LAW OFFICE OF REBECCA LOO

ESTATE PLANNING

My philosophy is to establish simple estate plans and keep them out of court!

You can either have your own estate plan, designed to fulfill your specific needs, or the State of California will do it for you, under “intestacy laws.” The government has pre-determined who will inherit the assets of those who die without a valid will. If a person dies “intestate,” or without otherwise planning their estate carefully, the probate court may have to be involved in supervising the administration of the estate and in the distribution of the estate’s assets, transferring title to property  (such as houses, cottages, land, cars, boats, airplanes). This process can be expensive, draining the estate assets, and is time consuming.

I can assist you with a Last Will and Testament.  Your Will:

·        Will distribute your property to whomever you choose

·     Can be amended with regard to specific gifts without re-doing the entire will

·     Discourages contests among the beneficiaries and family members

·     Allows you to appoint a guardian for your minor children

·     Places some or all of your assets in a trust for the benefit of family members, friends, or charities

The federal government imposes estate taxes on large estates.  There are also sometimes taxes assessed on gifts.  However, both of these taxes may be minimized or avoided altogether, by creative estate planning. Ask me how.

You can also ensure that a representative of your choosing has the legal authority to handle your affairs and provide care for you if you are physically or mentally unable to do so. This is possible by:

·        Executing a Durable Power of Attorney

·     Executing an Advance Health Care Directive

·     Creating a living trust with respect to a portion or all of your assets

·     Considering other options

I look forward to helping you plan your estate.