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When you have worked hard throughout your life to build up assets and wealth, you may want to pass those on to loved ones or to charitable causes. A will is one tool you can use to ensure that your estate is efficiently passed on according to your wishes after you are gone. A California will attorney from Cianchetta & Associates can help make sure that you have a valid, comprehensive will that reflects your estate planning goals and wishes.
Our firm is dedicated to providing you with quality legal representation with a personal approach. We know that every case and client is unique, which is why we put in the time to develop customized legal solutions that can help you pursue the best outcomes in your case. Our firm is here to provide you with the legal representation you need with your estate planning and other legal matters now and into the future through all of life’s changes.
Make sure that the assets you leave behind after your death are passed on according to your wishes. Reach out to Cianchetta & Associates for a free initial case evaluation to speak with a California will attorney about what you may need in your will.
An effective will should include certain elements such as:
At Cianchetta & Associates, a seasoned California will attorney can assist you with all kinds of matters involving wills, including:
When you’ve decided to write up a will, you may not know what needs to go into your will or how to execute a will so that it is valid and can be enforced following your death. Let an experienced California will attorney from Cianchetta & Associates take the confusion and stress out of the will drafting process by answering your questions and providing you with advice tailored to your circumstances and estate planning goals. You can expect our firm to:
Our firm will help you make sure that everything you’ve worked hard for throughout your life is distributed according to your wishes after you are gone.
If you are considering drafting a will or amending your existing will, turn to our firm for experienced legal advice. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review to learn more about your estate planning options when creating or amending your last will and testament.
Under California law, a will is considered valid if it is made by a testator who is at least 18 years old and signed by the testator. A will should also be signed during the testator’s lifetime by at least two witnesses who either witnessed the testator sign the will or witnessed the testator acknowledge their signature on the will, and who also understand that the document is the testator’s will. A will may also be considered valid as a holographic will – regardless of whether it is witnessed – if the material provisions of the will are handwritten by the testator.
If you cannot find the original copy of a family member’s will, you may be entitled to probate a lost will. However, you will need to overcome the legal presumption that a will that has been lost was destroyed by the testator with the intent to revoke it. If you can prove the will was not revoked (for example, if you can prove that it was destroyed in a house fire), you can prove the terms of the will to be probated either through testimony or by using a photocopy of the will. If you cannot overcome the presumption that the will was revoked, then the decedent’s estate will pass under California intestacy laws.
Check out the additional resources provided by our law firm below and find out the answers to some of our clients’ most frequently asked questions about wills and their related litigation:
— What Is A Will?
— Must I Have A Will To Have A Proper Estate Plan?
— What Is A Power Of Attorney In California?
Mr. Cianchetta is an OUTSTANDING attorney. I was a little nervous about seeing an attorney for my case. Mr. Cianchetta and his staff made my wife and I feel right at ease. He took extra time explaining what to expect before, during and after our process. His advice was right on!
- Jack M.
