You can consult an estate planning attorney near Tracy for legal guidance on a variety of matters. Estate planning involves arranging for the transfer of assets after your death , such as your home, savings, and investments. Estate planning also involves establishing a trust, living trust, and living will. You can turn to your estate planning attorney when you need to draft your last will and testament.

Watch this video for more helpful information on estate planning and the services your attorney can perform. This expert explains how careful estate planning can minimize the burden placed on your heirs. He also discusses why families might turn to an estate planning lawyer after the passing of a loved one.

Estate planning is often thought of as matters pertaining only to the drafting of a last will and testament. But in fact, estate planning near Tracy may also involve making provisions for the continuation of your business and planning for your own future. Estate law is a complex area. When it’s time to organize your affairs, turn to a lawyer with expertise in estate planning.

Taking Care of Your Family

There are many ways in which estate planning can benefit your family. Often, when a loved one passes on, the surviving family members experience financial difficulties, which can be compounded by the will being stuck in probate. A skillful estate planning lawyer may be able to use state laws to your family’s advantage, such as by enabling them to receive partial payments while they wait. You can accomplish much more with your will than just distributing your assets. If you have children under the age of 18, you can use your will to designate their guardian in the event of your death. Of course, it’s customary for spouses to name each other as the guardian in the event of a death. However, you can also name a secondary guardian, such as an adult sibling, aunt, or uncle in the event that both you and your spouse pass on before your children become adults.

Planning for Your Future

An estate planning attorney can help you express your personal preferences in the event that you become physically or mentally incapacitated. You can designate durable healthcare powers of attorney to make medical decisions in accordance with your preferences. You can also have a living will drafted, which will specify which medical treatments you want or don’t want in the event of certain circumstances.

Facilitating Succession for Your Business

Many small business owners rely on estate planning lawyers to help them plan for the succession of their businesses in the event of death. If you own a small business, planning these matters in advance will spare your loved ones the burden of deciding what to do about your business.

When estate planning, most people mistakenly believe that trusts are reserved exclusively for the wealthy. In fact, nearly anyone can benefit from setting up a trust. A trust simply gives you control over how your assets are distributed after you pass. In addition to giving you that extra control, trusts can help your beneficiaries avoid estate taxes and probate proceedings. In this infographic from Bakerink, McCusker & Belden Law , attorneys offering estate planning in Tracy, you’ll learn how trusts work and who can benefit from them. To find out which kind of trust is right for you, contact one of our lawyers. You can also arm your family and friends with the knowledge they need for estate planning by sharing this information with them.

Brinton R. McCusker, a lawyer serving Tracy , has been providing legal guidance to California residents since 1997. As a founding partner of Bakerink, McCusker & Belden, this injury lawyer has helped hundreds of clients reach favorable resolutions of their cases. Mr. McCusker has extensive experience with all types of personal injury cases, including auto accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, and defective products. Mr. McCusker also represents property managers and landlords in eviction cases, along with civil litigation involving real property disputes and breach of contract.

Before Mr. McCusker began serving residents of Tracy and nearby areas as a skilled lawyer, he served his country in the U.S. Army from 1985 to 1989 as a Russian linguist. Later, in law school, he worked as a law clerk for the County of San Joaquin. Upon becoming a lawyer admitted to the State Bar of California, Mr. McCusker also became a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, an organization dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of those who have suffered losses due to negligent acts.