Trusted Ventura & Los Angeles Counties
Estate Planning Attorney

Many people believe that estate planning is only for the wealthy. However, every family can benefit from estate planning. Why? For one reason, without your own plan, the state of California will control how your assets are distributed after you pass away. The state is not concerned with making sure your wishes are carried out regarding “who gets what, and when.” Nor is the government interested in reducing settlement costs or streamlining the distribution of your assets.

Estate Planning Attorney

Another reason to have your own plan is to ensure that you are able to control who can make financial and medical decisions on your behalf in the event of incapacity. Without a properly designed plan, the court will appoint someone to take control of your assets and medical care. Unfortunately, this person could be someone you would not want to make important decisions on your behalf.

 

At the Law Office of Martin T. Yarnell, we provide all of the following foundational estate planning services:

 
  • Wills
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Advanced Health Care Directives
  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • HIPPA Authorizations
 

The benefits of comprehensive estate planning can go well beyond the essentials of putting your affairs in order. For example, a properly designed and implemented plan can help you accomplish all of the following goals and more:

 
  • Protecting a family member with special needs
  • Passing your values, work ethic and a sense of responsibility to heirs
  • Significantly reducing income, estate, excise, and gift taxes
  • Keeping financial affairs and family matters private
  • Making sure heirs are mature enough to handle an inheritance on their own, and protecting that inheritance if they are not ready for the responsibility
  • Protecting heirs’ inheritances in the event of divorce and remarriage
  • Managing the value of business assets and interests
  • Ensuring a lasting legacy and impact on society
 

Given all of these potential benefits, it is easy to see the importance of having an attorney who focuses on this specialized area of the law design and implement your customized plan.

 

At the Law Office of Martin T. Yarnell, we have substantial experience in using the following advanced estate planning tools to meet your particular goals:

 
  • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Life Insurance Trusts
  • Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
  • Grantor Trusts
  • Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)
  • Captive Insurance Companies (CICs)
  • Cash Balance Retirement Plans
  • Intra-Family Loans
  • Self Cancelling Installment Notes (SCINs)
  • Installment Sales to Grantor Trusts
  • Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRs)
  • Gift Programs
  • Retirement Trusts
  • Minors’ Trusts
  • Generation-Skipping Trusts
  • Tax Planning
 

To schedule a free initial consultation with estate planning lawyer Martin T. Yarnell, call 805-230-2930. We serve clients in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.