Estate Planning Attorney Chatsworth, CA

Many people are aware that comprehensive estate planning is critical for ensuring that their lifetime assets — whether in the form of real estate investments, savings accounts, life insurance proceeds, retirement accounts, or personal property, among other things — are distributed to the correct beneficiaries in the correct proportions. It is also well understood that proper estate planning can minimize tax liabilities in large estates.

Of course, estate planning can be complicated, even for estates that don’t contain large amounts of assets. As of 2018, the glut of cheap, generic estate planning solutions online has fooled many into thinking that effective estate planning is a basic process that requires an hour or two on a lazy Sunday afternoon. In reality, however, effective estate planning is a collaborative and comprehensive effort that demands a more personalized consideration of one’s estate assets and strategic objectives. People may save a few hundred dollars by doing their own estate planning or working with a non-attorney estate planner, but those savings frequently result in huge losses to their beneficiaries. Poor estate plans often lead to unintended results, and frequently result in lawsuits among beneficiaries that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Chatsworth Area Estate Planning Attorney Can Help You Develop an Airtight Distribution Structure

Here at the Law Offices of Darrell C. Harriman, I utilize a range of planning structures and tools to secure the assets of my clients. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Wills
• Revocable living trusts, spendthrift trusts, special needs trusts, credit shelter trusts, and other types of trusts
• Powers of attorney
• Advanced healthcare directives forms
• Personalized clauses that minimize conflict among beneficiaries
• And more!

With adequate planning, moving your assets into a trust (and making use of alternative asset structures such as joint tenancy) can minimize your tax liabilities, protect you from costly conservatorships if you become incapacitated and need others to handle your affairs, and help your beneficiaries avoid costly and time-consuming probate procedures.