BLACK & BROWN 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
          • Estate Planning Attorney Serving Inglewood, CA
        • Malibu
        • Santa Monica
        • Torrance
        • Venice
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
      • Attorney Caprice Collins
    • 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
  • EVENTS
  • 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      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?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
      • Digital Estate Planning
      • Dying Intestate in California
      • Elder Law
        • Medi-Cal
        • Nursing Home Planning
        • Understanding Dementia
      • Estate Planning
        • Charitable Gifting
        • Estate Planning for Veterans
        • 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
        • Special Needs Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
      • IRA Inheritance Planning (California Edition)
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ+ Estate Planning in California: Your Most Pressing Questions—Answered
      • Pet Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
        • Serving as Executor
        • Small Estate Administration
      • Revocable Living Trusts in California
      • Social Security Retirement Benefits
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trusts
        • Trust Beneficiaries
        • Living Trusts
      • Understanding Estate Taxes and How They Impact Your Estate Plan
      • What You Need to Know to Protect Your Assets
    • 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 Event

oprime aqui para
traducir a español

x

How to Protect Your Family In Case of Your Illness or Death

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 Planning » Think You Don’t Need an Estate Planning Lawyer? Think Again.

Think You Don’t Need an Estate Planning Lawyer? Think Again.

June 11, 2025Asset Protection, Estate Planning

⏱️ 6-Minute Read

You may have thought it. Maybe someone you know has said it out loud: “I don’t need an estate planning lawyer.” It feels like something you can handle later—or something only wealthy people need.

But that mindset has led to confusion, fractured families, and costly legal messes for countless people across California. One misstep, and the ripple effects can last for generations.

Whether you live in Inglewood or anywhere else in the state, the details matter. A simple oversight can sabotage your intentions and leave your loved ones picking up the pieces.

“I Can Just Write My Own Will”

Yes, California recognizes handwritten wills. But legal does not mean wise.

Wills drafted without legal guidance often leave out critical language. You might forget to name alternate beneficiaries or completely overlook digital assets, retirement accounts, or real estate. If you say what you mean—but don’t say it legally—your family could be facing a contested will and a long, expensive probate process.

Judges see it all the time: Wills that contradict other documents. Outdated forms. Missing signatures. And each of those mistakes can delay or derail your plan.

Don’t gamble with your family’s future. Join our next free Wills, Trusts & Asset Protection Seminar on Monday, July 8th in Inglewood to get clarity from a seasoned estate planning attorney:
Save Your Seat Now

“My Family Knows What I Want”

Even if you’ve had the conversation, even if your family thinks they know—verbal instructions don’t hold legal weight.

When the time comes, different people remember those conversations differently. Emotion and expectation can blur even the clearest memories. That’s when tension creeps in, and family conflict takes root.

Putting your wishes in writing—and in legally enforceable documents—eliminates the guesswork. It prevents squabbles over who gets what. And it protects your legacy.

“I Don’t Own Enough to Worry About It”

You don’t need a million-dollar estate to need an estate plan.

Your car, your jewelry, your digital accounts, your retirement fund, your life insurance policy—it’s all part of your legacy. Estate planning is also about who can speak for you if you’re unable to speak for yourself.

Who will access your finances, manage your health decisions, or ensure your rent gets paid if you’re incapacitated? If you don’t have the proper legal documents in place, your family may be forced to go to court—delaying care and compounding stress.

Get answers and peace of mind. Our July 8th seminar will walk you through exactly how to build an estate plan, even if you think you have “nothing.”
Reserve Your Spot

“I Already Took Care of That Years Ago”

If you created your plan years ago—great start. But estate planning is not one-and-done.

Have you gotten married or divorced? Bought property? Had kids? Has your named executor moved away or passed on? Has the law changed? Have your goals shifted?

What worked then may be outdated now. An old power of attorney or will may be useless when your family needs it most.

Why Working With an Attorney Still Matters

DIY kits can’t ask you the right questions. They can’t spot red flags. They don’t know California’s probate rules, and they certainly can’t explain how to coordinate all your accounts, beneficiaries, and documents into a real strategy.

An estate planning attorney does more than draft paperwork. They help you think through blended families, long-term care, digital accounts, and how to make sure your plan works when it’s needed.

You’ll avoid contradictions. Prevent tax disasters. And make sure nothing (and no one) slips through the cracks.

Bottom Line: You Don’t Get a Do-Over

Once you’re gone—or even incapacitated—there’s no fixing the plan. No edits. No explanations. Just consequences.

If you care about your family, your assets, and your wishes, it’s time to act. Protect your loved ones. Protect your voice. Protect your legacy.

Our July 8th in-office seminar in Inglewood is your opportunity to get professional, compassionate guidance. Seats are limited—and they always go fast.
Claim Your Spot Now

  • 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 Read More!
Caprice Collins
Latest posts by Caprice Collins (see all)
  • The Asset They Forgot - August 12, 2026
  • Your Trust Can Be Perfect and Your Family Can Still Panic - June 10, 2026
  • Father’s Day Wisdom: If You Can’t Speak, The System Speaks For You - June 8, 2026

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Our First Evening Seminar in 6 Years—Created Specifically for You: Caregivers, Working Professionals and Busy Families
The Day Mom Couldn’t Answer
What is a letter of last instruction, image of person writing a letter
Your Trust Can Be Perfect and Your Family Can Still Panic
Father’s Day Wisdom: If You Can’t Speak, The System Speaks For You
Probate vs. Trust: The Real Difference in Timeline + Cost (and Why Tax Season Makes It Worse)
Mantener la casa en la familia: el manual legal

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 Attorney

Attorney Caprice Collins

Get to Know Attorney Caprice Collins


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

© 2026 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.