Just a couple weeks ago over 2 billion people all over the world watched the Royal wedding. And it got me thinking. Weddings, new births, and divorces are all big life changing events, and they can all affect your wishes as to who will inherit your property when you pass away.

Have there been any recent weddings or births in your family? If so you may want to consider reviewing and/or updating your estate plan or creating one if you haven’t already.

And not everyone gets married. For the many couples out there who don’t want to marry, you should be aware of the consequences this can have when they die. No automatic benefits are reserved for co-habitants the way they are for spouses and domestic partners. Also, a lot of people may not realize that California does not recognize common law marriage so, though you may have lived with your partner for many years, it doesn’t mean either of you are automatically entitled to something when the other dies.

So, if you and/or your partner want to make sure the other will inherit something from you, then perhaps you should consider doing some planning.

Depending upon your situation, and especially if you own property or have minor children, you should consider setting up a trust, or at the very least a will, so that your estate passes as you desire. And if you already have a plan in place, you may want to consider reviewing it to make sure it still serves your needs.

Falk, Cornell, & Associates, LLP is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

The old joke goes a doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party. People kept interrupting the doctor by describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice.

The doctor asked the lawyer, “What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you’re out of the office?”

“I give it to them,” replied the lawyer, “and then I send them a bill.”
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try. The next day the doctor prepared the bills. When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer. Baah-bump-bump.

All kidding aside, visiting an attorney’s office may cause some people anxiety. Additionally, estate planning can be a very emotional topic. We have found offering a complimentary consultation with one of our attorneys helps put people at ease. But often prospective clients are skeptical, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. There really is no catch. We offer a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys for thirty minutes. We want our prospective clients to be at ease when they come to our office to meet with one of our attorneys to discuss their estate planning situation.

We will ask you complete a general information sheet, which also provides room for you to write down your questions for the attorney, should you have any. That way you don’t forget what you wanted to ask and the attorney can come into the meeting prepared to answer your specific questions. One of our attorneys will meet with you, and your spouse or domestic partner, confidentially. The attorney will take time to get to know you and your family, as well as ask questions about your specific situation to assess what is the best estate planning strategy for you, which can range from a simple will to a living trust, to more advanced estate planning options such as a charitable remainder trust or irrevocable life insurance trust. If you are ready to get started that day the attorney will take some basic information, give you some “homework” and take a retainer for our services. If you aren’t quite sure, want some time to think about it or are still shopping around we will thank you for coming in and taking the first big step toward creating your estate plan. It’s as simple as that to begin discussion with an attorney regarding your estate planning options.

If you would like to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation estate planning consultation with our office we offer three easy ways to schedule appointments. First, call us (650) 463-1550, our office is open Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Anyone who answers the phone would be glad to assist you. Second, visit our website www.falkandcornell.com, click on “Free Consultation” on the right hand side. Complete the form and someone will be in contact within one business day. Finally, send me an email directly Rochelle@falkandcornell.com. I would be happy to find a mutually agreeable time for you to come in and take advantage of our amazing offer, and you won’t have to be afraid to go to your mailbox after you see us.

Falk, Cornell, & Associates, LLP is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.