Estate Planning Lawyer San Diego
Estate planning may not be the first concern which comes to mind when you think of family law, yet it is a very important thing to think about. Estate planning is taking the time to develop a comprehensive plan which ensures you are able to pass your assets to those you love the most when you die. If you fail to create or update your plan, you could be putting your family in a very complicated situation. Attorney Steven M. Bishop will work together with you to discuss all your estate planning options. Whether you are starting from the very beginning or simply need to revisit your existing documents after a divorce, Mr. Bishop will help you determine what you must do to ensure your family is protected after you pass away. Please contact The Law Offices of Steven M. Bishop for your estate planning law needs. Preparing The Right Plan For You We walk you through all the potential options available to you to distribute your assets. We want you to be informed and feel comfortable about the decisions you are making. We help with many different issues connected to estate planning, including:- Drafting a will to state who should receive certain property
- Creating a trust to help protect your assets
- Selecting or appointing individuals to receive power of attorney or serve as the administrator of your estate
- Deciding the amount of health care you are to receive if you are seriously injured and unable to express your wishes
- Modifying any of the existing estate plan documents you have following a divorce or loss of a loved one
- Naming family members or friends to care for your minor children
What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is an important process that prepares you and your family in case of your death or incapacitation. Your estate is all the assets you have accumulated in your life, including:- Land and property
- Real estate
- Physical possessions (e.g., cars and other vehicles, boat, furniture, jewelry)
- Financial securities (e.g., stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and options)
- Accounts
- Investments
- Pension
- Cash
- Allow you to avoid family conflict after death by making legally binding decisions now
- Help you minimize taxes when you transfer assets to your heirs
- Allow you to provide supplemental financial benefits to a person receiving government benefits.
- Help you avoid probate
- A will
- A living will
- A trust
- Choose a healthcare proxy
- Create an assignment of power
Why Choose an Estate Planning Lawyer from The Law Offices of Steven M. Bishop?
Attorney Steven M. Bishop is a highly accomplished estate planning lawyer in San Diego. His practice joins together trust and estate planning needs with family law matters. A San Diego native, Attorney Bishop attended the University of San Diego School of Law and graduated with honors. He passed the California State Bar Examination immediately following law school and pursued his dream of advocating for the rights of people in his community. Bishop has cemented a reputation for providing the highest standard of care and professionalism to his clients and the legal community for more than 40 years. When you need to plan for the future but are unsure of how to begin, Attorney Bishop will take the time to understand your goals and help you make informed decisions fully. The Law Offices of Steven M. Bishop is dedicated to helping residents of San Diego with probate, will and trusts, and all their estate planning needs.Why Do You Need an Estate Planning Attorney in San Diego, California?
There are many reasons why you need an estate planning lawyer in San Diego County. The following are the top five reasons families seek the legal advice and estate planning services of our firm:- Minimizing taxes:
- Avoiding probate:
- Preventing family confusion and potential conflicts:
- Providing financial security to loved ones:
- Creating a plan tailored to your needs:
What Are the Benefits of Using Our San Diego, California Estate Planning Attorneys?
Estate planning is highly complex, full of rules that can invalidate a document if not properly followed. Our San Diego estate planning attorney has years of experience and comprehensive knowledge of various trust and estate tools. When you retain the estate services of Attorney Steven M. Bishop:- We have the knowledge and skill to create a strategic plan that suits your individual needs
- We are here to advise you of all your options and help you make an informed decision with your family’s best interests in mind
- Our San Diego estate planning attorneys can help maximize your estate and assets while protecting your beneficiaries and heirs
- If you have a beneficiary who qualifies for government benefits, we can help you provide for them after you are gone without jeopardizing their government assistance
What Are Our California Trust and Estate Practice Areas?
The Law Offices of Steven M. Bishop can handle a wide range of estate planning needs, including:- Revocable trust
- Irrevocable trust
- Asset protection trust
- Charitable trust
- Constructive trust
- Special needs trust
- Spendthrift trust
- Business law
- Tax by-pass trust
- Elder law
- Power of attorney
- Durable power of attorney
- Common-law marriage
- Estate administration
- Trust administration
What is a Last Will and Testament?
A will is an estate planning tool that will ensure your wealth, property, and other assets are given to your heirs. It is a written document that expresses your wishes in the event of your death. A last will and testament involve decisions about:- Naming guardians of minor children
- Bequeathing assets to your beneficiaries, organizations, or charities
- All wills must go through probate
- Directive of how you want your wake, funeral, or service held
- Family heirlooms
- Safe deposit boxes
- Property
- Bank accounts
- Pensions
- Retirement accounts
- Financial securities
What is a Trust?
Like a will, a trust also transfers your property and assets. A trust gives another party the authority to handle your assets for the benefit of a third party, your beneficiaries.- Revocable living trust:
- Irrevocable trust:
- Asset protection trust:
- Charitable trust:
- Constructive trust:
- Special needs trust:
- Spendthrift trust:
- Tax bypass trust:
What is Elder Law in California?
Elder law and estate planning are very similar. While both areas have long-term planning capabilities, elder law focuses on the aging population and their current issues. In California, the goal of elder law is to prepare the populace for financial freedom. Some of the most common legal needs facing seniors include:- Asset protection
- Tax planning
- Estate planning
- Nursing home issues
- Elder abuse and fraud cases
- Social security and disability claims process
- Medicare claims and appeals
- Disability planning
- Probate and administration of estates
- Trust administration
- Housing issues
- Age discrimination
- Retirement
- Mental health
What is Probate in San Diego, California?
The California probate process can be lengthy and expensive. Our estate planning attorneys are here to provide legal advice to protect your loved ones’ financial future. If your goal is to have your beneficiaries avoid probate, speak to one of our lawyers about the tools we can employ to keep your estate private and secure. The California probate process consists of the following steps:- File a petition to begin probate and select an executor if one has not been appointed already
- Give notice that the estate is in probate to all beneficiaries, heirs, and creditors
- Conduct an inventory report of all assets subject to probate court:
- Real estate and other property
- Stocks and bonds and other securities
- Family heirlooms and antiques
- Bank accounts
- Retirement accounts
- Pay all bills, debts, taxes
- Distribute assets that are remaining
- Close the estate
Can Estate Planning Help Me with My Immediate Family Care Needs in San Diego?
Life can be unpredictable. It can be overwhelming to know where to turn for immediate family care needs when a family is everything. At The Law Offices of Steven M. Bishop, our compassionate estate planning lawyers can help you make tough decisions in a timely and efficient manner. We have extensive experience helping families throughout the county. Some of our clients found the following tools beneficial to their family situation:- Special needs trust
- Guardianships
- Conservatorship
- Power of attorney
- Durable powers of attorney
