Specialists In California Estate Planning

Your estate plan should honor your legacy, protect your family from financial catastrophe, and ensure that you maintain control over your health and property for as long as possible. To do this properly and minimize the chances of a fight over your will or trust someday, you need trustworthy help from an experienced estate planning attorney.

Our lawyers at Gorini & Gorini, LLP, are here to help you navigate estate planning effectively. Our founding attorney, Richard Gorini, is a certified estate planning specialist and has practiced in this legal area since 1980. At our family-run firm, Richard and two of his sons, Robert and Michael, have the depth of experience, knowledge, and long-term commitment necessary to provide you with exceptional advice and efficient assistance in the drafting and execution of documents. They will work with you to create a plan that reflects your final wishes accurately with minimal effects from taxes.

Things To Consider Before Starting Estate Planning

Before meeting with one of our attorneys, it can be helpful to take some time to think about what you want out of your plan. Things to consider include:

• Who you want to inherit your estate
• How your estate should be distributed among your heirs and beneficiaries
• Who should be the executor or trustee – this person will be responsible for administering your assets and handling your final affairs after you die
• Who should be your financial and medical powers of attorney – they can make decisions about your medical care, finances or both if you become incapacitated
• The level of life-extending medical intervention you would want during an emergency, such as the use of a ventilator or feeding tube

As you can see, estate planning is about more than choosing which assets will go to which heirs. You can also select one or more people to act in your best interests when you cannot speak for yourself. Our lawyers will show you how to take full advantage of estate planning to help you and your family during your lifetime and afterward.

Is A Trust Required If I Have A Will?

Technically, a trust is not required to pass on the assets in your estate. But, unless your estate’s value is very modest, a trust can be very beneficial because it avoids the probate process.

A trust acts as a separate entity that takes legal ownership of whatever assets you put into it. The trustee, who can be you, then maintains the property in the best interests of the beneficiaries, who are the people who will inherit them someday. There are many types of trusts that you can use, depending on the level of control that you want over the trust and its assets and who your beneficiaries are. One of our experienced trust attorneys will lay out the options that best fit your needs.

Take The Confusion Out Of Estate Planning

Estate planning does not have to be perplexing or needlessly time-consuming. Let our lawyers at Gorini & Gorini, LLP, work with you to make the process smooth and straightforward. To reach our office, located in San Jose, for an appointment, call 408-286-6314 or use our online form. For estate planning, we serve clients throughout Santa Clara County and California.