SAN DIEGO LAW FIRM S GUIDE TO ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES

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1 SAN DIEGO LAW FIRM S GUIDE TO ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES

2 Table of contents Why choose San Diego Law Firm? 1 SDLF estate planning service offerings 3 What it s like to work with SDLF 5 How to get started 7 Disclaimer: The material on this website or whitepaper is for informational purposes only. This information is not legal advice. The law changes constantly, and the information may not be correct on the date you read it, and it may not apply to your particular legal problem. Each legal problem depends on its own facts, and the law is different in each state and country. Because of this, you should not rely on any information on this website or whitepaper without first obtaining advice from a licensed, competent attorney about your particular problem. For more information, visit sandiegolawfirm.com/terms

3 Why choose San Diego Law Firm? San Diego Law Firm has helped hundreds of clients, married couples as well as single people, provide for their families and prepare for the future. Here are just a few of the situations for which clients come to us for help: Spouses looking to provide for the other spouse if something unexpected happens Parents wanting to pass on their wealth to their children and grandchildren Parents trying to ensure that their minor children will be taken care of, both physically and financially People who hope to spare their family members the cost and stress of having to go to probate Someone who wants to leave all or part of their estate for the benefit of a charitable organization People who want to make sure the right financial and healthcare decisions are made on their behalf if they become incapacitated ESTATE PLANNING EXPERTISE This experience has given us the level of expertise you need in an attorney who drafts your estate plan. We stay up to date with changes in the law and keep on top of the latest estate planning strategies for maximizing the benefits of your estate. When working with San Diego Law Firm, you can expect precise, up to date legal advice that s tailored specifically to your needs and goals. SDLF has a unique and particular attention to detail. We don t just write up the documents and give you an instruction sheet for transferring your property to the trust. We take care of that for you too and we don t rest until your trust is funded. BUSINESS INNOVATION When you walk through our door, you won t find stacks of papers lying around, or shelves of outdated legal books. Since 1988, we ve worked to constantly develop new concepts, new ways of providing legal services, and new ways of providing for our clients. We stay up to date not only with the law, but with everything else around us. Page 1

4 San Diego Law Firm utilizes the latest in legal and office technology to make your experience with us faster and more efficient. We have a modern, innovative law practice that is constantly looking for ways to serve you better. AWARD-WINNING SERVICE BBB Torch Award, Better Business Bureau (Winner 2006, Finalist 2012) The Torch Award recognizes businesses for their outstanding ethics in the marketplace. We hold this prestigious award close to our hearts, because being transparent and doing what s right is crucial to our business. Best Places To Work, San Diego Business Journal (2011 & 2012) The Best Places To Work award is dedicated to identifying and recognizing San Diego s best employers. Having a positive workplace inspires our team to work hard for our clients. Director s Recycling Award, City of San Diego (2011 & 2012) The Director s Recycling Award recognizes businesses for their successful and innovative waste reduction programs that significantly contribute to diverting waste from area landfills. San Diego s Healthiest Companies, San Diego Business Journal (2012) The Healthiest Companies award spotlights companies that have worked hard to create environments where employees enjoy going to work. Our passionate employees, in turn, are dedicated to working hard for our clients. Page 2

5 SDLF estate planning service offerings Complete estate planning options for peace of mind If you want to provide for your loved ones when you re gone, you need to draft an estate plan. The proper plan for your unique needs will ensure that your assets are distributed the way you want them to be, and that your beneficiaries can avoid the hassle of probate. At San Diego Law Firm, we do the heavy lifting for you. We offer the following services as part of your overall estate plan: CUSTOM LEGAL ADVICE FOR YOUR ESTATE PLAN An experienced estate planning attorney will first meet with you and get all the necessary information about your estate and your intended beneficiaries, and analyze all relevant considerations. He will then advise you on the best course of action and help you decide how you can accomplish your goals. He will be honest about what you need and what you can accomplish with your budget. LIVING TRUSTS AND WILLS If you need a living trust or a will drafted, your attorney will advise you on what is best for your situation. He will collect your information and draft the documents in accordance with all legal requirements. PROPERTY TRANSFERS Your attorney will make sure that your assets are transferred to the ownership of the trust. He will take care of the necessary paperwork and make sure that your trust is funded with the appropriate assets from your estate. POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCIAL MATTERS If you need a power of attorney for financial matters, your attorney will help draft one that is right for you. He will advise you on the implications for your situation, help you choose the best person for the role of agent, and develop a customized document. Page 3

