Family Estate Planning Lawyer in Tracy, CA

When you work with an experienced lawyer for estate planning, you can protect your family and your assets in the event of your death or inability to make decisions for yourself. At Bakerink, McCusker & Belden, we have a team of estate planning attorneys with decades of experience. We are committed to providing highly personalized estate planning services that offer you peace of mind and consider every possibility. Call to schedule a consultation with one of our estate planning lawyers in Tracy, CA.

What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is the process of preparing for your finances, assets, dependents, family, and business should you die or become incapacitated. Your estate planning documents can be carefully and thoughtfully designed to prepare for any eventuality, including:

• Outlining your wishes for your burial, cremation, and funeral.
• Planning for the settlement of debts and estate taxes.
• Naming a successor to your business.
• Distributing assets to heirs and/or dependents.
• Naming a guardian for your minor child(ren).
• Naming a power of attorney designated to make medical and/or financial decisions if you are incapacitated.

Key Elements of an Estate Plan

When you begin working with our estate planning attorneys, we will help you better understand your assets, liabilities, and needs. We can help you determine which elements of an estate plan are most important for you and your family. The key elements of a good estate plan are:

• Will – Your will is a legal document that outlines your instructions for distributing your property, assets, and debts after your death. It can include instructions on paying off debt and taxes, planning your funeral and burial, managing your trust(s), and caring for children and pets.
• Powers of Attorney – Powers of attorney grant specific rights or powers to people who will make decisions about your finances, medical or healthcare services, legal issues, and other personal matters if you are incapacitated.
• Trust – A trust is a legal document that transfers assets to a third party or parties, called trustees. This person will distribute assets to your beneficiaries as outlined in the trust.
• Life Insurance – A life insurance policy payout can be used to pay death and estate taxes, funeral and burial expenses, and more.

Benefits of Working With a Lawyer for Estate Planning

Working with a family estate planning lawyer will ensure your interests and assets are protected, your family will be well-cared for, your business will be protected, and your estate taxes will be limited. The biggest benefits of working with our lawyers for estate planning are:

• Expertise and specialized knowledge of estate planning law.
• Protect your finances, assets, business, and dependents in the event of your death or incapacitation.
• Reduce your estate tax liability.
• Ensure your assets and wealth go to the correct beneficiaries.
• Prepare your trustee to handle trust administration
• Ensure your post-death wishes are fulfilled.
• Prepare for your health and medical needs should you become incapacitated or need long-term care.
• Name an executor for your will and trustees for your trusts.
• Establish power of attorney.
• Establish a legal guardian for your minor children or provide for the care of your pets.
• Create a succession plan for your business.

Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest mistake you can make as you begin estate planning is to think you don’t need to hire an estate planning attorney. Other common estate planning mistakes include:

• Not having an estate plan.
• Not naming beneficiaries, guardians, or powers of attorney.
• Not pre-planning for disability or incapacitation.
• Not outlining a business succession plan.
• Choosing the wrong trustee.
• Not limiting estate tax liability.
• Not updating your estate plan when needed.

How to Start Your Estate Planning Process

It’s never too early to begin the estate planning process. Our trust and estate planning attorneys will work closely with you to understand your needs and goals. Our goal is to create a comprehensive estate plan that covers any eventuality. We recommend that you:

• Schedule an initial consultation with our team.
• Bring copies of any key financial documents, including account statements, credit reports, wealth management account statements, retirement account statements, credit line and loan documents, business planning documents, lists of your holdings, and anything else that could influence your estate planning process.
• Be prepared to name beneficiaries, trustees, and powers of attorney.
• Have a basic understanding of the types of estate planning documents you want to draft.

Why Choose Bakerink, McCusker & Belden for Estate Planning

At Bakerink, McCusker & Belden, we are a full-service estate planning law firm with over 35 years of experience. We have extensive knowledge of California estate planning laws. We are committed to helping you protect your finances, family, business, and peace of mind through our highly personalized estate planning services. In addition to estate planning services, we offer legal representation in probate matters, personal injury, and wrongful death.

Contact Bakerink, McCusker & Belden for Estate Planning

Call us today or contact us online to begin the estate planning process in Tracy, CA. We will schedule an initial consultation to discuss your needs and make our professional recommendations for how to begin the estate planning process. We will do everything we can to make the process simple, straightforward, and stress-free.