Estate Planning

Get the peace of mind knowing you have an Estate Plan in place

When it comes to peace of mind, nothing equals the reassurance gained from having an estate plan in place. When you have had an effective and complete estate plan drafted specifically for you, you can trust that things will run smoothly if you or your spouse should pass away.

We Offer You an Estate Plan to Meet Your Needs

At the Haskett Law Firm, P.C., in Pleasanton, California, we provide a full range of estate planning services for individuals, families and small-business owners throughout the Bay Area. Our work includes a review of your personal and financial situation and a recommendation for a comprehensive estate plan tailored to your specific needs. Our goal is to provide you with a complete estate plan. Each plan is different and fulfills different needs. More than just a will, a complete estate plan combines a series of documents that protect you in the event you become ill and are unable to care for yourself as well as providing for the disposition of your assets upon your death.

A complete estate plan may include:

Wills:

Most people think of a will when they think of estate planning. Wills only take effect when you die and provide for the orderly distribution of your property among your beneficiaries. Your will is also the document that arranges for who will be your guardian for minor children

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Trusts:

A trust is the central document in most estate plans. Trusts provide for how your property is managed in the event you become incapacitated as well as for distribution to your beneficiaries when you die. A well drafted trust can prevent disputes and can ensure that the people you choose benefit from your assets. We provide many different types of trusts to meet your needs such as revocable living trusts, charitable trusts, qualified personal residence trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts.

Powers of attorney:

Powers of attorney give a trusted relative or friend access to bank accounts and other financial matters so that assets can be managed in the event that you cannot make important decisions about your assets.

Advance health care directives:

These documents help loved ones make important decisions about your health in the event that you cannot communicate your intent. They appoint a loved one — or several loved ones — to make critical decisions regarding matters such as pain management, life-sustaining treatment and life support. They also allow you to communicate your intent regarding these matters and name the person who will make burial decisions.

Family limited partnerships (FLPs):

FLPs are a method of transferring wealth from one generation to another. Individuals transfer business assets into a partnership and then grant limited partnership interests to their children or other family members.'

Don’t cut corners when it comes to your family

Many people try to cut corners by turning to discount websites that offer cheap wills at reduced rates. But cutting corners can create problems. You can be left with an ineffective estate plan that causes family tension or leaves your children unprotected. One size does not fill all and most probate litigation could be avoided by thorough estate planning.

At the Haskett Law Firm, we take action to protect our clients’ interests by taking care of every aspect of your estate plan. By establishing a long-term relationship with our clients, we are available to help keep your estate planning documents updated as your assets and circumstances change over the years. In addition, our estate planning services include estate and income tax planning, business succession planning, guardianships and conservatorships, as needed.