Orange County Estate Planning Attorney

Estate Planning Attorney in Orange County

Estate Planning Attorney — Tax Lawyer & Certified Public Accountant — Real Estate Broker

More than 40 years ago, Orange County Estate Planning Lawyer David Crockett purposed his education and professional goals such that he would garner a remarkable set of expert qualifications so he could be the BEST Estate Planning Expert one could find in California. Mr. Crockett not only earned his business and accounting degree at UC Berkeley (B.S.) but also his Law Degree at UCLA (J.D.) to become an Estate Planning Lawyer and Tax Law Attorney. Next, David continued his training by working for a national CPA firm and earned a coveted Certified Public Account (CPA). To complete his triad of degrees and professional goals, David became a Licensed Real Estate Broker to better serve his cherished clients.

The end result is that David has the specialized experience required to understand, interpret, negotiate and create virtually every type of legal document, trust, will, estate, complex real estate transaction, estate accounting, financial statement or tax return. This one of a kind expertise gives his clients the edge when drafting trusts, advising on asset protection, unraveling complex real estate contests and transactions, contracts, and disputes pertaining to trusts, wills, probates, estates and real estate.

Three professionals-in-one unique Estate Planning Expert — virtually every Estate Plan involves understanding the short and long-term tax consequences of various trusts and how they are drafted. Moreover, the purpose of an Estate Plan is to protect various assets which typically include stocks, bonds, retirement accounts and Real Estate so that your heirs and beneficiaries will receive exactly what you want them to without ending up in a long, expensive Probate; and without finding themselves facing an unexpected and huge tax burden because you had an inexperienced lawyer or other person create an Estate Plan without the accounting and tax law knowledge necessary to eliminate or minimize future tax liabilities. Orange County Tax Attorney and CPA David Crockett has extensive knowledge of state and Federal tax laws and even does many of his client’s tax returns.

Why Have an Estate Plan

Having an estate plan benefits you and your loved ones in the event of your incapacity and upon your death. Making an estate plan now, while you are mentally and physically healthy, will enable you to decide on the appropriate fiduciaries to handle your affairs. Without an estate plan, the Probate court will appoint a conservator should you become incapacitated and will appoint an administrator upon your death with high mandatory attorneys fees. For example, mandatory probate attorneys fees on a $1.5 million estate are $28,000 but if you have a living trust and avoid probate the fees to administer the estate are typically less than 1/3rd of that. The Probate court will also appoint guardians (who you might not agree with if you were alive to object) for your minor children.

By making the smart and savvy decision to take some time to plan now, you will make these life-changing decisions yourself instead of leaving it up to some complete stranger at the Probate court.

• You can choose your beneficiaries instead of a stranger in the Probate court decide who gets what and when for you.
• You can decide the timing of distributions to beneficiaries you select instead of having them receive their entire inheritance at your death.
• You can avoid burdening your kids and beneficiaries the otherwise unnecessary cost of paying for a Probate case that could go on for 1 of 2 long years after your death.
• You can prevent your heirs from face a huge and unexpected tax bill to pay when they should be celebrating your life and getting on with their lives without you.
• You can make sure your survivors are not surprised and burdened with unnecessary capital gains taxes that could have been avoided or minimized with just a little pre-planning.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate Planning refers to planning the distribution of your estate which can happen while you are alive and/or after your death. An “Estate Plan” is a comprised of a set of estate planning documents that are tailored just for your unique life circumstances. Typically, when an Orange County estate planning attorney prepares an estate plan for you, it will consist of the following documents: (1) Will, (2) Trust, (3) Durable Power of Attorney, (4) Deeds transferring property into your Trust, (5) notifications to the county tax assessor; (6) Advance Health Care Directive, (7) Trust Certification, and (8) other necessary ancillary documents.

