Preserving your Family’s Wealth for future Generations

Whether you are planning for your future medical care or establishing support for loved ones with distribution of assets upon your death, the Law Offices of Daniel J. Cooper can help you with all facets of trust and estate issues, including:

Securing your Legacy

You work hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security can bring you comfort. The Law Offices of Daniel J. Cooper thoroughly analyzes your estate and finds the means that best transfers your assets, minimizes the effect of income, property and inheritance taxes, establishes guardianship for your children, cares for your pets, supports personal philanthropic causes and protects your loved ones in accordance with your values and goals.

Draft your Revocable Trust and Last Will and Testament

Your revocable trust works together with your Last Will and Testament, and provides the opportunity for you to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A trust and will work together and are necessary to distribute property to particular persons or entities at your discretion. As a general rule, if you die without a will, you die with a will but no trust or you die with a will and a trust, but the value of the sum of your assets not owned by your trust exceeds $166,250.00 (excluding real property), the probate court will determine, in accordance with California Probate Code, how your property not owned by the trust is to be distributed, who is to care for your children and even what happens to your pets, which might not reflect your wishes. The Law Offices of Daniel J. Cooper can prepare valid trusts and wills to ensure that your intentions are honored.

Appointment of Guardian

If you have minor children, your trust and will enable you to make decisions for their future care. This is especially crucial if you are a single parent or if both parents die in the same accident. If you do not name a guardian, the court may appoint a guardian for your children which may be contrary to your wishes.

Durable Power of Attorney

Your Durable Power of Attorney names those persons who are authorized to act on your behalf with regard to your financial matters and is effective at the time of signing. A Springing Durable Power of Attorney passes this authority to your named agent only when two or more persons named by you agree that you are unable to manage your financial affairs. Any assets not owned by your trust will be subject to the authority granted by this document.

Advance Health Care Directive

Your Advance Health Care Directive (or living will) names those persons you trust to make health care decisions for you and sets the parameters for medical intervention if you become incapacitated or are otherwise unable to make health care decisions for yourself. This ensures that when you are most vulnerable, your doctor will get input from someone who cares about you, so that your wishes will be honored.

Release of Protected Health Care Information

Under current law, you must provide authorization that allows your doctor to disclose protected health care information to your agent. Usually that agent is the person you name in your Advance Health Care Directive. Without this information, your agent cannot make informed decisions on your behalf when you cannot make them for yourself. Your doctor and your health care agent work together as a team, and both must be informed. California law protects the privacy between a patient and doctor, and without this authorization, a doctor is not authorized to disclose your protected health information to your agent.

Amending your Trust, Will and other Estate Plan Documents

As your life changes, so also will your priorities change. You should periodically review your estate plan to determine whether it accurately reflects your wishes, or needs adjustment. The Law Offices of Daniel J. Cooper can prepare valid amendments to your trust and codicils to your will that reflect changes in your financial situation, marital status, number of children, philanthropic interests and general lifestyle decisions.

Contact Us

For estate plan services in Southern California, call the Law Offices of Daniel J. Cooper at (949) 859-8456 in Orange County, and at (951) 676-1896 in Riverside County today to schedule a consultation, or contact the firm online.