Estate planning is an act of care for the people who matter most. We create comprehensive plans that protect your family, minimize tax exposure, and ensure your wishes are honored - with the intelligence and precision this work demands.
(662) 482-4781Estate planning is about more than documents. It is about ensuring that your assets, your values, and your wishes are preserved and transferred according to your intentions. Without proper planning, California probate can consume months or years and significant costs, leaving your family navigating a complex legal process during their most difficult time.
The Berhe Law Firm takes a comprehensive approach to estate planning. We look at your complete picture - family dynamics, asset structure, tax exposure, and personal goals - to build a plan that works. Our AI-augmented analysis helps identify potential gaps and optimize strategies that might otherwise be overlooked.
Whether you need a straightforward will or a complex trust structure, we create plans that provide certainty for you and protection for your family under California law.
Trusts that avoid probate, maintain privacy, and give you full control of your assets during your lifetime.
Properly executed wills that clearly express your wishes and comply with California Probate Code requirements.
Financial and healthcare powers of attorney that ensure someone you trust can act on your behalf if you cannot.
Clear instructions for your medical care preferences if you become unable to communicate your wishes.
Review and coordination of beneficiary designations across retirement accounts, insurance, and other assets.
Strategic planning to minimize estate and gift tax exposure while maximizing what passes to your beneficiaries.
We gather a complete picture of your assets, family situation, and goals through a thorough initial consultation and our estate readiness assessment.
We design a customized estate plan that addresses your specific needs, including trust structures, tax strategies, and contingency provisions.
We prepare all documents for proper execution, fund your trust, and coordinate beneficiary designations to ensure your plan works as intended.
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If you die without a will or trust in California, your assets will be distributed according to the state's intestacy laws (Probate Code Sections 6400-6414). This means the court - not you - determines who receives your property. Your estate will likely go through probate, a public court process that can take 12-18 months and cost 4-7% of the estate's value in fees. For many families, this results in outcomes that differ significantly from what the deceased would have wanted.
In California, a revocable living trust offers several advantages over a will alone. A trust avoids probate, which saves time and money and keeps your affairs private. A will must go through probate - a public court process. However, even with a trust, you still need a pour-over will to catch any assets not transferred to the trust. The right choice depends on the size and complexity of your estate, your privacy concerns, and your specific goals.
Estate plans should be reviewed every 3-5 years and updated whenever there is a significant life event such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary, significant change in assets, or a move to a different state. Changes in tax law or California probate law may also necessitate updates. An outdated estate plan can be almost as problematic as having no plan at all.
A living trust (also called an inter vivos trust) is created during your lifetime and can hold assets while you are alive. A testamentary trust is created by your will and only comes into existence after your death. Living trusts avoid probate because the assets are already held in trust. Testamentary trusts must go through probate first because they are part of your will. For most California residents, a living trust provides more advantages.
While California law allows individuals to create their own estate planning documents, the risks of doing so are significant. Estate planning involves complex legal requirements - California Probate Code has specific rules about witness requirements, trust formalities, and document execution. Errors in these areas can invalidate documents entirely. The cost of correcting estate planning mistakes after someone has passed is almost always far greater than the cost of having the documents prepared properly.
Speak with Harlan for an immediate intake evaluation, or contact us directly to schedule a consultation with Tam Berhe.
Harlan is an AI-powered intake assistant and does not provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed through use of this tool. In compliance with California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.18.