Group One Legal, PC

It’s a new year a time when people traditionally have resolutions or a to-do list of tasks and goals they want to accomplish during the year. For many, estate planning is on this list but maybe not as high as it should be. Think about it. It’s always a good time to consider, or take action on, your decisions regarding your estate and assets. If you are married, have children, or own a home, as so many in Santa Clarita do, all these things can, and should, be a call to actio...n toward creating estate planning documents whether it’s a will, trust, or guardianship designations. The coming weeks would be a great time to create or review your estate plan if important goals like these are on your mind. It would be valuable to talk about these matters to be sure all your plans and documents for you and your family are current and comprehensive. If any part of these matters have been on your mind or if you have questions about estate planning, wills, or trusts, please call me at 661-284-5000 to discuss them. I will welcome your call. Edward O’Hare Attorney-at-Law Group One Legal, PC

It’s a new year a time when people traditionally have resolutions or a to-do list of tasks and goals they want to accomplish during the year. For many, estate planning is on this list but maybe not as high as it should be. Think about it. It’s always a good time to consider, or take action on, your decisions regarding your estate and assets. If you are married, have children, or own a home, as so many in Santa Clarita do, all these things can, and should, be a call to actio...n toward creating estate planning documents whether it’s a will, trust, or guardianship designations. The coming weeks would be a great time to create or review your estate plan if important goals like these are on your mind. It would be valuable to talk about these matters to be sure all your plans and documents for you and your family are current and comprehensive. If any part of these matters have been on your mind or if you have questions about estate planning, wills, or trusts, please call me at 661-284-5000 to discuss them. I will welcome your call. Edward O’Hare Attorney-at-Law Group One Legal, PC

No will? California already has you covered. But is it what you want? Have you been meaning to create a will or trust but it keeps getting put off? If that applies to you, you should know that the state of California already has a will written for you, so to speak or mandatory guidelines already in place for you that the state will follow after your passing. But is this will for people who don’t create their own the one you want? In California’s will the state requires a ...public notice to be run in the newspaper alerting any potential claimants to your estate to step forward. The state itself has first claim on all of your property to assure that your debts are paid. After your debts are paid, the state will distribute your assets according to California law, oftentimes to people other than those who you wanted to receive your assets. If you own a home, your loved ones aren’t likely to have your guidance on what you want them to do with your home. If you have minor children and you and your spouse die, a judge, not you and your spouse, will make the final call on who becomes the guardian of your children. For most people this frightening scenario isn’t ideal. Fortunately with proper planning it can be completely avoided. A qualified estate planner will help you preserve your wishes, allowing you, and only you, to choose what is best for your family and protect your loved ones. Edward O’Hare, Attorney-at-Law If you would like to learn more about avoiding probate, creating a trust, will, or estate plan please call Group One Legal, PC at 661-284-5000. 25101 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91381. 27720 Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

Why Create a Living Trust? The living trust offers a number of benefits, including: Avoid Probate: Trust assets are designed to transfer outside the probate process, providing a seamless and private transfer of assets.... Manage Your Affairs: A living trust can be an important tool for caring for you and your property in the event of your physical or mental disability, provided you have adequately funded it and named a trustworthy trustee. Ease and Simplicity: It is a painless process for a qualified lawyer to create a living trust tailored to your specific objectives. Should circumstances change, it is also a straightforward task to change the trust’s provisions. Ensure that your Hard Earned Assets are Distributed the Way You Decide: Without a trust California law, through the laws of intestacy, will determine where and to whom your assets will be distributed. You work hard your entire life to provide for your family and ensure that they are taken care of. Don’t let the courts have the final say in what happens to your assets. Instead, you, and only you, should decide where your hard earned assets go by creating a living trust. Edward O’Hare, Attorney-at-Law Group One Legal, PC 661-284-5000

What is a Conservatorship? It's not a pleasant thought that we or our loved ones may eventually become ill, injured, or incapacitated. If that happens to you or someone you love, then what? In California there is a court process called a conservatorship where someone will be appointed to manage your affairs. That person can be a loved one but they might also be a total stranger appointed by the Probate Court. As you can imagine, going through a conservatorship isn't ideal for... most people to say the least. Instead, it is best to have an estate plan to protect your wishes and assets, and where you can appoint a loved one, friend, or trusted advisor to step in and help manage your affairs should the need ever arise instead of letting the Probate Court decide for you. If you would like to avoid the aggravation and expense of a conservatorship please call Group One Legal, PC at 661-284-5000. Two offices to serve you: 25101 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91381 and 27720 Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

We still have spots left for our upcoming seminar on Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, and Probate at Salt Creek Grille on August 16th. If you've been thinking of getting a plan set up, or already have a plan but know someone who has been on the fence this is the perfect event to attend. Call 661-284-5000 to RSVP.

This is a great write up about probate by Nick Lentini from Lenitni Financial Advisory. Anyone in California who owns a home or has assets worth $150,000 or more will be impacted by this and will need to address it. There is no way around it in our state. This quick and succinct blog post will teach you a lot about what probate is and how to avoid it.

Will your heirs have to pay up when you die with debt? http://ow.ly/tJQa302hM1l

Please Join Us For a Free Estate Planning Seminar and Complimentary Dinner at Salt Creek Grille #grouponelegal #saltcreekgrille #estateplanning

Do I Need a Trust? Many people aren't sure whether they need a trust, a simple will, or any type of estate planning at all. Is estate planning something that you should be thinking of or is that something that applies to other people? If you have any of the following three items in your life then estate planning is something that you'll need to take care of and Group One Legal, PC is happy to help:... 1) If you own a home 2) If you have children 3) If you have $150,000 or more in assets If you would like to learn more about trusts, wills, or estate planning please call Group One Legal, PC at 661-284-5000. 25101 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91381. 27720 Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

Guardianship for your Children If your children are young, you've probably thought about who would raise them if for some reason you couldn't. It's not an easy thing to consider, but with a simple arrangement of a guardian in your will, you can feel sure that, in the extremely unlikely event you can't raise your kids, they will be well cared for. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a guardian:... Does the prospective guardian have a genuine concern for your children's welfare? Does the prospective guardian share your moral beliefs, ethics, values, and principles? Is the prospective guardian physically able to handle the job? Does he or she have kids of an age close to that of your children? Can you provide enough assets to raise the children? If not, can your prospective guardian afford to bring them up? Would your children have to move? If you're having a hard time choosing someone, take some time to talk with the person you're considering. Your candidates may be very willing to accept the responsibility, or their feelings about acting as guardian may help you decide. If you would like to learn more about naming guardians for your children, wills, or estate planning please call Group One Legal, PC at 661-284-5000. 25101 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91381. 27720 Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

What Property to Put in a Living Trust Most people create a Living Trust to avoid the costly, time consuming, and unnecessary process of probate. In order to keep your assets out of probate you will want to hold your most valuable assets in your trust. These assets typically include: Houses and other real estate... Bank accounts Stocks, bonds, and other security accounts held by brokerages (but think about naming a TOD beneficiary instead) Small business interests (stock in an s-corp, or limited liability company shares) You can add property to your living trust at any time. And because you’ll also be the trustee, you can always sell or give away property in the trust, or take it out of the living trust and put it back in your name as an individual. If you would like to learn more about assets to include in your trust, living trusts, or estate planning please call Group One Legal, PC at 661-284-5000. 25101 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91381. 27720 Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

Taking care of these trickier types of assets can seem complicated but it doesn't need to be. If you have questions about assets, beneficiaries, or living trusts give us a call at 661-284-5000 http://ti.me/1LLac6Q