FAQs about Estate Planning

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning

There are many myths and misunderstandings regarding estate planning and probate. The lawyers at Linden & Associates can clear up these misunderstandings and provide sound estate planning advice to ensure your assets are distributed to your family and loved ones in a timely, orderly, and efficient manner.

Call us at 1-800-287-8781 for a free initial consultation regarding estate planning solutions.

Why do some people make going through probate sound as painful as having a root canal?

Probate may not cause physical pain, but it can certainly prolong the emotional pain of your survivors. For one thing, all assets are usually frozen until probate is completed.

If cash flow is a problem, your family may be dependent on a court decision for an allowance to cover living expenses.

Probate can also be costly. Those court costs, executor fees, and other expenses add up quickly and all of them must be paid before your assets are distributed.

Probate also deprives your family of privacy at a time when they may need it most. Because probate documents are open to the public, anyone with an interest in your financial affairs (including your debts and assets) has easy access to such information. In fact, some companies regularly check such public records for sales and marketing leads.

Finally, most people need time to mourn the death of a loved one before they can get on with their lives. A long probate process can make it even more difficult for them to find closure.

While Linden & Associates cannot prevent probate if someone in your family has died without a will, we can speed up the process for you. And our affordable fees can save you money, as well.

Our property deed lists my spouse and me as joint owners. Does this solve my problems?

... Yes and no. When you die, ownership of the property will transfer to your spouse tax-free and without probate. However, if you both die at the same time, or if your spouse does not remarry, the property will have to be probated and estate taxes paid before it can go to your heirs.

It is no secret that death and taxes are inevitable. But with the appropriate strategies, you can limit the size of the tax bite. Tell us about your situation and we will show you how it works. Linden & Associates provides a full range of estate planning services that can transfer your wealth to your children and loved ones while minimizing tax liabilities.

I already have a will. Do I really need a trust as well?

Not if the prospect of your survivors facing probate is okay with you. Or if you are not concerned about losing a good portion of your estate to taxes . . . or who will make important medical and financial decisions if you become physically or mentally incapacitated. But if these issues matter to you, it makes sense to consider a trust.

The following chart shows why:

If You Become Disabled	With No Will	With A Will	Revocable Living
Probate	Yes! The court takes control of your life. Court-appointed conservator oversees your care, including assets and financial affairs. Keeps detailed records and submits court reports.	YES! Probate action same as with no will.	NO Probate because court is not involved. Your successor trustee manages your care and financial affairs for as long as necessary. You resume control when you recover. Upon your death, successor trustee pays your debts and distributes assets.
Court Costs	You pay all court and legal fees as well as costs of physical care until you recover or die.	Costs same as no will.	No court costs.
Probate	YES! Court orders your debts paid and assets distributed according to state law. No consideration of your wishes.	YES! Court verifies your will and if it is not contested, orders your debts paid and possessions distributed according to its instructions.	No Probate! Debts are paid and possessions immediately distributed to beneficiaries by successor trustee according to your written instructions.
Costs	Your estate pays all court, legal and executor fees (often estimated at 5-10% of the gross value of the estate)	Same as with no will. However, costs will rise if will is contested.	None.
Time Frame	Usually 1-2 years before heirs can inherit.	Same as no will.	Usually 4-6 weeks for smaller estates. A few months for larger ones.
Control	None. Your property is controlled and distributed by probate court according to state law. Very easy for anyone to contest.	Limited. You can change your will at any time but it can be easily contested. Family has no control over probate costs or delays.	Full control. You can change or discontinue your trust at any time. Property remains under total control of your trust, even if you are disabled or die. Hard to contest.
Privacy	NONE. Probate proceedings are public record Expose family to unscrupulous solicitors and greedy heirs.	NONE. Same as no will.	Privacy is preserved. No probate. Living trusts are not matters of public record.

Who has control of my trust if something happens to me?

If you and your spouse are co-trustees and one of you becomes incapacitated, the remaining spouse can assume responsibility immediately. If you are the sole trustee, your successor (or corporate) trustee will manage your trust until you recover. If either you or your spouse should die, the surviving spouse will gain immediate control of the trust If you are the sole trustee, or if you and your spouse both die, your successor (or corporate) trustee will pay your debts and distribute the remaining estate according to your instructions.

What's the difference between a living trust and a living will?

A living trust describes how you would like your financial affairs handled if you should become incapacitated or die.

A living will informs others of your wishes regarding life support and other medical care if you become terminally ill.

Is that the same as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?

No, but there are some similarities. A living will is directed to the doctors and medical facility that tends to your needs. It lets them know whether or not you want them to use medical procedures that will merely prolong the length of your life without consideration of its quality.

A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care authorizes the person you've chosen to make all the decisions regarding your health care, including choice of doctors, whether or not you should enter a hospital, permission for surgical procedures, and if heroic measures should be used if you are terminally ill.

How long does it take to establish a trust?

It can be done in 24 hours. Linden & Associates has done it. It depends on your circumstances. If you have a lot of titled assets, such as real estate, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, their ownership must be transferred to the trust. Untitled assets, such as jewelry, art, and other valuables will also need to be itemized for inclusion. Depending on how quickly you act, it may take several days or longer. But remember, if you don't organize this information now and you become incapacitated or die, your family may end up paying the court and attorneys to do the same job.

While it generally takes time to gather and document all the necessary information, we recognize that some situations require a little extra care and attention, including after-hour meetings with our clients in their own homes or other settings, if necessary. At such times, experience counts. In emergencies, the attorneys at Linden & Associates have managed to complete some trusts in as little as 24-hours.

Can't I draft my own will or trust?

Perhaps. You may even find printed forms and kits at your neighborhood stationery store or on the web. The danger is that if you fail to state your wishes accurately or completely, the results may not be what you intended, or in the case of a will, it may even result in an estate dispute and litigation. On the other hand, a qualified and experienced attorney at Linden & Associates can ensure that the documents you draft will not only meet your goals, but also preserve your estate for your heirs as fully as possible.

How much money can I save with a funded living trust?

LOTS! To appreciate your potential savings, it is important to know the value of your estate. It's probably more than you think. You can determine how much your estate is worth by adding up all your assets. Be sure to include these items on your list:

Cash
Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds
Notes and Mortgages
Annuities*
Retirement Benefits*
Insurance Benefits*
Personal Residence
Vacation Property and Other Real Estate
Automobiles/Boats
Art
Jewelry
Collectibles
Other Personal Property

* These items are not included for probate but are for Federal estate tax costs computation.

Depending on the size of your estate, a funded living trust can save the following probate costs:

Estate Value	Probate Fees
$100,000	$4,000
$150,000	$5,500
$200,000	$7,000
$250,000	$8,000
$300,000	$8,800
$350,000	$9,300
$400,000	$9,800
$450,000	$10,300
$500,000	$10,800
$600,000	$11,300
$700,000	$11,800
$800,000	$12,300
$900,000	$12,800
$1,000,000	$13,800
$2,000,000	$14,800

For a free initial consultation with a lawyer at Linden & Associates, call (800)-287-8781 (800-2TRUST1), or contact us online. Located in Newport Beach, we serve clients in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and throughout California and across the nation.