a simple and modern approach to trusts and estate planning in california

                                                                                January 10, 2025

By Marc Joyce, Principal Attorney 

To learn about a big tax problem facing many California trusts, click HERE

Email:  marc@catrusts.law                                                                                                                                                    Phone:  (310) 780-8614 

THE TRUTH is that many estate planning attorneys over-complicate it to justify charging higher fees. After a long and drawn-out planning process, clients wind up with a binder and a 60 page document they barely understand, owe significantly higher fees than they were originally expecting, and find themselves permanently relying on the ongoing paid work and counsel of the drafting attorney to operate their complicated new trust.

Often these attorneys will ask clients to fill out large questionnaires, locate and provide copies of property deeds, financial records and tax documents, and will ask the client themselves to make many decisions without actually counseling them and advising them on the key issues and what the best decisions might really be for their specific situation.

Complex estate plans are sometimes warranted for specific situations, but for most clients and their kids (or beneficiaries) by far the best trust is a simple and efficient one that does the exact thing it was designed to do, and it does it very well, very simply, and at minimal cost. This is the type of trust and estate plan I created for my own parents.

It was easy for them to understand the key ideas and it's virtually effortless for them to operate - they do not need my help. When one of my parents passes away, it will be easy for the other to continue to operate their trust, and when both of my parents are gone, it will be easy for my sister and I to collect and inherit their estate without going to probate court. My parents' trust does not contain any of the unecessary "junk" provisions that slow, complicate, and inflate the cost of operating it.

I can help clients quickly and easily establish these types of simple, highly effective family trusts and estate plans from anywhere in California with a modern digital planning approach that simplifies the process for the client. I actually provide my clients with the correct kind of trust and estate plan - not the one that nets the highest long-term fees for myself.

My planning process is efficient and digital, with most plans being drafted and ready for delivery, review, and signing in about a week, maybe two, once the client has made certain key decisions. My pricing is straightforward: most plans cost $3,600 for married couples, and $2,600 for individuals.

Here's a video to illustrate: