Estate and Retirement Planning in the Los Angeles Area
Estate planning is important, no matter how small your estate may be. It allows you, while you are still living, to ensure that your property will go to the people you want, in the way you want, and when you want. It allows you to save as much as possible on taxes, court costs, and attorneys' fees, and it affords you the comfort that your loved ones will not be burdened with legal red tape and financial confusion. It allows you to communicate how important decisions should be handled in the event of your incapacity.
Woodland Hills Estate Planning Attorney Who Values Your Wishes
At the Law Offices of Yacoba Ann Feldman we know that without proper estate planning, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state of California stand to inherit a large portion of your assets. Estate planning attorney Jaci Feldman can help you make sure your legacy remains with those whom you intend. Our Southern California law office helps individuals, couples, extended families, and nontraditional families develop personalized and enforceable estate tools. We assist clients throughout California in the following matters:
Estate Planning — Our comprehensive estate planning services focus on effective methods to manage and protect your assets during periods of incapacity or on death and conveying important decisions to others regarding end-of-life decisions and inheritance distribution. This is particularly important for nontraditional families. We are experienced handling family limited partnerships, private annuities, business succession planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, incapacity planning, powers of attorney, second parent adoptions and much more:
- Wills — simple wills and complex wills that adequately address all of your needs and the needs of your family
- Trusts — living trusts, family trusts, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, life insurance trusts, educational trusts, minor's trusts, children and grandchildren trusts, bypass trusts, marital trusts (QTIP), noncitizen spouse trusts (QDOT/QDT), minors’ trusts, pot, sprinkling, separate share trusts, — charitable trusts, GRIT's, GRAT's GRUT's.
- Domestic partnerships — advise registered domestic partners and those who are not registered, regarding rights, responsibilities, and other legal implication of registering with the State of California as Registered Domestic Partners; advise and structure domestic partnerships for those who are not eligible or do not want to register with the State. Prepare co-habitation, joint ownership. "pre-registration" and "post- registration" agreements, second parent adoptions and planning for children of non-traditional families. Representation of seniors, unmarried parents and couples, straight, same sex, gay or lesbian partners.
- Advanced health care directives — assisting in documenting how your health care decisions should be made and appointing an individual to follow your directions in the event that you become incapacitated. Health care directives are known by many names including living wills, directives to physician, health care proxy, designation of surrogate, or power of attorney for health care.
- Conservatorships — representation of conservators when planning for or confronted with temporary or permanent incapacity of a loved one or family member due to physical or mental disability resulting from an illness or injury. Ms. Feldman is regularly appointed by the court to represent conservatees. She also represents parents of developmentally disabled children in obtaining limited conservatorships when the disabled child becomes an adult.
- Pre-divorce estate planning — advising clients of the effect of a martial dissolution proceeding on their estate planning desires and of restrictions and opportunities to prepare new or revise existing before, during and after a divorce. Reviewing documents, such as wills, trusts, advanced health care directives, and other estate planning documents is an often overlooked but critical aspect of planning for a divorce. Failure to promptly update these documents could result in a former spouse or soon-to-be ex-spouse inheriting everything or making critical decisions about your health care while your loved ones stand by helplessly and without proper authorization.
Probate Administration — Attorney Jaci Feldman is available to represent executors, administrators, or the interests of family members, heirs, beneficiaries or other interested parties in routine probate and estate administration proceedings. She is also available to mediate estate disputes, such as will disputes or trust contests. Ms. Feldman serves as a voluntary mediator for the Van Nuys branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
For effective probate and estate planning services in Woodland Hills or throughout California, contact the Law Offices of Yacoba Ann Feldman. We offer reasonable rates and personal service.
Flexible office hours • Credit cards accepted
Providing California estate planning services for over 25 years
