Practice Areas
Estate
Planning
Protect your family, preserve your legacy, and ensure your wishes are honored with a comprehensive estate plan tailored to your unique circumstances.
Overview
Planning That Protects What You Have Built
Estate planning is about more than writing a will. It is about creating a comprehensive plan that protects your family, minimizes taxes, avoids probate, and ensures that your assets pass to the people and causes you care about most. At Abrate & Olsen Law Group, we take the time to understand your complete financial picture and family dynamics.
California has unique estate planning considerations, including community property rules, the California Probate Code, and state tax laws that differ from federal provisions. Our attorneys stay current on all changes that affect your plan, including the sunset of the current federal estate tax exemption scheduled for 2026 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Whether you need a straightforward will, a revocable living trust, or a complex multi-generational plan with asset protection, business succession, and charitable giving components, we deliver estate plans that work — not just documents that sit in a drawer.
Start Your Estate Plan
Contact us today for a consultation about your estate planning needs. We will help you understand your options and create a plan that fits your family and goals.
Schedule a ConsultationOr email us at contact@abrateolsenlaw.com
Our Services
Estate Planning Services
Comprehensive estate planning solutions for individuals, couples, and families.
Wills & Trusts
We draft legally sound wills and revocable living trusts under the California Probate Code that clearly express your wishes for asset distribution, guardianship of minor children, and charitable giving.
Power of Attorney
Durable powers of attorney for financial matters and healthcare decisions under California Probate Code Sections 4000-4545, ensuring someone you trust can act on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
Advance Healthcare Directives
Legally binding documents under California Probate Code Sections 4700-4701 that specify your medical treatment preferences and designate a healthcare agent to make decisions when you cannot.
Asset Protection
Strategic planning to shield your assets from creditors, lawsuits, and future claims while complying with California fraudulent transfer laws. Includes irrevocable trusts, LLCs, and family limited partnerships.
Special Needs Planning
Special needs trusts (both first-party and third-party) designed to provide for a disabled beneficiary without jeopardizing their eligibility for Medi-Cal, SSI, or other government benefits.
Business Succession Planning
Comprehensive plans for transferring business ownership to the next generation or to key employees, including buy-sell agreements, family business trusts, and tax-efficient transfer strategies.
Our Process
What to Expect
Our streamlined estate planning process makes it straightforward to protect your family.
Initial Meeting
We learn about your family, assets, goals, and concerns. This confidential meeting helps us understand exactly what your estate plan needs to accomplish.
Plan Design
We design a customized estate plan and explain every document, provision, and strategy in plain language so you understand exactly how your plan works.
Document Preparation
Our attorneys draft all documents with precision, ensuring compliance with California law and addressing every contingency specific to your situation.
Execution & Funding
We guide you through proper document signing, notarization, and — critically — funding your trust by transferring assets into it. An unfunded trust provides no protection.
Common Questions
Estate Planning FAQ
What is the difference between a will and a revocable living trust?
A will takes effect only after death and must go through probate in Sacramento Superior Court, a public process that typically takes 12 to 18 months. A revocable living trust avoids probate entirely, keeps your affairs private, and allows for immediate asset distribution. Most California residents with real property benefit significantly from a trust-based estate plan.
Do I need an estate plan if I do not have a large estate?
Yes. Estate planning is not just about taxes. It designates who will care for your minor children, who manages your finances if you are incapacitated, and how your assets are distributed. Without a plan, California intestacy laws (Probate Code Section 6400) dictate who inherits — which may not match your wishes.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review your estate plan every three to five years, or whenever you experience a major life event: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary, significant changes in assets, moves to a different state, or changes in California or federal tax law. An outdated plan can be worse than no plan at all.
What happens if I die without an estate plan in California?
If you die intestate (without a will or trust) in California, Probate Code Sections 6400-6414 determine who inherits your estate. Generally, your spouse receives your community property and a share of separate property, with the remainder going to children, parents, or siblings. The probate court appoints an administrator, and the process can take over a year.
Ready to Protect Your Family?
Every day without an estate plan is a day your family is unprotected. Schedule your consultation today.
Start Your Estate Plan