbook review meeting, we will review your answers to the estate planning workbook. The purpose of this meeting is to ensure the choices you have made accomplish your ultimate goals. During this meeting we will work together to create a custom and thorough plan to protect your assets and your family. This is your time to discuss any questions and specific family needs. Through our discussion at this meeting, we will have created a clear concise plan to draft and fund your tailor-made estate plan. Please allow approximately an hour of your time for this meeting.

Step Three

Signing

Notary Services are included in all Hamud Law Group estate planning packages. After we have completed the workbook review meeting, it will take approximately one week to draft your documents. At the conclusion of the workbook review meeting, we will set a date for you to come to our office and execute your documents with our notary. Be sure to bring your current driver’s license or other authorized form of identification to the appointment. Once the documents have been executed, you will receive your original documents, and well as an electronic copy for your records. Please allow approximately 30 minutes of your time for this meeting.

How Is Hamud Law Group Different?

No one likes to think about the end of their life, but the only way to ensure your family is protected is to make your wishes known before something unexpected happens.

Convenient & Flexible Process:

Protecting your family and loved ones is at the top of everyone’s priority list. However, when it comes to creating an estate plan, anxiety associated with the process often makes this task fall to the bottom of anyone’s to-do list. To help you accomplish this important task, Hamud Law Group has created a streamlined process to help overcome that “I just don’t know where to start” feeling.

Hamud Law Group offers flexible meeting schedules – including virtual meetings – and follows an easy three step process so you finally mark this task as ‘complete’ on your to-do list. Our Irvine Spectrum office location is convenient for all clients in the Orange County, California.

Complete and Custom Designed Estate Plans:

State planning can be an overwhelming process and many people fall victim to inexperienced law firms that complicate the process further. Too many firms simply produce ‘boiler-plate’ estate plans which do not address the specific needs of their clients. After the client has executed their estate plan, many estate planners simply provide their clients with a long to-do list instructing the client how to ‘fund’ their trust themselves. With yet more tasks added to their to-do list, many clients never complete this important step.

In order for a trust to be effective, each of your assets must be transferred into your newly created trust. If this step is missed, there will be no assets to transfer to your beneficiaries. Instead your loved ones will have to embark on a lengthy court process to attempt to have the assets transferred to the trust after you pass. This misstep negates all of the hard work and time spent creating your estate plan.

Unlike the other estate planning law firms, we have built our estate planning practice on delivering comprehensive, complete, and personalized estate plans to our clients. As a client of Hamud Law Group, we work with you to ensure that your assets (including your home, financial accounts, personal property, and business interests) are properly funded into your trust.

Each client receives an estate plan specifically tailored to their unique situation. Our estate planning services range from drafting a simple will, to establishing complex trusts. No matter the size or complexity of the estate, each client receives the same personal attention and attention to detail in crafting their estate plan.

Estate Planning From a Litigator's Perspective:

Hamud Law Group draws upon our substantial Trust & Probate litigation experience when drafting our estate plans. Having seen common drafting errors litigated in the court system, we are able to draft estate plan provisions which bear in mind potential conflicts and litigation, so we can avoid these issues. Attorneys who don’t have litigation experience often fall victim to these pitfalls. Unfortunately, your loved ones will be the ones who suffer if these mistakes are made.

Our services in Orange County, California, offer you the valuable peace of mind you need by ensuring your assets are divided the way you want while minimizing cost to your family. Your estate planning lawyer will take you step by step through the process to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure your heirs are not left with a disorganized to do list during their time of grief.

Welcome to Hamud Law Group. We Look Forward To Working With You.

Put Your Family At The Top Of Your To-Do List

Creating an estate plan often falls to the bottom of our priority list. At Hamud Law Group, we strive to ensure we make our clients comfortable with a difficult task so you can check your estate plan off as ‘complete’.

Welcome to Hamud Law Group. We Look Forward To Working With You.

Hamud Law Group

Hamud Law Group provides much more than a one-size-fits-all estate plan. All of our estate plans are specifically tailored to your unique situation.
Many estate plan drafters have never seen the inside of a courtroom. We leverage our litigation experience to avoid common drafting mistakes, which lead to costly legal battles after a client has passed away.
Hamud Law Groups litigation experience allows us to draft estate plans that bear in mind potential conflicts and litigation, so we can avoid these issues. Attorneys who don’t have litigation experience often fall victim to these pitfalls.
Our comprehensive planning includes funding your trust. Many firms draft trust documents, deliver them to their clients, and then give their clients a follow up list of to-do items, which can become overwhelming. Hamud Law Group assists you to ensure all of your assets are properly transferred into your trust. If this step is missed, your trust is not effective.

FAQ

What Is Estate Planning And Why It Is Important?

Estate planning is the process of creating a plan for the distribution of your assets and the management of your affairs after you pass away or become incapacitated. It is important because it allows you to control the distribution of your assets and make sure your loved ones are taken care of, as well as potentially reducing the costs and time associated with the probate court.

What Estate Planning Documents Do I Need?

The core documents typically included in an estate plan are a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, a certification of trust, a durable power of attorney, and an advance healthcare directive. Additional funding documents may also be needed based on the client’s specific assets.

What Is An Estate Planning Attorney?

An estate planning attorney is a lawyer who specializes in helping clients create and manage their estate plans. They can provide guidance and advice on the specific documents and strategies that would be most appropriate for each individual.

Who Needs Estate Planning?

Anyone who has assets and wants to ensure they are distributed according to their wishes can benefit from estate planning. It is particularly important for those with minor children, complex family situations, or significant assets or debts. In California, to avoid probate, anyone with assets totaling more than $166,250.

Do I Need A Will

A will is a necessary part of any properly prepared estate. In most instances, a pour-over will is necessary to act as a backup to your trust. Additionally, if you have children under the age of 18, a will is where you name guardians for minor children.

Schedule a Consultation with an Experienced Estate Lawyer Today

Protect your loved ones in the event of your passing with an experienced estate planning attorney in Orange County, California. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, call today at (949) 812-4821 .

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(949) 812-4821