Law Offices of Brianna Bocian

Is Your Family Too Young to Need an Estate Plan? Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life behind them. While established families may be concerned about what will happen to their family when they pass on, young, growing families can be more focused on what is happening to their family in the present. And you even may find it hard to justify planning for an estate you haven’t yet established! But here’s the thin...Continue reading

So You’ve Been Named the Trustee of a Trust...Now What? Many of you who have been asked by a family member of close friend to serve as the trustee of a trust are honored that the trust owner feels confident in relying on their good judgment to undertake this important responsibility. And it’s very likely you have no idea what you have just said yes to take on. Being a trustee means that you are responsible for all oversight and direction of the assets of the Trust. As a Tru...stee, you have what is known as a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of that trust. There are laws you must abide by in administering the trust, in addition to the terms of the trust that set out your duties as trustee. A trustee's duties include, but are not limited to: Administering the trust according to its terms Communicating with beneficiaries about the various activities of the trust Investing and managing trust assets in a prudent manner Accounting for and paying any taxes or fees Distributing assets to beneficiaries as outlined in the trust Making an accounting of trust assets, liabilities, receipts and disbursements to beneficiaries. As a Trustee, you may find yourself involved with the probate process at some point and have to go into Court to marshal assets. If some of the assets of the estate were not properly transferred into the trust, this process can be overwhelming, especially if you do not have prior experience in this area. Thankfully, with a good lawyer on board, you do not have to navigate this process alone. Engaging experienced legal help is always the best option for trustees, with the trust being responsible for any fees incurred for legal services. If you would like some guidance on trust administration or planning for smooth administration of an estate, call our office today to schedule a time for us to sit down and talk.

***Update Regarding COVID-19*** With the current global crisis, the Law Offices of Brianna Bocian is here to remind you to wash your hands, and be kind to one another. Use this time to take care of the things you put off the things to which you always say I’ll get to that one day. Right now is an excellent time to ensure your future is secured with estate planning documents such as a Revocable Living Trust or Last Will and Testament, Amendments to a Living Trust, Codicil ...to Wills, and updating Powers of Attorney, and we want you to know we’re here to help. As always, the Law Offices of Brianna Bocian offers a remote-based system which allows you to connect with your attorney via telephone, e-mail, and mail. Our attorneys are able to complete most legal work remotely, so there is no need for a face-to-face interaction until the signing of documents is scheduled. To many, this system makes the client experience much more streamlined than the traditional office setting. Estate Planning Documents to Consider: - Revocable Living Trusts - Last Will and Testament - Durable Power of Attorney - Advanced Health Care Directive - HIPAA Authorization & Waiver Our team is fully operational and here to support you however we can. For more information or to schedule your free 30-minute phone consultation, please call us at 619) 365-5310, or e-mail us at [email protected]

Great article from Katie Charleston Law. https://www.katiecharlestonlaw.com/the-reasons-not-to-use/

For three years I’ve been serving San Diego clients and helping them prepare for the future. I have enjoyed these three years and look forward to more!