By Chimere Williams
It is crucial to consider estate planning to secure your family's financial future. Every adult should have an estate plan in place to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes. The choice of the executor is also vital in estate planning, as they will manage the estate's administration. Charitable giving can also be a surprisingly beneficial aspect of estate planning, allowing you to leave a legacy beyond just financial assets. With estate planning, you can have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones, and the causes you care about, will be taken care of after you are gone.
Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.”
To ensure that your estate plan is legally sound and meets your specific needs, hiring an attorney specializing in estate planning is recommended. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process, help you make informed decisions, and ensure your plan is executed correctly. They will also be able to assist you in selecting an executor and incorporating charitable giving into your plan. Taking the time to work with an attorney can provide you with peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be carried out according to your intentions.
For individuals considering the self-help route, Nolo.com has DIY estate planning products and a Lawyer Directory. In California, individuals considering the DIY estate planning route have the option of hiring a non-lawyer registered and bonded legal document assistant in their county to assist them with typing out their wishes.
California Business Professions Code Section 6400 c(1)(2) and d(1-4) defines Legal Document Assistants and self-help as:
(1) Any person who is not exempted under Section 6401 and who provides, or assists in providing, or offers to provide, or offers to assist in providing, for compensation, any self-help service to a member of the public who is representing themselves in a legal matter, or who holds themselves out as someone who offers that service or has that authority. This paragraph does not apply to any individual whose assistance consists merely of secretarial or receptionist services.
(2) A corporation, partnership, association, or other entity that employs or contracts with any person not exempted under Section 6401 who, as part of their responsibilities, provides, or assists in providing, or offers to provide, or offers to assist in providing, for compensation, any self-help service to a member of the public who is representing themselves in a legal matter or holds themselves out as someone who offers that service or has that authority. This paragraph does not apply to an individual whose assistance consists merely of secretarial or receptionist services.
(d) “Self-help service” means all of the following:
(1) Completing legal documents in a ministerial manner, selected by a person who is representing themselves in a legal matter, by typing or otherwise completing the documents at the person’s specific direction.
(2) Providing general published factual information that has been written or approved by an attorney, pertaining to legal procedures, rights, or obligations to a person who is representing themselves in a legal matter, to assist the person in representing themselves. This service, in and of itself, does not require registration as a legal document assistant.
(3) Making published legal documents available to a person who is representing themselves in a legal matter.
(4) Filing and serving legal forms and documents at the specific direction of a person who is representing themselves in a legal matter.
For more information on estate planning
To gain a better understanding of estate planning, I recommend that you visit The American Bar Association website,
The website is very informative and provides an estate planning overview, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/
The overview covers:
● Wills
● Revocable Trusts
● Power of Attorneys
● Advance Healthcare Directives
● The Probate Process
Chimere Williams is a non-lawyer legal professional. Please note that this article is not intended to provide any legal advice. It is always recommended that you seek professional legal counsel if you have any specific legal questions or concerns.
Hi there! My name is Chimere Williams. I am a proud mom and legal professional. I have always been passionate about family time, assisting with pro bono projects, and educating my community about legal resources.
In addition, Chimere enjoys waterfall trekking, Zumba, and pilates. She firmly believes in Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible, walking by faith, not by sight, and being kind to others are important.
"Overall, I am a person who vigorously supports restorative practices and who is always looking to learn and grow. I am excited to see where life takes me, and I am grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that come my way."
Chimere will be writing on Personal Development for the Inspire To Hope blog.
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