Law Offices of Maria N. Jonsson, PC Offers Proactive & Preventative Legal Guidance
You have worked hard to get where you are today. To preserve your wealth, you should begin estate planning as soon as possible. While it may feel like you have all the time in the world, you cannot predict the future. A little bit of careful planning now can help you ensure that you are prepared for the unexpected. Our Culver City estate planning and probate attorney has over 15 years of experience and can help you design the estate plan that best fits your needs.
At the Law Offices of Maria N. Jonsson, PC, we take the time to get to know our clients. We also understand that estate planning can be a delicate topic. Every family is different, and we strive to provide our clients with customized legal services that help them achieve their goals. When you have questions about wealth preservation, trust administration, or the probate process, turn to our law firm. We are just a phone call away.
Discuss your estate plan needs with a trusted lawyer. Call us at (424) 383-8445 or send us a message onlineto schedule a confidential consultation.
The Benefits of Early Estate Planning
Thinking about the future can be surprisingly emotional, especially when considering what will happen after we are gone. However, if you have property holdings or assets that you want to be preserved for future generations, it is necessary. Estate law is very broad and incorporates many tools to help individuals and families manage their wealth and secure their futures.
Estate planning needs often arise because of major life events, such as births, marriages, and deaths. Having a plan in place can help these events go more smoothly. Additionally, careful estate planning can also help you prepare for unexpected events, such as a divorce, accident, or debilitating illness.
We offer a comprehensive range of estate planning legal services, including:
- Advanced health care directives
- Beneficiary rights issues
- Business entity formation
- Cohabitation agreements
- HIPAA documents
- Powers of attorney
- Pre- and post-nuptial agreements
- Probate services
- Trust administration
- Trust modification
- Will and trust drafting
If you were named executor of a will or trustee of a trust, you should seek leek counsel to ensure that you are fulfilling your duties and responsibilities effectively. As a trustee, you are accountable to the courts and the beneficiaries of the trust. Failure to fulfill your obligations is taken very seriously. Attorney Jonsson offers professional trust administration services and can help guide you through the complicated legal processes.
Experienced Probate Help
It is always difficult losing a loved one. The probate process doesn't make it any easier. Notoriously complicated, probate is the legal process in which a person's estate is settled. This is also the process during which the deceased person's last will (if there is one) is “proved,” and assets are distributed to the beneficiaries. In LA County, probate can take 12 to 18 months, and probate fees are typically a percentage of the estate's gross value.
Most estates are subject to probate. Without a will on record, the probate process is handled entirely by the probate court. This means you have no say in how your estate is managed or divided. If you have a will, the courts will follow your wishes regarding who inherits what, but it is still a lengthy, expensive process. The only way to avoid probate is to establish a living trust.
The benefits of working with a probate lawyer include:
- A more efficient process overall
- Professional help when filing important legal documents
- Supportive representation at hearings in probate court
- Dedicated help when dealing with creditors
- Experienced guidance if the will is contested
- Someone on your side, looking out for your best interests
The probate process requires strict adherence to the rules. Many clients find the process incredibly overwhelming. You do not have to go through it alone. Our Culver City probate lawyer is prepared to help you today.
We Offer Compassionate Yet Strong Legal Services
You live a busy life and have many demands on your time. Our Culver City estate planning and probate attorney returns calls and emails promptly and offers weekend appointments when needed. We also value and respect your privacy in all legal matters, and all consultations are confidential.
At the Law Offices of Maria N. Jonsson, PC, our goal is to help relieve conflict and stress regarding estate planning. When clients come to us, worried about what will happen to the estate they have spent a lifetime building, we are honored to provide them with the personalized legal services they need to feel confident. We are prepared to use our decade and a half's worth of experience to help you, too.
To find out how estate planning can help you, call our firm at (424) 383-8445 or contact us online.