East Bay Wills & Estate Planning

Wills and Estate Planning Lawyers in Oakland

Estate planning in Oakland involves more than the preparation of a last will and testament. A proper estate plan includes a last will and testament, a living will and certain powers of attorney.  While these documents planare the skeleton of your estate plan, they are not the plan by themselves. Your personal wishes are the most important part of your estate plan. The experienced estate planning attorneys at the Law Offices of Patrick Z. Riley take into account your personal wishes and how you hope to leave your assets to your loved ones. 

Wills and other estate planning documents

• Living Trust: A Living Trust (also known as a Revocable Living Trust or Revocable Trust) is a legal document created during your lifetime specifying who will manage the assets of the trust (the "successor trustee") and who will receive the assets of the trust (the "trust beneficiaries") after your death. During your lifetime, you are typically named as both the trustee and the beneficiary of the trust, ensuring that you still have complete use and control over your assets. As the name implies, you can revoke the trust or make changes to the provisions of the trust during your lifetime.
• Last will and testament: This is the most commonly known estate planning document.  Our lawyers prepare this document to direct your personal representative, or executor, to distribute your assets according to your final wishes. This is the last document you leave to speak to your loved ones and to let them know your feelings for them.  This document is also where you identify who you would like to care for your children.  For these reasons, the help of an experienced wills and probate attorney at the Law Offices of Patrick Z. Riley can prove invaluable.
• Advanced Health Care Directive: An Advanced Health Care Directive, or a living will, instructs your family members how to advise your doctors and nurses.  When a living will comes into play, you are in not in a position to speak on your own behalf.  But the decisions you make in this document will lead your family down a path you have chosen for yourself.
• Powers of attorney: Powers of attorney may exist for any number of reasons.  Certain powers of attorney allow your family members to speak and consult with medical professionals who are caring for you, while others permit your loved ones to access your financial accounts and take steps to preserve your final wishes.

Probating a Will

Probating a will in Oakland will often occur during a traumatic time for you or your loved ones. When probating an estate, one person is selected to represent the estate of the deceased, and has been asked to take on great responsibility, typically because his or her family member believed he or she would be the best suited to do the job.  Our Oakland probate attorneys will guide you through probate to ensure as smooth as process as possible.

Seek experienced representation

For further information on estate planning issues, contact the Law Offices of Patrick Z. Riley.  Attorney Riley exclusively practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust law and is a Certified Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in these areas.  Call us at (510) 291-4594 or contact us online today.