 Indian Wells is located between Palm Desert and La Quinta within Riverside County. Attorney Christopher Heritage offers Indian Wells clients trust administration, estate planning, probate, and family law services. Heritage Legal, PC represents a diverse group of clients in Indian Wells and the greater Palm Spring area.
Indian Wells Estate Planning AttorneyAttorney Christopher Heritage has earned a reputation for being knowledgeable and savvy in his focus areas, including estate planning and probate matters. Whether you’d like to create a comprehensive estate plan or need legal assistance with a specific estate planning matter, attorney Christopher Heritage is here to help. Contact him today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about your legal options. Estate Planning Services in Indian WellsTaking time to create anestate plan can help you prepare for the future, protect your assets, and ensure your assets are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate. Without a will or a trust, the state of California will determine how to distribute your assets after you pass away according to California intestacy laws.
Many people put off creating an estate plan because of busy schedules and because making tough decisions can be difficult. The estate planning process involves making many emotional decisions that can be challenging. When you work with attorney Christopher Heritage, he uses an empathetic approach while guiding clients through the estate planning decisions they’ll need to make.
For many of us, the future arrives more quickly than we anticipate. Many people assume that only those of advanced age or the wealthy need to create an estate plan. On the contrary, everyone should have a basic estate plan. Attorney Christopher Heritage will review your goals and financial situation and help you decide whether a will-based or trust-based estate plan will work best for you. Special Needs PlanningFor families with a family member with special needs, estate planning is an important step. Considering what may happen to your loved one with special needs after you pass away can be painful. However, it’s important to take proactive steps to protect your loved one with special needs. Attorney Christopher Heritage has helped many families with special-needs loved ones by establishing aspecial needs trust. Creating a special needs trust will allow you to provide your loved one with assets without disqualifying them for eligibility for important government benefits, such as healthcare, that they need. Business Succession PlanningIf you own a family business,business succession planning is important. When the head of the family business becomes incapacitated or passes away unexpectedly, a business succession plan will allow the transition to occur as smoothly as possible. Without a business succession plan, it can be difficult, if not impossible, for other family members to keep the business financially afloat.
Attorney Christopher Heritage has helped many family businesses create and draft a business succession plan efficiently for his clients. He has an in-depth understanding of effective legal strategies to protect your family business. In addition to allowing your successor to take control of the business smoothly, he can help you structure your business estate plan to allow your family members who rely on the family business to continue earning an income. Creating a business estate plan will help your family business to thrive. Estate Tax Planning Working with an estate planning attorney can help you avoid paying unnecessary taxes. California does not impose an estate tax yet, but some legislators have shown interest in imposing an estate tax for estates over $2.5 million for individuals. A federal estate plan will be imposed when an individual’s estate is valued at over $12,060,000. When a person’s estate is in the top tax bracket, they could lose 40 percent of their estate to the federal government.
Attorney Christopher Heritage pays attention to the best legal strategies to help clients avoid paying estate taxes. He will help you take advantage of making tax-free gifts to your loved ones to lower your estate’s value. You may be able to pursue tax exemptions. With advanced planning, you may be able to spare your beneficiaries from losing up to 40 percent of your estate after you pass away. Tax planning is crucial for those who live in multiple states, have high-value assets, or have other complicating issues.
Probate/Estate Administration When a California resident passes away, the distribution of their assets will occur through the California Probate Court. The Probate Court will validate the deceased individual’s last will and testament, pay the deceased’s creditors, and then distribute the remaining estate assets to the distributors outlined in the will. Creating a last will and testament may be the best option for those with straightforward estates. However, the probate process can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if your estate includes complex assets. If you create a trust-based estate plan, your beneficiaries can automatically receive the assets in your estate plan when you pass away. There are multiple types of trusts you can use depending on your specific needs and goals.
Attorney Christopher Heritage also represents clients who’ve been named as estate executors by a probate court in California. The probate process doesn’t always proceed smoothly, and many different legal issues can arise during the process. One or more potential beneficiaries may contest the will’s validity. In some circumstances, you could face a claim against you personally for failure to meet your fiduciary duties. Attorney Christopher Heritage can help you protect yourself and fulfill all of your duties as an estate administrator.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With an Indian Wells Estate Planning Lawyer Are you seeking a knowledgeable Indian Wells estate planning attorney? Look no further than Heritage Legal, PC. Our full-service estate planning law firm provides clients with comprehensive services. We’re here to help you navigate the estate planning process smoothly and efficiently. Contact Heritage Legal, PC today to schedule your free initial consultation. |