Estate Planning and Administration

The attorneys at Anderson Hayes, P.C. can help you form a comprehensive estate plan to include:

• Wills
  Even in complex estate plans, a will is the central component. The will directs how the other components of an estate plan work together to provide for your loved ones after you are gone. That is why, as part of our comprehensive estate planning practice, Anderson Hayes, P.C. provides will drafting services to our clients in California.
• Trusts
  A Living Trust is a legal document drafted by a qualified attorney that contains the creator’s instructions for disposing of his or her assets at death. Unlike a will, a Living Trust avoids probate, making the administration of an estate at death much simpler for the heirs. A Living Trust is similar to setting up your own family company that you control and that continues on past your death to carry out your wishes. The concept is very simple and avoids the expense and delay of court proceedings. You retain your control of the assets in the Trust because you are the manager or trustee of the Trust. Under this arrangement, you can do everything you could do before you placed the assets in the Trust, such as buy and sell assets and change or even cancel your Trust. Also, you even file the same tax returns. Nothing changes with respect to the assets in the Trust except the names on the title.
  The benefits of a Living Trust are that it avoids probate at death, prevents court control of assets in case of incapacity, provides maximum privacy, can reduce or eliminate estate taxes, can be changed or canceled at any time, can protect dependents with special needs, and brings    all of your assets together under one plan for a more orderly disposition.
• Power of Attorney
  A Power of Attorney lets you choose a trusted person or organization to handle your financial, legal or health care matters if you become unavailable or unable to manage them for yourself.  AHpc will work with you to draft Powers of Attorney as appropriate to your estate planning goals. Different types of Powers of Attorney include general power of attorney, limited Power of Attorney, and health care Power of Attorney.
• Living Wills and Advanced Healthcare Directives
  A living will is a written, legal document that spells out the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures you want and don’t want, such as mechanical breathing (respiration and ventilation), tube feeding or resuscitation.  The medical power of attorney is a legal document that designates an individual—referred to as your health care agent or proxy—to make medical decisions for you in the event that you’re unable to do so. Advanced Healthcare Directives describe your preferences regarding treatment if you are faced with a serious accident or illness.

Our goal at Anderson Hayes, P.C. is to give you peace of mind and help families plan for medical crisis, deal with death, preserve wealth, and protect inheritances. To learn more about how AHpc can assist you with your estate planning needs, please call 858-756-5558 to speak with an attorney. You may also contact us by email at info@andersonhayes.com