IT’S ALWAYS TIME
Young family
Avoids an expensive probate if the family owns any real estate.
Avoids costly and restrictive court supervised Guardianship for children.
Keeps minor children protected from making poor financial choices by preventing the inheritance of your full estate at 18 years with no oversight.
Powers of attorney provide protection in a medical emergency.
Middle age
In addition to the benefits for a young family, in the middle of life when families are growing, more assets are often acquired. A trust is essential for people with investments and/or ANY real estate, in order to avoid the very large cost of probate.
The probate threshold for CA is only $65,000 for real estate or $166k in total assets.
Probates are lengthy court processes during which estate assets (including business) are frozen, often forcing a sale of family property.
Retirement Age
At this stage, the value of the assets held often creates a larger estate. Establishing plans for health care and end of life become more crucial.
Avoids or minimizes very high estate tax (currently at 40%).
Allows client to plan for financial and health care decisions to be made by someone they trust if they are incapacitated.
Allows client to make end of life decisions clear to loved ones.