Santa Barbara Estate Planning Attorneys

People often imagine that estate planning is reserved only for the wealthy. They believe that when a large estate is left behind, it requires special attention. While this is certainly true, estate planning is for everyone, even for those of modest means.

Estate planning is a way of providing peace of mind for yourself and your family. Any property you have, from a house to a beloved collection, can be valuable and useful to someone. When planning for your estate in Santa Barbara, trust Klein DeNatale Goldner for help. We can guide you through the process, ensuring that your property is secure for the future.

Trust Klein DeNatale Goldner for stellar estate planning services in Santa Barbara. You can call us today at (661) 485-2100, and we can start working with you right away.

Wills

Your will is your official, legal document that dictates where your property goes after death. It can be as broad or specific as you choose. You can leave one treasured item to a close friend, or you can broadly leave all your property to a spouse.

When crafting a will, you want the language to be specific and free from misinterpretation. Wills can be contested. If your surviving loved ones believe that the document was created poorly or in bad faith, they can start fighting amongst themselves for who owns what. You need a trusted law firm to create rock-solid legal language within your will. With 70 years of combined experience, our firm can provide such a will, allowing your property to go where it belongs without interruption.

Without a will, your assets will go into intestate succession. In this process, the state uses a chain of recipients, distributing your assets to your closest relatives. For example, if you are married, your assets go to your wife and children. Without either of those relatives, it goes to your parents, and so forth. It is a reasonable system, but it does not take your personal experience into account. You may have other close family members who are left out of the chain, or maybe you have close friends that you consider family. By writing a will, you guarantee that the right people will get what they deserve.

Probate

You have several options for who will distribute your assets after you are gone. You can name a personal representative, or executor, who will be responsible for paying off your debts. Afterward, they will distribute the leftover assets according to your wishes. It is a big responsibility, and there may not be someone in your life who can take on this job.

Without a direct executor, your assets go into probate, where the court appoints an executor to do the job. You can trust our firm to manage your assets and make sure the probate process runs smoothly. With our legal experience, we could take the job of executor. We can also help in choosing and guiding an outside executor if necessary.

Perhaps you were named the personal representative of an estate, and you need assistance. Klein DeNatale Goldner is here to help. We can help keep you on track, guiding you through each step in the process. If you are outside of California, and you were named executor, we can take on that responsibility for you. We will always work closely with you, allowing you to oversee the steps we take. As the official executor, you will always have final say in how we proceed.

Disputes

You may be in a situation where a loved one has passed, and you are unsure of how their estate is being managed. Perhaps you distrust the executor, or you believe that the will was altered. Wills can be disputed, and we can help. We can help trace the history of the will and investigate its origins. In a best-case scenario, we can validate that nothing nefarious is happening, giving you peace of mind. If we do find bad faith actions, we can help you take the matter to court.

Business Succession

Personal assets are not the only assets to be managed after death. Sometimes, you must pass your business along to a trusted partner or family member. It is possible to simply pass the business along in a will, but that could lead to problems for the recipients.

As business lawyers, we can help you map out a specific, meticulous plan for your business. We may be able to help minimize taxation, keeping the company in the black. We can help you craft a management plan, so the transition runs smoothly to the next leader. Commercial real estate may need to be sold or divided, and we can help you plan for such an occasion.

We can help with a variety of estate planning issues, including:

• Tax Minimization Strategies
• Asset Protection
• Medi-Cal Planning
• Charitable Giving

Contact Klein DeNatale Goldner today for all your estate planning needs in Santa Barbara. Our number is (661) 485-2100, and you can contact us online.