ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE & TRUST ADMINISTRATION
THE WKBK&Y APPROACH TO ESTATE PLANNING
At Wagner Kirkman Blaine Klomparens & Youmans LLP, our highly experienced estate planning attorneys strive to stay on top of the ever-changing tax, trust and estate laws to meet specific goals—to ensure that our clients are informed, and their personal concerns and estate planning objectives are addressed in the most prompt and cost effective manner.
We integrate all federal and state, income, estate, gift and other transfer tax strategies imaginable to minimize our clients’ worry, risk, administration fees, and expenses. And, most importantly, the transfer, other tax exposure and “up front” cost of the estate planning process. Our WKBK&Y team is located in the Sacramento area in Northern California. And, our attorneys are well regarded for their expert knowledge, lecturing extensively on estate planning to other attorneys and CPAs throughout California.
While WKBK&Y has a wide range of clients (including individuals, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and owners of closely held businesses) our firm takes a very personalized approach to help our clients reach their goals. We help them accumulate, preserve, protect and transition their wealth in a transfer tax-efficient fashion consistent with their family values.
We take the complexity out of the planning process. For example, we develop and implement understandable estate plans that can carry out the personal and family objectives of our clients in a sensitive manner. We believe estate planning should take into account opportunities that occur during the person’s lifetime, so we plan for current and projected changes in federal and state income, and estate and gift tax laws, to help minimize the need to update the plan any more frequently than necessary.
WKBK&Y ATTORNEYS UNDERSTAND THE PROBATE PROCESS
Probate is the legal process that results in a court validating someone’s will or determining that he or she died without one. The court, as part of the probate, will appoint someone to handle the bills of the deceased as well as his or her assets. Depending on certain circumstances, that person is called the executor, administrator, or administrator with the will annexed.
Probate is also when creditors of the deceased can appear before the court and make their claims for payment. Under law, they have a fixed period of time to do so and demand payment.
California’s Probate Process is necessary if a person dies with or without a will and they either own real property or have assets in excess of $100,000. WKBK&Y possesses years of experience with every aspect of the probate process, and can ensure that yours reaches completion with all disputes resolved, and all creditors addressed.
WKBK&Y KNOWS THAT EVERY TRUST IS DIFFERENT
There’s much to do when it comes to trust administration. The terms of the trust generally control the administration, so be sure to read the document before doing anything.
Every trust is different. Some trusts hold a small amount of property and are terminated within a very short time after the grantor’s death. Other trusts hold millions of dollars worth of property and provide income to trust beneficiaries for many years. Sometimes a trust becomes the subject of litigation when a beneficiary disputes how the trustee is administering the trust. A trust dispute can also arise when a disgruntled heir challenges the testator’s estate plan.
The amount of work involved in administering a trust varies depending on a number of factors. You must consider the type of trust you're dealing with, and then the number of beneficiaries. The size and type of trust is influenced by the amount of property within the trust, and the duration of the trust. And then you must consider how many creditors are making claims against the trust, which means a lot of paperwork that must be accounted for.
WKBK&Y IS EXPERIENCED WITH CONSERVATORSHIPS AND GUARDIANSHIPS
Conservatorship
When a loved one develops difficulties in managing his or her financial affairs (or in providing for personal needs as a result of illness or advanced age) sometimes it is necessary for family or friends to obtain court authority to act on the individual’s behalf. This is especially relevant when the individual has not executed the appropriate estate planning documents or resists such assistance. In California, this is accomplished through a proceeding known as a conservatorship.
If you are planning to seek conservatorship over a loved one, you will want to ensure that you have qualified legal assistance to guide you through the process. At Wagner Kirkman Blaine Klomparens and Youmans LLP, our probate attorneys have extensive experience in the area of conservatorships and have handled numerous complicated conservatorship matters, including contested conservatorships and limited conservatorships. Let us help you help your loved ones.
Guardianship
Guardianships are complicated proceedings and are difficult to navigate without expert legal advice. Here, at Wagner Kirkman Blaine Klomparens and Youmans LLP, our probate attorneys have extensive experience in assisting clients in establishing guardianships of the person and estate.
CHOOSE A LEGAL PARTNER THAT'S COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS.
To find out how we can help you through the complexities of today’s legal issues, call (916) 920-5286 or click below.