Attorney Christopher Heritage offers Palm Springs clients estate planning, trust administration, probate, and family law services. He is actively involved in local and national estate planning issues. Heritage Legal, PC serves a diverse group of clients in Palm Springs, California, and Coachella Valley.
Contact a Palm Springs Estate Planning Attorney
Whether you would like to create a comprehensive estate plan or need legal assistance with another estate planning matter, attorney Christopher Heritage is here to help. Attorney Christopher Heritage has a well-earned reputation for being savvy and knowledgeable in all of his focus areas. Contact Palm Springs attorney Christopher Heritage today to schedule your free consultation.
Estate Planning Services in Palm Springs, California
Many Americans do not have a will, trust, or any other type of estate planning document. Taking the time to create an estate plan can help you ensure that your assets are distributed to the beneficiaries of your choice. Estate planning is more complex than many people realize. Creating a comprehensive estate plan involves making many financial and emotional decisions. Attorney Christopher Heritage uses an empathetic approach to guide his clients through all of the decisions they'll need to make.
He advises his clients to take the time to prepare for the future since it usually arrives more quickly than many of us anticipated. Many people assume that only the wealthy or those of advanced age benefit from creating an estate plan. On the contrary, it’s wise for all adults to create an estate plan. Whether you're interested in creating a will-based or trust-based estate plan, Heritage Legal, PC can help you meet all of your goals and protect yourself and your assets.
Business Estate Planning
If you own a family business or expect that one of your family members will inherit your business one day, business estate planning is crucial. At some point, the head of your family business will retire or become incapacitated and unable to manage the business. In some cases, a business owner passes away unexpectedly, making it difficult, if not impossible, for other family members to keep the business afloat.
For your family business to survive and thrive, you will need a carefully conceived business succession plan. Attorney Christopher Heritage has an in-depth knowledge of California business succession law and experience implementing these laws effectively for his clients. He will help you tailor a business succession plan to meet your unique needs.
Special Needs Planning
Estate planning is especially important for families who have a family member with special needs. It may be painful to consider what will happen to your special needs relative after you pass away, but it's a necessary part of protecting them in the future. At Heritage Legal, we have helped many families with special-needs members protect their loved ones by establishing special needs trusts. Leaving your special needs relative a lump-sum inheritance will probably disqualify them for the government benefits, including healthcare, that they need. A better option is to establish a special needs trust. The trust will protect your loved ones by providing them with assets for their ongoing care while allowing them to remain eligible for government benefits.
Estate Tax Planning
One of the most important goals of estate planning is to avoid paying any unnecessary taxes. There is no estate tax in California yet, but some legislators have shown interest in proposing an estate tax for estates larger than $2.5 million for individuals. The federal government does impose an estate tax for estates valued at over $12,060,000 for individuals. The top federal tax rate is 40%, meaning that a person could lose 40% of their estate to the government if they are required to pay the estate tax.
Attorney Christopher Heritage days on top of all of the best strategies for avoiding estate tax. He can help you pursue exemption and take advantage of making tax-free gifts to your loved ones now to lower the value of your estate. If you live in two different states or have other complicating issues, he can help you create a strategy to reduce your tax liability overall.
Probate/Estate Administration
When a deceased individual passes away, the California Probate Court will oversee the distribution of their assets. The probate process can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for large estates with complex assets. One of the goals of estate planning is to avoid going through the probate process. Attorney Christopher Heritage can help you create a trust-based estate plan. When you pass away, you can set the trust up so that your assets will be distributed automatically to your beneficiaries outside of the probate process.
If you have a named estate executor by a California probate court, attorney Christopher Heritage can help you administer the estate according to California laws. Many different legal issues can arise during the probate process. For example, one or more family members may contest the validity of the will or claim that the estate executor is not acting in good faith. Working with an experienced attorney can help protect you as you go through the estate administration process.
Advanced Estate Planning
Advanced estate planning involves creating estate plans for complex or high-value estates. In addition to having a substantial estate, other situations may require advanced estate planning strategies. For example, your assets may be diversified, you may have a complicated tax situation, or you may be a public figure more vulnerable to lawsuits. Similarly, if you predict that your family members or other beneficiaries will be in conflict when your wealth is distributed, you may benefit from advanced estate planning services. Heritage Legal is always at the cutting edge of advanced estate planning techniques.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a Palm Springs Estate Planning Attorney
If you are seeking a savvy estate planning attorney in Palm Springs, look no further than Heritage Legal, PC. We are a full-service estate planning law firm. Attorney Christopher Heritage is here to help you move smoothly through the complexities of the estate planning process. Contact Heritage Legal, PC today to schedule your free initial consultation. |