6 POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTHCARE Your attorney can also draft a power of attorney for healthcare as part of your overall estate plan package. He can help decide if your agent should be the same as that for your power of attorney for financial matters, or if you should choose a different person. He will take into account your moral and religious beliefs as he advises you. HOW WE COMPARE TO THE COMPETITION San Diego Law Firm is not like other law firms. Check out this table to see how we stack up against the competition: Online legal documents Traditional law firm San Diego Law Firm Customized legal documents Yes* Yes Yes Fixed fee options Yes No Yes Detailed examination of your assets and your particular estate planning needs No Yes Yes Specific legal advice about the best way to plan your estate No Yes Yes Having an attorney personally record deeds and handle all property transfers No No Yes Close, personal relationships with clients No No Yes Modern and innovative office N/A No Yes Approachable yet professional staff N/A No Yes Paperless office (faster, more efficient, less chance of error) N/A No Yes Convenient office location N/A No Yes *While online forms have come a long way in customized document production, an attorney will be able to meet with you personally and analyze your particular situation. Page 4

7 What it s like to work with SDLF LAWYERS YOU LIKE Our office is on the retail, street-level in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Our lawyers are passionate about their work, and they love getting to know their clients. It s important to us all to be accessible and approachable, and to build real relationships with everyone we meet. Attorneys at San Diego Law Firm are smart, efficient, and down-to-earth. We take time to get to know you, and we always make sure you understand your options. HONEST & ETHICAL Our clients trust us because we re honest, and we know what we re doing. We find that when a client hires San Diego Law Firm, we develop a deep relationship with that client, and we become their lawyers for life. We ll keep your future in mind, as well as your budget. We ll help you assess and prioritize your needs so you can complete the necessary legal work without disrupting your cash flow. OUR PHILOSOPHY We take a no-pressure approach to advising you on your estate planning needs. We want you to be comfortable with our services. If you need something, we ll tell you. If you don t need something, we ll tell you that too. We recognize that we might not be a fit for everyone, but if we are, we want to form a long-term relationship with you. Page 5

8 STEP BY STEP To help you understand what is involved in creating your estate plan, take a look at this little step-by-step guide to our process. 1. Set up an initial consultation to talk to our estate planning lawyer. If you like us, we can discuss the fees and prepare a fee agreement. We ll analyze your situation, determine what services you need (and what you don t need), and work out a plan. Your attorney will advise you on the best course of action. 2. A list of detailed questions will be provided by your attorney, including who your assets should go to, who will be the trustee, and who to assign as agent for any powers of attorney. 3. Your attorney will go over the answers with you and help ensure you are making the right decisions for the goals you ve set for your estate plan. 4. Your attorney will then personally draft all of the documents and you will then execute them in our office in front of a notary. 5. Your attorney will record any necessary deeds, including going to the recorder s office. He will make sure all property transfers are taken care of. All of your documents and deeds will be compiled in a binder for your convenience. 6. Your file will stay open until all your assets are transferred to the trust, your trust is funded, and the documents come back recorded. 7. We will remain available to help make changes to your trust or conduct reviews. We do the hard part for you, and we re glad to do it. If you have future legal needs, we would love to help with those as well. If it s not in an area that we practice, we have an extensive network of reliable attorneys we can refer you to. Page 6

9 How to get started The first step to working with us is to set up a consultation with an estate planning attorney. We will set aside a time to meet with you. At the consultation, the attorney will ask a lot of questions and answer your questions as well. It s a chance to get to know each other and see what working together might be like. You and the attorney will talk about your family, your assets, and what you would like to accomplish. By the end of the consultation, you ll know if we re a good fit and you ll have a good idea of what we can do for you. If you d like us to craft your estate plan, we can start working for you right away. The attorney will lay out a roadmap of what the next steps will be and how much it will cost. San Diego Law Firm wants to give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you ve provided for your family. Let s work together to come up with an estate plan that matches your needs and your budget. To make an appointment for a consultation, please click the button below or call us at (619) Page 7