BLACK FAMILY WEALTH MATTERS: Click here to learn how we are working to support you.
PROTEJA SU HOGAR Y SU FAMILIA - Se Habla Espanol. Haga clic aquí!
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Areas We Serve
      • Los Angeles County
        • Inglewood
        • Malibu
        • Santa Monica
        • Torrance
        • Venice
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
      • Attorney Caprice Collins
      • Attorney Lioness Ebbay
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Giving Back
    • Our Reviews
    • Speaker Connection
    • Staff Events
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medi-Cal and Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • SEMINARS/WEBINARS
  • Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Ladera Heights Elder Law
      • Los Angeles County Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Medi-Cal Planning Checklist
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning For Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Free Seminars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medi-Cal
        • Nursing Home Planning
        • Understanding Dementia
      • Estate Planning
        • Charitable Gifting
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Financial Planning
        • Tax Planning in Your Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
        • Serving as Executor
        • Small Estate Administration
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trusts
        • Living Trusts
      • Understanding Estate Taxes and How They Impact Your Estate Plan
    • Legacy Wealth Planning Pre-Consultation Form
    • Newsletters
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Published Books
    • The Ultimate Caregiver Guide
    • Caregiver’s Worksheets and Checklists
  • Videos
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Women’s Planning
    • A Guide to Estate Planning for Women
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Trust Administration
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Collins Law Group

Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

powered by BirdEye

Connect with us today(310) 677-9787

Attend a Free Seminar/Webinar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
x

What to Do When a Loved One Dies

During our webinar, we discuss family home protection, avoiding nursing home poverty, preventing family feuds, protecting your kids' inheritance, and how you can keep the government out of your affairs.

Watch our webinar now
Home » Estate Tax » Five Things You Need to Tell Your Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

Five Things You Need to Tell Your Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

September 15, 2016Estate Planning

Los Angeles estate planning attorneyThe decisions made when creating an estate plan are highly personal decisions. Understandably, it may be uncomfortable to discuss these decisions with a stranger which is why it is important to develop a lifelong relationship with your estate planning attorney. You will, however, need to share things with your estate planning attorney that you may prefer not to share. Failing to be open and honest with your attorney, however, could jeopardize the success of your overall estate plan. With that in mind, consider the following five things you need to tell your Los Angeles estate planning attorney to ensure that the plan you create actually does protect you, your assets, and your loved ones.

  • Your true and complete asset picture. Like most people, you are probable hesitant to discuss your finances and the extent of your estate assets with other people. As a general rule there is no reason why you would need to discuss your assets, much less the value of those assets, with other people; however, your estate planning attorney needs to know all that — and then some. In order to protect your assets, both now and in the future, your attorney needs to know exactly what assets you have and what they are worth. We all get in the habit of doing things such as trying to undervalue assets for tax purposes or hide assets from ex-spouses that we sometimes have to adjust our mindset when it comes to estate planning. Remember, your attorney is on your side.
  • A true and complete list of potential heirs. For many people this is simple – and you may wonder why it is even included. For others though, it can be critical to protecting their estate. Your estate planning attorney needs to know about all of your children and grandchildren because any child or grandchild could inherit from your estate. Even if you have not spoken to a child in many years, you still need to include that child in your estate plan – if for no other reason than to specifically disinherit that child. Likewise, if you adopted a child, or gave a child up for adoption, your attorney needs to know so the child can be addressed in your plan if necessary.
  • A true and accurate health report for you. Knowing where your health stands is crucial to creating a successful estate plan because specific steps need to be taken immediately if your health is questionable. If you are concerned about your health, or have been diagnosed with any health issues, your estate planning attorney needs to know.
  • Names of anyone who might be likely to contest your Will. That child mentioned earlier that you have been estranged from for years? Your attorney needs to know about that relationship in the event he/she decides to contest your Will. Any other heir or beneficiary that you feel might be unhappy with the terms of your Will should be mentioned as well.
  • Your religious beliefs regarding end of life care, funeral and burial services, and anything else you feel may be pertinent. Faith can play an important role in an estate plan. Advanced directives and funeral planning are two areas where your faith and religious beliefs become particularly important. If those beliefs cause you to have specific ideas about the care you receive (or would prefer not to receive) in the event you are suffering from a terminal illness or condition, you have the opportunity to ensure that your beliefs and wishes are honored through careful estate planning.

The Importance of Your Relationship with Your Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

As you can see, some of the topics and information you may need to share with your Los Angeles estate planning attorney may feel highly personal and even a bit invasive; however, the more open and honest you are with your estate planning attorney the better your attorney can protect you and your estate.

Contact Us

For more information, please join us for one of our upcoming free seminars. If you have additional questions or concerns about estate planning, contact the experienced Los Angeles estate planning attorneys at Collins Law Firm by calling (310) 677-9787 to schedule an appointment.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Caprice Collins
Caprice Collins
Attorney Caprice L. Collins is a top rated Harvard Law School graduate. She has 34 years of legal experience with a successful law practice devoted exclusively to Estate/Business Planning and Trust Administration. Attorney Collins is a well-respected keynote speaker on Wills, Living Trusts, Estate Planning, Business Planning and Trust Administration. She has appeared on California’s Real Estate Radio Station KTLK AM 1150 as a legal expert on Estate Planning and Living Trusts among many other notable media appearances.
Caprice Collins
Latest posts by Caprice Collins (see all)
  • Why Would I Need a Secret Trust? - February 7, 2023
  • Debunking Inheritance Planning Myths - January 26, 2023
  • Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers - January 22, 2023

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Inheritance planning lawyers
Debunking Inheritance Planning Myths
Power of Attorney Problems — Gifts
The Right Way to Disinherit an Heir
Building Flexibility into Your Plan
Using Entities in Estate Planning
Los Angeles estate planning attorney
Collins Law Group Answers 5 Common Estate Planning Questions

Primary Sidebar

Collins Law Group

Blog Subscription

Sign up to our blog to receive the latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Our Attorneys

Attorney Caprice Collins

Get to Know Attorney Caprice Collins


Attorney Lioness Ebbay

Get to Know Attorney Lioness Ebbay

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Testimonials

Client Review
August 19, 2020
    

“My mother told me about the Collins Law Group and I must say, the entire experience has been a real pleasure. Although I was nervous at first, the Collins Law Group staff put me at ease with their friendliness and knowledge. I didn’t realize how hard it could be on your family and loved ones left behind if you die without any planning or directions in place for them. My biggest concern was making sure my elderly mother would be provided for and taken care of if something happened to me. I have been a caregiver for her for 12 years, so this planning was crucially important. I had previously made a living trust for myself on Legal Zoom but there is no comparison to the level of service and professionalism that Collins Law Group embodies. Attorney Collins and her staff provides excellent service and it will take a large burden off of my family when they need guidance at the time of my passing.”

default image
-Ms. Jones

Where We Are

Collins Law Group
3330 West Manchester Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90305
Phone: (310) 677-9787
Fax: (310) 677-6742
Email: clcfirm@aol.com

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

Collins Law Group Google Map

Footer

  • About Our Firm
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • Services
  • Sitemap
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Collins Law Group footer logo

Attorney Advertisement

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.