Estate Planning
Providing wise legal counsel that leads to effective results in the area of estate planning
Summary of Practice
The Law Office of Mark Jackson serves clients in all areas of estate planning. Mark Jackson’s 12 years of experience as an attorney, along with his personal approach to client service, has earned him a reputation as a knowledgeable, thoughtful, and effective adviser. While many clients view estate planning as complex and overwhelming, Mark takes the stress out of the process by getting to know his clients’ needs, helping his clients understand their options, and drafting documents that achieve his clients’ goals. Mark takes a holistic approach to estate planning and problem solving that involves working closely with his clients and their professional advisors and creating multifaceted, comprehensive solutions that are tailored to each client’s circumstances and goals. In doing so, Mark helps his clients protect their assets and interests, preserve their legacy, and provide for their family.
Areas of Expertise
The Law Office of Mark Jackson represents individuals, couples, and families in Redlands, the Inland Empire, La Quinta, and the Coachella Valley. Mark’s estate planning practice focuses on the following areas:
Wills
A will is a document in which a person expresses his or her wishes regarding the disposition of his or her assets after death. Assets that pass through a will are generally subject to probate court proceedings, which add time and costs to the estate process. As a result, trusts are used as the centerpiece of most estate plans in California. Nevertheless, every well-crafted estate plan includes a will.
Trusts
Trusts create a fiduciary relationship through which someone (known as the trustee) holds title to assets for the benefit of another person (known as the beneficiary). A trust-centered estate plan offers considerable advantages over a will-centered estate plan in most cases. As a result, most estate plans in California rely primarily on a trust in order to dispose of a client’s property at death. Various types of trusts exist—such as revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, charitable trusts, and pet trusts—that clients can utilize to achieve their estate goals.
Trust and Estate Administration
Powers of Attorney
Health Care Directives
Conservatorships
Guardianships
Business Succession Planning
Clients often need legal counsel in order to plan for the future transfer of assets accumulated through the ownership and operation of a family business, real estate development, or investment company. Clients often want to ensure that these types of assets are transferred to heirs or business partners, and documentation is often required to avoid conflicts and ensure that the client’s desired outcome occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an estate planning attorney?
Why is an estate planning attorney important?
Few people want to think about what will happen to their assets and family members when they die. As a result, only about half of Americans die with a will, and even fewer have an estate plan.(1) At death, this lack of estate planning can lead to delay in the passing of assets, significant costs and taxes involved in the estate process, family conflict, and an ultimate outcome that doesn’t correspond with the wishes of the deceased person. For people who do want to proactively create an estate plan, they might know what they want—a solid estate plan—but they likely won’t know how to get it on their own. The laws relating to estate planning are complex and strict, and extensive and complicated estate planning options exist.(2) While people with a do-it-yourself attitude might want to try to create an estate plan themselves, the expertise of an estate planning attorney is required to ensure that a comprehensive estate plan is effectively created. Estate planning lawyers like Mark Jackson can provide that kind of expertise and, in doing so, ensure that each client’s wishes are effectuated.
What happens if I die without an estate plan?
When a person dies without a will or estate plan, that person is known as someone who dies “intestate.” The assets of a Californian who dies intestate pass according to California’s intestate succession laws, which results in assets being disposed of in a way that the deceased person may or may not have approved.(5) Dying intestate also means that a deceased person’s estate must go through the added time and expense of probate court. More specifically, probate court proceedings frequently last for nine to twelve months, and costs associated with the probate are calculated as a percentage of the total value of the estate. In order to avoid the negative consequences of dying intestate, all adults should invest in hiring an attorney to create a robust estate plan.
How can estate planning attorneys help clients?
Estate planning lawyers have a number of duties as they assist clients, including the following:
- Protecting the client’s interests
- Discussing estate issues in order to determine the client’s wishes
- Drafting estate documents that reflect the client’s wishes, such as trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and guardianships(3)
- Working with the client’s accountant, financial advisor, insurance companies, business consultants, and other advisors to ensure consistency in the client’s estate plan
- Providing advice that will enable the client to minimize taxation
- Providing advice that enables the client’s estate to avoid the time and expense of probate court
- Updating estate documents to reflect the current state of the family, relationships, and assets(4)
Everyone, regardless of one’s stage of life, can benefit from having an estate plan. Estate planning attorneys provide a wide range of services that are tailored to each client’s needs. To learn more about the ways that Mark Jackson can assist you in the area of estate planning, please contact The Law Office of Mark Jackson today.
What are the common elements of an estate plan?
If you need assistance creating an estate plan, or if you need legal advice on a specific estate issue, The Law Office of Mark Jackson can help. Mark Jackson offers effective and service-oriented representation to clients. Please call Mark at 909-488-0990 or email him at mark@lawofficeofmarkjackson.com to schedule a consultation.