Go to an Estate Planning Lawyer – Avoid Document Mills and DIY Forms

Most estate planning is based upon Federal laws (e.g. estate taxes), but there are various state laws that affect your state plan form state to state in the U.S. (e.g. state income taxes), and county level considerations that need careful consideration (property taxes), therefore it is strongly advised that you work with an experienced estate planning attorney who is familiar with Federal, state, and county taxes and the consequences of a carefully-crafted estate plan.

The Primary Estate Planning Document

The Primary Estate Planning Document is the Revocable Living Trust – it is the cornerstone of most competent estate plans. A Revocable Trust becomes a separate legal entity that holds your assets. Changing title of your various assets is referred to as “funding” your trust. You must transfer those assets you want as part of your trust (e.g. your house, real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, etc.) into the Trust. Once your assets are held in Trust, they will generally avoid an expensive and unnecessary probate.

Other Documents that are Commonly part of an Estate Plan

Your “Pour-Over Will”

A Will is generally drafted as a companion document to your Revocable Living Trust. The Will is a “catch-all,” for all assets (e.g. cars, furniture, jewelry, and other personal property) that is not held in your Trust. Any assets that were not specifically “funded” into your Trustby the time of your death, are “caught” by your Will and then “poured” into your Trust. This type of Will is often referred to as a pour-over Will.

Your new Will is the critical document of your Estate Plan where you will specifically name the guardian(s) of your minor children. The combination of your Will and Trust should disperse all of your estate assets to the beneficiaries of your choosing.

Durable Power of Attorney

A Durable Power of Attorney is the document that allows you to appoint an Agent, (often called an “Attorney-in-Fact”) who will make financial decisions on your behalf should you ever become incapacitated.

Advance Health Care Directive

Similar to a Durable Power of Attorney, your Orange County Estate Planning Attorney will draft an Advance Health Care Directive that is the document which legally appoints an Agent (that you choose) to handle any health care decisions for you should you ever become incapacitated.

Advanced Estate Planning

Those with more wealth & real estate; business owners might require more sophisticated estate planning

People with more complex situations might need some advanced estate planning. People with large estates, in excess of the federal estate tax credit amount or applicable exclusion amount which is $5.35 million per person in 2014, will likely benefit from one or more of the following estate planning strategies and associated estate planning documents which are used as stand-alone for a unique challenge or combined into an overall estate plan.

• Gift Trusts
• Life Insurance Trusts
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts for Asset Protection
• Grantor Trusts – Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts
• Special Needs Trusts – Trusts for Special Needs of Disabled Persons
• Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT)
• Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)
• Generation Skipping Trust (GST)
• Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
• Spendthrift Trust

Other components of Estate Planning include exploring the legal and tax planning benefits of forming LLC’s and other legal entities, business succession planning, asset protection planning, and property tax reassessment issues.

What Are the Benefits of Preparing an Estate Plan?

There are several reasons to have Orange County Estate Planning Attorney, David Crockett prepare and estate plan for you, including:

• Avoiding Probate
• Appointing a Guardian (of your choice) for your minor children
• Appointing a Health Care Agent for you (of your choice) in case of your incapacity
• Avoiding or minimizing the payment of estate taxes, income taxes and property taxes
• Avoiding or minimizing family disputes
• Protect children or other beneficiaries from divorced/divorcing spouses
• Asset protection

CALL  (949) 851-1771  to speak with Lawyer  David L. Crockett

Your Final and Last Gift You Will Ever Give — Will be So Appreciated!

Proper estate planning is a lasting gift – you can give to your loved ones. Your kids, heirs and beneficiaries will remember you as being a smart, prudent and thoughtful for preventing a huge mess for them to clean up if you become incapacitated or die.

Conveniently located in Newport Beach near the John Wayne Airport

We are located near the Orange County California John Wayne Airport. My office is catty-corner from Fletcher-Jones Motorcars; —right behind the rear entrance of Newport Lexus on Dove Street. Here is a picture of my office building and a Google Map to get your bearings.