San Francisco Attorney: Estate Planning Services

Although none of likes to think about adversity befalling us or our loved ones, all of us must be prepared for this unfortunate part of life.  Part of that preparation is to legally protect yourself, your wishes, and your assets.

Our firm is committed to protecting you and your loved ones by preserving your intentions and your assets as well as by minimizing estate taxes. Our comprehensive estate planning services include the formation of trusts and the preparation of wills, living wills, powers of attorney and advance directives for healthcare.

Wills and Trusts

In our experience, we have found one of the best ways to protect your family and your assets is to have a will in place. Without this, you risk having others make  decisions for you after your death. We can economically prepare any document to fit your exact requirements and desires. These documents can provide for appointing guardians for minors or disabled children, for distributing property to family and/or friends, and for providing for the financial well-being of your spouse and family. We prepare life insurance trusts, credit shelter trusts, or any other type of trust to minimize or eliminate estate taxes.

The laws are constantly changing regarding estate taxes and we would be happy to discuss your specific situation. You have worked hard to acquire your assets. A will or trust is the best way to guarantee the future distribution of your assets according to your wishes.

Living Wills

If you should fall into a coma or a vegetative state or if you should have a terminal condition, Living Wills are the legal way to express your desires on the continuation of life support. We can help you put your wishes into a document so that your family knows your intention. As recent cases have shown, having a living will in place can help avoid costly and time-consuming litigation of these end-of-life issues and take the burden of the decision off your family.

Powers of Attorney

Powers of attorney empower another individual of your choice with the right to make decisions for you. We can draft powers of attorney so that a spouse or family member can make financial or healthcare decisions should you become temporarily or permanently unable to make them for yourself. Spouses should consider having powers of attorney in place for each other should a major or minor emergency arise. Other situations that call for powers of attorney are when minor children are in the care of others or for elderly individuals in the care of their family.

Advance Directives for Healthcare

An advance directive is a document that indicates in writing your choices about the treatments you want or do not want or about who will make health care decisions for you if you become incapacitated and cannot express your wishes for yourself. Two main kinds of advance directives are traditionally used: the living will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. California also allows the use of the POLST (Physician's Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment). An advance directive allows you to express your personal wishes and is based upon your own beliefs and values. When you make an advance directive, you have the opportunity to consider issues such as end-of-life care, being kept alive by machines, being independent, and quality of life. We can draft and help you document your advance directives for healthcare.