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About Estate Planning

At Smykowski Law Offices, we focus on providing a comprehensive, complete and specialized estate plan to protect your family and assets for the future. Our goal is to help your assets pass seamlessly to your loved ones while avoiding the expensive, lengthy and complicated process of probate.

Estate Planning

Complete Estate Plans - $1095

Estate planning does not only entail navigating the technicalities it involves; it also means managing the emotional aspect of it as it can affect the integrity of your decision when making arrangements for your estate.  This is why Robert A. Smykowski  &  David P. Smykowski are here to help in making the process of estate planning and documentation as easy as possible for all parties concerned.  You can rest assured that a more personalized service in all areas of estate planning and management is given to you.

 

As one of the top estate management law firms in San Diego, the Smykowski Law Offices will expertly handle both simple and complex asset delegation and inheritance plans so that they reflect your desire on how they are to be managed/arranged.​

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Why Estate Planning Is Important?

 

As hard as it may seem, time will come when you no longer here to manage your own affairs.  Thus, one’s affairs need to be put in order before that inevitable moment comes.  In that way, you are doing yourself a favor as you are able to fulfill how you would like your wishes to be carried out.  Furthermore, this will help ensure that your assets are properly distributed to your heirs, avoiding possible conflict.

 

It should be understood how important it is to hire a trusted estate planning attorney to work with you in dealing with sensitive matters, which usually involve legal advice and verification.  Having a lawyer who can explain and facilitate the process, as well as to ensure that your final requests are carried out, provides a crucial role in building your solid estate plan.  Remember, in the absence of legal documentation to validate your intentions, there is no guarantee that your estate will be distributed properly – to the intended beneficiaries.

 

There are also several other important reasons why it is beneficial to establish an estate plan for your personal assets and business, including the following:

 

  • If you pass on without a legal estate plan in place, the law will assume that you did not make any beneficiary choices for your finances, property, or business shares.

  • In a situation where there is no estate plan established, your surviving family will be obligated to make decisions on your behalf, but they may not reflect your final wishes.  In a time of grief, family members and loved ones should not be left to make hard choices that may be affected by their emotional state.

  • In the absence of proper resources and experience to manage estate decisions, they may feel overwhelmed by the process, resulting to making decisions that may not be favorable to them.

  • Even if your estate plan is not complex, you may still wish to have it documented by a lawyer so that it can be executed without argument at the time of your death.  Because transferring financial and business assets to another person includes dealing with legal aspects, you will still want to have these matters clarified in writing.

 

Who Needs an Estate Plan?

 

All of us need our estate planned well ahead of time to guard against any unforeseen occurrences in life. For those who own or are running a business, estate planning can be much more complex.  The primary reason is that there are often parties outside of the immediate family involved.  Issues like percentage shares, succession, and future enterprise are just some items that need to be addressed. In addition to that, there may also be several complicated taxation issues that need to be clarified by a lawyer before the estate plan can be legalized and take into effect.

 

Handling Your Estate Plan — Who to Trust

 

One of the core reasons why lots of individuals delay the establishment of their estate plan is that they are concerned about the uncertainties that may occur following their death.  That is understandable considering that they can no longer control what happens after their death.  So, they want to find somebody whom they can put their trust on to handle their affairs.

 

Indeed, hiring a lawyer who can help you craft and legalize an estate plan – be it for your personal or business assets – merits careful consideration.  You want to use someone who can help keep things in order and passionately handles your estate wishes when the inevitable time comes.  It is of great importance that the lawyer who creates your estate plan understands how significant it is to carry out your final wishes and to assure you that your plan will be honored.

 

For over three decades now, the Smykowski Law Offices continues to provide respectable estate planning services for thousands of clients located in the San Diego area.  The firm has been the top choice for estate planning and asset allocation because of Robert and David’s unique promise to provide personal attention, experienced advocacy, and expert advice to those who need his service.  The experience offered by their team guarantees that your final requests will be honored.  He will offer the best legal advice possible to see to it that your estate is properly handled.

 

Estate Planning Services

 

Running your own business or managing property without an estate plan in place?   The best time to work on it is now.  Consider consulting with Robert A. Smykowski & David P. Smykowski and having one written up.  Remember, you can never predict what the future may hold.  So make sure that your estate wishes are legally binding and will be carried out at the time of your death.  Having an estate plan put in place will bring peace of mind.  Make sure you work with an attorney who underscores the importance of taking your best interest into account.

 

Our office will guide you every step of the way in order to create an estate plan that provides the protection you seek without any unnecessary confusion.  We will spend time to discuss your concerns and your needs before recommending any type of estate plan.  We recognize that by understanding your situation , we are able to craft an estate plan that is truly reflective of your goals.

 

Whether you need a will, living trust or powers of attorney, Robert A. Smykowski & David P. Smykowski are here to help you decide on the best option for your situation and how to proceed to get it done in the most productive way possible.

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Benefits

  • DECIDE WHO WILL HANDLE YOUR ASSETS

  • DETERMINE ASSET DISTRIBUTION

  • AVOID PROBATE COURT

  • LESS TAXES AND FEES

  • FEWER LEGAL DISPUTES

  • DESIGNATE HEALTH CARE AGENTS

  • NOMINATE GUARDIAN(S) FOR CHILDREN

  • PERSONAL PRIVACY

Included Documents

  • LIVING TRUST AGREEMENT

  • POUR OVER WILL(S)

  • GUARDIANSHIP OF MINOR CHILDREN

  • ASSIGNMENT OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY

  • DURABLE POWER(S) OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCE

  • COMMUNITY PROPERTY AGREEMENT

  • TRANSFER OF HOME INTO THE TRUST VIA QUITCLAIM DEED

  • ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVES INCLUDING:

    • DURABLE POWER(S) OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE

    • LIVING WILL(S)

    • HIPAA

How it Works

Schedule an Estate Planning Consultation

During your consultation, we'll discuss your wishes and determine a customized plan that works best for you and your family. 

Review your draft documents

After your consultation, you'll receive a draft document within one week to review. This will allow you ensure that everything is how you want it. If you have any changes, just let us know before scheduling to finalize your documents.

Sign and notarize your documents

Once you've reviewed your documents, schedule your in-office document signing to finalize and notarize your estate plan. 

Fund your Trust

We will provide detailed instructions on how to fund your trust. Smykowski Law Offices  will walk you through the entire process and is here to help every step of the way.

Additional Services

Appoint a trusted guardian for your children. Ensure that your child is cared for by someone you trust.

An estate plan that describes the provisions for the management, control and distribution of assets during incapacity and death. 

Assign someone to act on your behalf and manage your affairs during incapacity or disability.

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Smykowski Law Offices can help guide you through the probate process from identifying estate assets and beneficiaries to distributing assets and inheritances; we're here to help.

Transfer your real estate into a living trust to ensure your loved ones receive your property, save on estate taxes and avoid costly probate court.

Smykowski Law Offices can help facilitate the process of trust administration including managing the estate, filing final taxes, distributing assets to beneficiaries, etc.

A document that states your final wishes, used in conjunction with a living trust, for assets that were not moved into the trust prior to death. Smykowski Law Offices can help you determine whether you would benefit more with a living trust or a will.

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