The State Bar of California has online pamphlets on a variety of topics such as estate planning, living trusts, when to get a will, finding the right attorney, kids and the law, seniors and the law, just to name a few.
On the topic of estate planning, the State Bar website asks the following useful questions if you’ve been thinking about whether or not to contact a qualified California attorney to discuss estate planning:
- What is estate planning?
- What is involved in estate planning?
- Who needs estate planning?
- What is included in my estate?
- What is a will?
- What is a revocable living trust?
- What is probate?
- Can I name alternative beneficiaries?
- Who should be my executor or trustee?
- How should I provide for my minor children?
- Will my beneficiaries’ inheritance be taxed?
- Does the way in which I hold title make a difference?
- Are there other ways of leaving property?
- What happens if I become unable to care for myself?
- Who should help me with my estate planning documents?
- Should I beware of “promoters” of financial and estate planning services?
- How much does estate planning cost?
- How do I find a qualified lawyer?
On a different topic, living trusts, the questions that follow ought to be a part of your thinking when considering having a living trust prepared by an attorney:
- What is a living trust?
- What can a living trust do for me?
- Should everyone have a living trust?
- How could a living trust be helpful if I become incapacitated?
- How could a living trust be helpful at my death?
- Who should be the trustee of my living trust?
- How are my assets put into the living trust?
- What are the disadvantages of a living trust?
- If I have a living trust, do I still need a will?
- Will a living trust help reduce the estate taxes?
- Will I have to file an income tax return for my living trust?
- What other estate planning documents should I have?
- What other kinds of trusts are there?
- Who should draft a living trust for me?
- Should I beware of “promoters” of financial and estate planning services?
- How much does a living trust cost?
- How do I find a qualified lawyer?
On a very basic level, the question of when to have a will drafted, these questions are useful:
- What is a will?
- Does a will cover everything I own?
- What happens if I don’t have a will?
- Are there various kinds of wills?
- What if my assets pass to a trust after my death?
- Can I change or revoke my will?
- How are the provisions of a will carried out?
- Who should know about my will?
- Will my beneficiaries have to pay estate taxes?
- What other planning should I do?
- How can I find a lawyer to write a will for me?