Doing your estate planning is not only a gift to your loved ones, it is also a gift to yourself. I observe a lot of relief and peace of mind in my clients once they have done their estate planning. Do your family and yourself a favor – begin doing your estate planning today.
I work with clients to help settle their loved one’s estate. Please reach out to me if you would like help with a trust administration or a probate administration.
What happens if you want to leave money to a person who is receiving means-tested government benefits? If you give an outright gift, that person will be at great risk of losing any benefits that they are receiving.
The word "estate" in estate planning can bring up images of a grand country estate, or other markers of riches - not the stuff of most people's lives. Throw the word "trust" into the vocabulary (as in "living trust" or "irrevocable trust") and estate planning seems even further removed from most people's financial realities. This distance and separateness that many people feel from estate planning is compounded by people's feelings about death, family relationships, taxes, etc..
Estate planning issues are complex in a number of ways. It is one of the more challenging areas of the law from a technical perspective. In addition to that, it brings up knotty emotional issues. What other area of the law incorporates taxes, real estate, health care decision-making, retirement planning, asset protection, family issues... and, last but not least, mortality? Oh my! I help people contend with these matters in a way that leaves them with a comfortable sense that these issues have been negotiated well, and that their affairs are in order. My goal is to offer legally sound and sensitive estate planning that improves people's lives.
What My Clients Say
"Kevin was very professional in helping us with a rather complicated trust, or at least unusual. He offered different options and gave us easy to understand examples using these different options. He also looked into our future needs and those were incorporated in our trust. I have recommended Kevin to many members of our community who were looking for trust advice."
-Loren
"We really enjoyed working with Kevin, he has a kind, gentle presence. He is excellent at explaining complex legal issues and putting them into simple to understand concepts. We appreciated how thorough and knowledgeable he is. I would highly recommend him for any of your estate planning needs."
-Jessica B., & Gregg W.
"Working with Kevin was both informative and very helpful following the death of my husband. Kevin was able to review my trust and update me on next steps including assisting me with a letter to my homeowners insurance, filing paperwork with the county, and encouraging me to update my home appraisal. Kevin assisted with forms for durable power of attorney and advance health directive. Kevin was instrumental in helping me maintain my checking account number by working with my bank so they would transfer all account information to my name."
~ Beth R.
Law Office of Kevin T. O'Connor
State Bar of California - License #297765