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Wills & Trusts

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Wills and trusts are the core documents of any estate plan. Both documents provide guidance to your family, and the courts, about how you would like your assets to be distributed. But that is where the similarity ends.

Do you need a will, or a trust? There is no one answer. It will depend upon the specifics of your estate, the needs of your family, and your goals for the future. An estate planning attorney at the law office of Jackie Robert Geller can help you clarify your goals and take you through the steps of creating an estate plan that works for you.

A will provides written direction for your family about how you want to distribute your assets (a home, insurance policy, 401(k) or pension fund, personal possessions). A will is inexpensive and can usually be accomplished quickly. On the other hand, a will must be "probated," a court process that can be both costly and lengthy. Probate can create serious problems for a family-owned business.

Trusts-and there are several kinds of trusts-have one clear benefit over a will; they do not go through the process of probate. This means your family or inheritors will receive more of the money you intended for them to receive and the IRS and attorney will receive less.

Trusts are more comprehensive. They are also more expensive to draft and to administer. But they can accomplish what a will cannot. Revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, family trusts, charitable trusts, supplemental needs trusts, insurance trusts: there are trusts that fit the needs of any family. Contact a San Diego estate planning attorney to begin the process of drafting a trust or trust administration.

Living Wills and Living Trusts provide direction for family members if you are alive but incapable of communicating your wishes due to illness or incapacity. Tragic power struggles, like that surrounding the case of Terry Schiavo, can be avoided with the help of a San Diego living will attorney.

At the law office of Jackie Robert Geller, we offer package plans for a set fee. For many families, a family trust, durable power of attorney, and living wills form the basis of a comprehensive estate plan. A plan can be tailored to your specific family needs. Contact our San Diego living will attorney to begin the planning process.

The law office of Jackie Robert Geller serves the residents and businesses of San Diego County, and the Southern California communities of San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, University City, UTC, Clairemont, Sorrento Valley, Mira Mesa, Sorrento Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Valley, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Encinitas, Poway, Santee, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Coronado, and Imperial Beach.