Estate Planning Attorney

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Estate Planning Attorney: Orange County, CA

What is estate planning? Estate planning is the legal process of formalizing your decisions about what happens to your assets, your medical care, and your minor children if you die or become incapacitated. Without a plan in place, California law makes those decisions for you, often through a court process called probate that is time-consuming, expensive, and entirely public.

At Goodman Estate Law, we guide Orange County families through this process from start to finish. Every plan is built around your specific circumstances, not a template pulled off a shelf. Our goal is simple: make sure your wishes are legally protected, your family is spared unnecessary hardship, and you understand every document before you sign it.

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Call or text: (949) 768-1491

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well-designed estate plan

What Does a Complete Estate Plan Include?

A well-designed estate plan is not a single document. It is a coordinated set of legal instruments that work together to protect you during your lifetime and your loved ones after you are gone. For most California residents, a complete plan includes the following four core documents.

Revocable Living Trust

A revocable living trust is the foundation of nearly every well-designed California estate plan. The trust holds your assets during your lifetime and directs how they are distributed after your death, without going through probate court. You serve as your own trustee while you are alive and capable, retaining full control over your assets. When you pass away or become incapacitated, the successor trustee you have named steps in to manage and distribute the estate according to your instructions.

In California, where probate is particularly costly and slow, a revocable living trust is not a luxury it is a practical necessity for most families. On a $1 million gross estate, California statutory probate fees alone can exceed $50,000. A properly funded trust eliminates that cost entirely.

Pour-Over Will

A pour-over will works alongside your trust as a safety net. Any assets that were not transferred into your trust during your lifetime, — whether by oversight or circumstance, — are captured by the pour-over will and directed into the trust at death. The pour-over will is also the document where you designate a guardian for your minor children. Even if you have a trust, you need a will.

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney designates someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so during your lifetime. Without this document, your family may be forced to seek a court-ordered conservatorship to gain legal authority to act on your behalf; like probate, conservatorship is likewise — a process that is expensive, time-consuming, invasive, and entirely avoidable.

Advance Healthcare Directive

An advance healthcare directive specifies your wishes regarding medical treatment if you are incapacitated and unable to communicate. It also designates a healthcare agent: — someone authorized to speak with your doctors and make medical decisions on your behalf consistent with your wishes. This document is one of the most personal you will ever sign, and one of the most important.

Why need an estate plan

Why California Residents Need an Estate Plan

California has some of the most complex and costly probate laws in the country. If you die without a trust (or without a properly funded trust) your estate may be required to pass through probate court before a single dollar reaches your family. That process typically takes twelve to eighteen months in Orange County, is a matter of public record, and carries statutory fees that most families are shocked to learn about.

Beyond probate, an estate plan matters because:

You decide who receives your assets. Without a plan, California’s intestate succession laws determine who inherits, and that result may not reflect your wishes.

You choose who raises your children. Only a will allows you to designate a guardian for minor children.

You protect your family during incapacity. A durable power of attorney and advance healthcare directive prevent the need for a court-ordered conservatorship.

You keep your affairs private. Probate is a public process. A trust keeps your estate, your assets, and your beneficiaries out of the public record.

You reduce stress for the people you love. Clear, legally sound planning makes an already difficult time far more manageable for your family.

Call To Schedule A Free Consultation

Call or text: (949) 768-1491

By phone, video, or in person — no obligation, no pressure

When Should You Create or Update Your Estate Plan?

The right time to create an estate plan is before you need one. That said, there are specific life events that make acting particularly urgent.

You are getting married or entering a domestic partnership

You are going through a divorce or separation

You have or are expecting a child

You own real estate, a business, or significant financial assets

You have received an inheritance or anticipate one

A parent or spouse has recently passed away

Your existing plan is more than five to ten years old

You have experienced a significant change in health

If any of these circumstances apply, a conversation with an estate planning attorney is a worthwhile investment of your time. At Goodman Estate Law, initial consultations are always free.

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1240 N. Lakeview Ave, Suite 270, Anaheim, CA 92807

Call To Schedule A Free Consultation

Call or text: (949) 768-1491

Your Expectation with us

What to Expect When You Work With Goodman Estate Law

Brett Goodman has spent his career doing one thing: helping Orange County families build estate plans that work. Not plans that sit in a drawer, but plans that are properly funded, clearly drafted, and built to hold up when it matters most.

Brett J. Goodman has received more than 115 five-star Google reviews from clients throughout Orange County, specifically noting his patience, clarity, and non-pushy approach.

Here is what working with us looks like:

A real conversation, not a sales pitch. Every engagement begins with a free consultation. We listen to your situation, explain your options in plain language, and let you decide whether and how to proceed. There is no pressure.

A plan built around your life. No two families are alike. Your plan will reflect your specific assets, your family structure, your goals, and your wishes — not a standard template.

Documents you actually understand. Legal documents do not need to be confusing. We take the time to explain what each document does and why it matters before you sign.

Responsive communication throughout. Calls and emails are returned promptly. You are not handed off to a paralegal and left wondering where things stand.

Transparent pricing. You will know the cost of your plan before any work begins. No surprises.

Estate Planning

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does estate planning cost in Orange County?

The cost of an estate plan varies based on the complexity of your situation and the documents required. Goodman Estate Law provides transparent, flat-fee pricing: you will know your cost before any work begins. As a point of comparison, the cost of a properly drafted estate plan is typically a fraction of what California probate would cost your family without one. On a $1 million gross estate, statutory probate fees and costs can exceed $50,000.

How long does it take to create an estate plan?

For most clients, the process from initial consultation to signed, finalized documents takes two to four weeks. The timeline depends on the complexity of your assets and how promptly we receive the information needed to draft your documents. We keep you informed at every step.

Do I need a trust if I already have a will?

In California, a will alone does not avoid probate; instead, it simply directs the court how to distribute your estate after it goes through the probate process. A revocable living trust, when properly funded, keeps your estate out of probate entirely. Most California residents benefit from having both: a trust as the primary vehicle for asset distribution, and a pour-over will as a safety net and the document designating guardians for minor children.

What happens if I die without an estate plan in California?

If you die without a trust or will in California, your estate passes through probate according to the state’s intestate succession laws. The court determines who receives your assets based on statutory formulas, rather than your wishes. The process is public, typically takes twelve to eighteen months in Orange County, and carries significant statutory fees. If you have minor children and no will, the court also determines their guardian without your wishes being known.

Can I update my estate plan after it is created?

Yes. A revocable living trust can be amended or revoked at any time during your lifetime, as long as you are mentally competent. Your other estate planning documents (the pour-over will, power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive) can also be updated. We recommend reviewing your plan every three to five years and after any significant life event.

Does Goodman Estate Law serve clients throughout Orange County?

Yes. Goodman Estate Law serves clients across Orange County, including Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, and the surrounding communities. Consultations are available by phone, video, or in person at our Anaheim office.

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Estate Planning Attorney