One of my favorite Forbes columnists, Kelly Phillips Erb, recently wrote about the IRS offering a mobile app that allows people to access their tax account information on their smartphones. Technology is amazing in the way it streamlines certain time-consuming processes, and I believe that is all to the good. However, I also am of the opinion that there are still certain matters that require the assistance of a living, breathing, attorney with whom you meet face-to-face. And one of those matters is estate planning.
Sure, there are forms available online for doing your own last will and testament. And you can certainly do it yourself if that is your preference. But remember, making a significant error on a do-it-yourself will could be enough to render it invalid, and throw the whole thing into the California Probate Court system.
And just suppose a simple online form isn’t enough? What if you have assets, property, children, a spouse, an ex-spouse or several ex-spouses, family members with special needs, a business, a business partnership, a foundation, a specific bequest you’d like to make, specific declarations you’d like to make, or a specific way in which you’d like to be memorialized, or any one of several other responsibilities or legal designations too numerous to list? It may take a bit of “face time” to describe your needs and develop a legal estate plan, but I believe it would be time well spent.
I never give legal advice in my blogs. But if you would like legal advice regarding your specific situation or estate planning needs, I would encourage you to get in touch. We can set up a face-to-face meeting to discuss drafting a will. We can investigate the types of trusts that might meet your needs. We can explore other items of concern too, including directives for health care, guardianships, and powers of attorney that you might wish to incorporate in your estate plan.
Please give me a call. We can be reached at 818.956.9200.
Glendale Location
616 E. Glenoaks Boulevard, Suite 203
Glendale, CA 91207
Sherman Oaks Location
15303 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 900
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403