Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

Re: wills

If you want to ensure that your estate passes as you wish, that optional methods are considered (such as whether or not to avoid probate), that any potential estate tax liability has been considered and that collateral aspects such as income issues of property transferred at death are addressed and made part of your estate plan - you should retain an attorney.

You should also have a durable power of attorney for asset management and an advance health care directive.

A considerable part of my law practice consists of attempting to deal with poorly drafted (or nonexistent) estate planning documents brought to me after death of the testator/trustor/settlor/principal.