Probate can be a complex and overwhelming process, and having an experienced attorney by your side can help ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Our team in northern California offers a range of services to help clients. Whether you’re an executor of an estate or a beneficiary, you can trust Von Rock Law to help you navigate the probate process.
Our probate attorneys in Berkeley provide various services to help clients navigate probate law. We’ll work closely with you to manage the distribution of assets and resolve disputes among beneficiaries. We’ll represent you in probate court if necessary and help you make informed decisions throughout. Some of the services we offer include:
Choosing someone you can trust with the right qualities and experience to meet your needs is essential. Some of the qualities to look for include:
A track record of success can help you navigate the complexities of the probate process and achieve your goals.
Probate law can be complex, so choosing an attorney with expertise in this area is essential.
Excellent communication skills can help you understand the legal process and inform you about your case.
Choosing someone responsive to your needs can help ensure your case moves forward smoothly.
We understand that our clients have many questions about the process of hiring a probate lawyer in Berkeley, CA. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and answers:
The cost of a probate attorney in Berkeley, CA, can vary depending on the complexity of your case. We offer competitive rates and will provide you with an estimate of our fees before we begin working on your case.
The length of the probate process can vary depending case’s complexity case. In Berkeley, CA, the probate process typically takes between 9 and 18 months.
There are several ways to find a good probate attorney in Berkeley, CA. You can ask for recommendations from friends or family, search online, or contact your local bar association for a referral.
Navigating the probate process can be overwhelming, but with the right probate attorney, it doesn’t have to be. Von Rock Law has the experience, expertise, and communication skills necessary to help you achieve your goals in probate. Contact our law firm today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you navigate the probate process.
In short, yes. Death is unavoidable. An estate plan protects not only your family and assets, but will also give you peace of mind that your assets will be properly managed when you are gone.
An estate plan created by Von Rock Law is a solution to protecting and preserving your estate in the case that you die or become incapacitated. It contains the following legal documents:
A legal document that places some or all of your assets in the control of a trust during your lifetime
A legal declaration of a person’s wishes regarding the disposal of their property or estate after death
A durable power of attorney refers to a power of attorney which typically remains in effect until the death of the principal or until the document is revoked. A durable power of attorney, the durability of which must be explicitly stated, remains valid even in the event the principal is unable to make personal decisions due to incapacity.
A legal document that explains how you want medical decisions about you to be made if you cannot make the decisions yourself. An advance directive lets your health care team and loved ones know what kind of health care you want, or who you want to make decisions for you when you can’t.
An estate plan not only ensures your family and assets are protected in the case you die or become incapacitated, but it also helps your estate avoid being subjected to probate, a long and costly process.
Our Custom Estate Plan is a comprehensive trust-based estate plan which is appropriate for most estates including those with minor children or other minor beneficiaries, for those requiring protections for beneficiaries and for blended families. This estate plan works toward eliminating probate court proceedings, appointing successors to manage the Trust after your death, and directs the distribution of your assets.
One 30 minute consultation meeting by telephone, video conference or in person
Revocable Living Trust
Certification of Living Trust
Last Will & Testament **
Durable Power of Attorney **
Advanced Health Care Directive **
Authorization of Release of Medical Records (“HIPAA”) **
Assignment of Personal Property **
Personal Property Memorandum **
Trust Transfer Deed (one property)
Recording Deed with county recorder
One opportunity to request edits to above documents with respect to client-provided information
Recording fees included
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
Final signing meeting
Complete instructions regarding plan
Notary fees included
Personalized estate planning binder with all original documents
Digital PDF copies of your entire plan
Additional Deeds with ancillary documents and recording fees begin at $1000 for California properties and for out of state US properties, subject to confirmation of non-California recording fees.
Up to five hours with our staff for emails, phone calls, zooms or in person meetings to address your questions regarding the maintenance of your estate plan, funding, coordination with agents, potential amendments, family meetings or other ongoing trust maintenance concerns.
A 5% discount on billable matters for which you may further retain us, such as drafting additional plan documents and amendments, or for another practice area.
Deluxe custom estate plans are appropriate for individuals with substantial assets and sophisticated planning needs, and who require estate tax planning features for estates exceeding the estate tax threshold of $12,060,000 for individuals or $24,120,000 in community property for married couples. These plans include all of the offerings of the Custom Estate plan, but will also address such circumstances such as complicated blended families, citizenship issues, multiple real estate holdings, multiple beneficiary designations, integrated special needs trusts, or otherwise more sophisticated distribution plans.
We are offer a college care plan that will allow parents to still be able to act for their 18+ children for medical, financial and legal purposes, and to distribute the child’s assets should the child pre-decease the parent. This plan includes a Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, HIPAA and Simple Will which identifies not more than two beneficiaries with outright inheritance. Further, this plan includes a generic FERPA Consent Form that will authorize parents to communicate with a college regarding the student’s classes, transcripts, grades and more. Many educational institutions will have their own forms for this Consent which may be required, but if not, our standard form should be accepted.
This plan includes a 30 minute consultation and the cost of online notary fees arranged by this office. Digital and paper copies of the plan documents will be provided.
Estate Plan revisions are provided on an hourly basis and estimates of the projected cost are provided to the client before work commences. Simple revisions to Estate Plans are often in the 2 – 3 hour range, with more complex revisions taking longer, bearing in mind that each circumstance is unique.
PLEASE NOTE – We will not amend plans that we did not draft. We will prepare re-statements of Trusts and new documents for planning documents we did not generate.