No one wants to think about the unexpected, but leaving your family’s future up to the state of California is a risk you simply cannot afford to take. When a loved one passes away without an estate plan, their assets are forced into a rigid, public court process known as probate.
In California, probate typically takes 9 to 18 months (and often longer due to court backlogs and case complexity), with statutory attorney and executor fees calculated on a sliding scale starting at 4% on the first $100,000, dropping to 3% on the next $100,000, 2% on the next $800,000, and so on. For many estates, these fees alone total 4-7% of the gross estate value, plus additional court filing fees, publication costs, appraisal fees, and potential extraordinary expenses.
Worse yet, without a plan in place:
Plan your legacy from the comfort of your living room.
No generic templates, every document is custom-tailored to your unique family dynamics and financial situation.
Your complete estate plan is often finalized within 3 weeks, depending on complexity.
Flexible payment plans are available to make protecting your family affordable.
The reality of failing to plan is harsh, and the burden falls entirely on the people you love most while they are grieving.
Without an estate plan:
Statutory fees (for attorney + executor) follow California’s sliding scale: 4% on the first $100,000 , 3% on the next $100,000 , 2% on the next $800,000 , etc., often totaling 4-7% of the gross estate value (or more with added costs like referee appraisals and court fees). Your family loses thousands that could have stayed in their hands.
A judge will choose a guardian for your minor children, and it might not be who you would have picked.
Unmarried partners may receive absolutely nothing and could be locked out of crucial hospital room decisions.
Without clear instructions, grieving families often fight over assets , sentimental items, and end-of-life medical care.
Creating a living trust is only the first step – properly funding it is what makes it truly effective.
A trust that isn’t funded offers little to no protection and may still force your family into probate, defeating the entire purpose of having a plan in place. Unfortunately, many people believe they are fully protected simply because their documents are signed, when in reality, the most important step has been overlooked.
That’s why we go beyond simply drafting documents.
We guide you through the critical process of:
We also help you understand which assets should be placed in your trust and which should pass outside of it, so everything works together as one cohesive plan.
This step is essential to making sure your estate plan actually does what it’s designed to do: protect your family, preserve your assets, and avoid unnecessary court involvement.
Modern life moves fast, and finding time to visit a law office during business hours can be a barrier to getting your affairs in order. By choosing a virtual attorney, you receive the same high-level legal expertise without the commute. We use secure, encrypted platforms to ensure your data is protected while offering maximum flexibility for your schedule.
At Jolene Blackbourn – Estates, we believe estate planning is about more than just filling out legal forms; it’s about giving you and your family ultimate peace of mind. Here is what sets us apart
We take the time to listen to your unique family dynamics, fears, and goals. You will never feel rushed or judged.
Our flat-fee pricing means you know exactly what your investment is upfront. No surprise hourly bills or confusing legal jargon.
We’ve eliminated the stuffy law office experience. With our fully virtual process, you can protect your family from the comfort of your couch.
California probate and estate laws are notoriously complex. We craft legally bulletproof plans designed specifically to keep your assets out of the local court system.
La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga, Sunland, Verdugo Mountains, and surrounding communities in Los Angeles County . Fully virtual services available statewide.
A Will is simply a set of instructions, indicating your preferred distribution. But if it is over the current probate threshold, your family will go through the probate process.
