Northern California Estate Planning Attorney protecting your assets for you and the next generation
Do you have a plan?
Most Americans do not. Recent studies show that only 17% of people over the age of 50 have a will.
What does that mean for the 83% that do not have a plan?
It means that the State of California or the Federal Government will decide
what happens to your Home, Cash, Bank Accounts and Retirement Funds.
Do you really want a State Agency to decide how your spouse, partner and children
will be taken care of if you become disabled or die?
Other Considerations if you do not have a plan.
- To obtain access to funds your spouse will have to jump through numerous hurdles and possibly file a probate that could take up to 2 years to finalize.
- If you become incapacitated or disabled the State of California has the right to step in and take control of your property and decide how you will be cared for.
- A poorly written plan can have severe tax implications that would take thousands of dollars away from your spouse, partner and children.
- A poor strategy could leave all your property to a child’s creditor or spouse.
Please take the time to use this website to research your particular situation. If you don’t have the time call our office for a free consultation at 707-595-1148. A well crafted Estate Plan should include:
- Guardian nomination for your children
- Advanced Healthcare Directive
- HIPAA Authorization.
- Power of Attorney for Managed Assets.
- Revocable Living Trust
- Pour Over Will
- Funding the Trust
- Accessible Document Storage
- Emergency Health Cards
From Planning Your Estate to Passing it on, We Are by Your Side
No matter what event brings people to our door, they all have one thing in common: they want to be sure that their rights and wishes are respected. For over a decade, the Law Office of James A. Zakasky has been helping people protect and distribute their assets, access long-term health care benefits, and plan for a secure financial future.
We offer comprehensive resources that protect clients both before and after death, providing for you and your family in the following ways:
Estate Planning
Many people think that a will is the only document they need for their end-of-life plans. While a will can be useful in telling your family what your wishes are, it does not guarantee that those wishes will be followed. There are many legal tools at your disposal, but all involve complex laws and careful administration—and a single misstep while making your arrangements can turn a simple procedure into an exhausting legal battle.
While it may not be pleasant to think about what will happen after you are gone, planning for the passage of your estate and property during your lifetime allows you to control when and where your assets will go. At the Law Offices of James A. Zakasky, we can…
- Examine or create your will and testament to guard against contention.
- Set up revocable and irrevocable trusts to protect your wealth and maintain Medicaid eligibility.
- Advise you on minimizing your tax liability (such as federal estate tax) on your assets.
- Reduce the value of assets creditors may collect as debt payment.
- Designate trusted loved ones to hold healthcare proxies and powers of attorney.
- Establish clear guardianship of your minor children.
- Provide protection for any special-needs family members.
- Assign a competent and responsible trustee for your estate and holdings.
- Minimize the length of time your assets are held in probate
Probate
Before your property is passed on to your beneficiaries, it enters a legal process called probate. Simply put, your assets and belongings are held by a local court which determines if you owe any outstanding debts and taxes after your death. If so, the amount of that debt is taken from the value of your estate before the rest is passed on to your heirs, potentially reducing the value by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Attorney James A. Zakasky provides counseling for families going through the probate process. From finding equitable solutions to providing dedicated representation in court, our firm offers sound legal advice to protect your rights following the death of a loved one.
We help clients resolve all kinds of issues that arise during probate, including:
- Determining whether or not a will is valid
- Contesting a will
- Appointing a qualified executor or administrator of the estate
- Resolving all financial responsibilities of the estate
- Examining whether breach of fiduciary duty has occurred
- Representing clients in probate or estate litigation
- Administrating the distribution of assets to heirs or beneficiaries
We Can Find the Personalized Solution That Is Right for You
It’s not enough to plan for the future; you need to make sure your plans are viable and that they will be carried out to the letter. Attorney James A. Zakasky is proud to offer a lifelong commitment to his clients, from careful consideration of their desires to administering trusts and distributing assets. We work closely with each individual to meet his or her unique needs, removing the burden of uncertainty and allowing clients to live their lives without worrying about their futures.
It is vital that you work with an attorney who has your best interests at heart, and that you fully understand the choices you have made for your estate. We have written a free guide to estate planning that can be downloaded immediately—free of charge—to help individuals make sound decisions for their families. Click the link on this page to download a copy of our booklet, or contact our offices in Santa Rosa today at 707-595-1148 to discuss your estate planning strategy with Jim.
Get Help Now
Managing Partner
Law Office of James A. Zakasky
50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 605 Santa Rosa, Ca 95404
- Guardianship - November 22, 2019
- Understanding Basis and Why it is important to you and your Family? - August 29, 2019
- What Is Probate & Why Is It Important? - August 15, 2019