Estate Planning Attorney in Palo Alto, CA

You work hard for your family; knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security brings comfort. Rely on us to thoroughly analyze your estate and strategize the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, establishing guardianship for your children, caring for your pets, supporting personal philanthropic causes, protecting your loved ones, and much more. In short, our estate planning services in Palo Alto, CA, help you to secure your legacy. Choose us to expertly handle wills, probate, trusts, estates, and asset protection. Our firm works with individuals and families across the Bay Area, as well as in San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, and Mountain View, CA.

Preserve Your Family's Wealth for Future Generations

Whether you are planning the parameters of your future medical care or establishing support for loved ones upon your death, the Law Office of Peter S. Stern helps with all aspects of trusts and estate issues, including:

Draft Your Advance Help Care Directives & Last Will and Testament

A will is essential at every stage of your life. Your Advance Help Care Directives sets the parameters for medical intervention if you should become incapacitated. This ensures that your wishes will be honored when you are most vulnerable.

Your last will and testament provides the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children, and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will is necessary if you intend to leave property to a person or entity other than a blood relative — such as a domestic partner, a friend, or a charity. If you die without a will, it is the court that determines how your property is to be distributed, who will care for your children, and even what happens to your pets. Without a will, it's possible that the courts will make decisions that might not reflect your desires. We draft valid wills to ensure that your intentions are honored.

Changing Your Will

As your life changes, so might your estate plan. It's possible that you may need to update your will throughout your life. Choose us to draft valid codicils that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, number of children, philanthropic interests, and general lifestyle decisions.

Appointment of Guardianship

If you have minor children, your will enables you to make decisions about their future care. This is especially crucial if you are a single parent or if both parents were to die in a common incident. If you do not name a guardian, it is the court that will appoint a guardian for your children — and this guardian may make decisions that are adverse to your ultimate parenting goals. You can also make arrangements for your pets' care in your will, including naming a guardian to take responsibility for your pets.

As an experienced estate planning firm, we can help you prepare a strategic plan for your family whether you live in Palo Alto, the Bay Area, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, or Mountain View, California. Call today.