By creating an estate plan, we help you not only tell your story, but preserve it as well: who you loved, how you lived, and the legacy you leave. An effective estate plan develops a comprehensive strategy for the future, protects your loved ones in the event of your death or incapacity, and allows for the person of your choosing to act on your behalf to make financial or medical decisions if you are unable to do so.
Our tailored estate planning process is designed to understand your unique situation and goals and create a plan to pass your wealth, wisdom and values to your loved ones in the most efficient way possible. A typical estate plan would include a Revocable Living Trust, Last Will, Durable Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives for healthcare decisions.
Whether you are looking to create your estate plan for the first time or to update your existing plan, our planning process provides peace of mind that your wishes will be followed.
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 California 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 and out-of-state US properties, subject to confirmation of non-California recording fees.
Up to five hours with our support staff for emails, phone calls, or 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.
*Please note these subscriptions are billed annually on a rolling 12-month basis unless you email us 30 days in advance to cancel your subscription.
**Support staff hours exclude attorney time.
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 $12,920,000 for individuals or $25,840,000 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 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, preparation of the documents and in person notary. Digital and paper copies of the plan documents will be provided.
*Discounts available when paired with Parent’s Estate Plan or Sibling’s College Care Plan.
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.
Many of us know that we should have a current and comprehensive plan when it comes to personal Estate Planning and Management, but often we have not had time to consult a lawyer, update our plan, or find ourselves in an emergency situation, where preparing an estate plan can no longer wait. Regardless of which category you may find yourself, Von Rock Law can help. Deidre and Nora offer top-notch legal expertise. Their legal acumen, ability to actively listen to your goals, evaluate your needs, and provide a clear and concise overview of your legal options is exceptional. This hands on, personalized approach allows them to prepare an estate plan that is customized to your needs. When you meet with Deidre and Nora, you have their undivided attention, they are prepared, they are upfront (and accurate) about the scope of work involved, and perhaps most importantly, they are interested and mindful of you, your life, and your time.
Sasha C.