Estate Planning Lawyer in California
Planning ahead can help protect your family, your property, and your wishes. At the Law Offices of Norman J. Homen, we help clients prepare estate planning documents that provide direction during illness, incapacity, or death.
Our firm’s primary focus is workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, SSI, denied claims, and appeals. We also assist clients with estate planning when they need help preparing for the future, protecting loved ones, or addressing planning concerns related to injury, disability, health, or family needs.
Estate Planning That Gives Your Family Clear Direction
A California estate plan may include a will, living trust, power of attorney, and advance health care directive. California Courts identifies these documents as planning tools that can help if a person becomes sick or dies.
These documents can help you decide:
Who should receive your property
Who should manage financial matters if you cannot
Who should make medical decisions for you
Who may care for minor children
How your loved ones should handle important decisions
Without a plan, your family may face added stress, delay, and court involvement. A clear estate plan can make your wishes easier to understand and follow.
Wills
A will allows you to state how you want certain property distributed after death. It can also name an executor to handle your estate and name guardians for minor children.
A will does not always avoid probate. Depending on the property involved and how it is titled, your family may still need to go through a California probate process. We can review your situation and explain whether a will alone may be enough or whether other planning tools may be useful.
Living Trusts
A living trust can help some families manage property during life and transfer assets after death. When properly created and funded, a trust may help avoid full probate for assets placed into the trust.
A trust may be helpful if you own a home, have children, want privacy, want to plan for incapacity, or want to make the transfer of property easier for loved ones.
California also has simplified procedures for some smaller estates. For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, California Courts states that a new law raised the limit for certain primary residences to $750,000 when eligibility requirements are met. Even with simplified procedures, many families still benefit from planning ahead.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney allows you to choose someone you trust to handle certain financial or legal matters if you cannot manage them yourself. This may include paying bills, managing accounts, handling property, or addressing other financial concerns.
This document can be especially important after a serious injury, illness, disability, or major medical event.
Advance Health Care Directives
An advance health care directive allows you to name someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. It can also explain your preferences for medical care.
For clients dealing with health concerns, work injuries, disability claims, or long-term treatment, this type of planning can help reduce uncertainty for family members.
When Should You Create or Update an Estate Plan?
You may want to create or update your estate plan after:
A serious injury or disability diagnosis
A marriage, divorce, birth, or death in the family
Buying or selling a home
A change in income, benefits, or medical needs
A change in who you trust to make decisions for you
Moving to California or acquiring California property
Starting or resolving a workers’ compensation or disability claim
Speak With a California Estate Planning Lawyer
The Law Offices of Norman J. Homen serves clients from offices in Garden Grove, El Monte, and San Jose. We offer support in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We can review your situation, explain your options, and help you take the next step in planning for your family’s future.
