Protecting Your Legacy, One Document at a Time
At Guiding Legal Counsel, APC, we help individuals and families throughout California gain clarity, control, and peace of mind through customized estate planning. Whether you’re concerned about protecting minor children, avoiding probate, planning for incapacity, or passing on real estate and retirement assets efficiently — our firm offers sound legal guidance tailored to your unique goals and family structure.
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy or elderly. It’s for anyone who wants to protect their loved ones, secure their assets, and make intentional decisions about the future — rather than leaving those decisions to a court.
What Is Estate Planning, and Why Does It Matter?
Estate planning is the legal process of organizing your affairs so that your wishes are carried out upon your death or incapacity. It involves more than just creating a will — a complete estate plan addresses:
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Who will inherit your assets and under what terms
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Who will manage your affairs if you become incapacitated
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Who will care for your minor children
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How to avoid unnecessary taxes, fees, and court supervision
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How to reduce the risk of family conflict and legal disputes
Without an estate plan, California law — not you — decides who inherits your estate, who raises your children, and who makes life-and-death decisions on your behalf.
Our Estate Planning Services
We provide full-service, legally enforceable estate planning packages for clients of all ages, income levels, and family structures. All documents are attorney-drafted, explained in plain English, and tailored to your specific needs.
1. Revocable Living Trusts
Avoid probate and retain control over your assets with a revocable living trust. We prepare:
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Trust documents with custom distribution terms
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Schedules of assets and trust funding letters
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Certification of trust for financial institutions
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Pour-over wills and trust-based incapacity planning
We also advise on trust administration and amendments as your life circumstances evolve.
2. Last Will and Testament
For those with simpler estates or who do not need a trust, we draft enforceable wills that:
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Name beneficiaries and alternate takers
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Appoint guardians for minor children
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Direct the handling of personal effects and debts
We also counsel clients on whether a standalone will or trust-based plan better fits their situation.
3. Powers of Attorney
Ensure that someone you trust can manage your financial and legal affairs if you’re incapacitated. We prepare:
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Durable powers of attorney for finances
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Springing and immediate authority options
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Specific powers for real estate, taxes, business operations
4. Advance Health Care Directives
Also called a “living will,” this document outlines your medical wishes and appoints someone to speak on your behalf. We ensure:
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HIPAA-compliant access to medical records
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Legally valid end-of-life decision-making preferences
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Alignment with your personal and spiritual values
5. Beneficiary Designations and Asset Alignment
Your estate plan is only effective if your assets are properly aligned with it. We assist with:
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Reviewing and advising on retirement account and life insurance beneficiaries
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Coordinating non-probate transfers with your trust or will
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Advising on community property and separate property distinctions under California law
6. Estate Planning for Real Property Owners
As a real estate and estate planning attorney, we are uniquely qualified to advise on:
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Holding title in trust vs. joint tenancy or tenancy in common
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Inter-spousal transfer deeds and property tax reassessment issues
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Using LLCs for rental or investment properties in estate plans
Who Needs Estate Planning?
Virtually everyone. But especially:
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Parents with minor children
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Homeowners
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Business owners
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Blended families and second marriages
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High net worth individuals
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Those concerned with Medi-Cal planning or long-term care
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Anyone who wants to avoid probate court
Even if your estate is modest, the cost, delay, and public exposure of probate can be avoided with proper planning.
What Makes Our Firm Different
Attorney-Drafted and Client-Focused
Every document is prepared and explained directly by attorney Ron [Last Name], a licensed California estate planning lawyer. You won’t be passed off to a legal assistant or asked to fill in generic forms online.
Flat Fee Pricing
We believe you should know exactly what your plan will cost before we begin. That’s why we offer clear, flat-rate pricing for most estate plans — including all meetings, drafts, revisions, and notarization guidance.
Local Experience with a Personal Touch
Based in Lincoln, California, we serve clients throughout Placer County and the greater Sacramento area. We understand the local probate process, real estate implications, and how California’s community property laws affect estate transfers.
Integrated Legal Insight
Our experience in real estate and business law allows us to craft estate plans that consider not just personal wishes, but complex ownership interests, tax exposure, and long-term legal implications.
Frequently Encountered Issues We Help Resolve
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Probate avoidance for real estate owners
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Protecting beneficiaries from creditors or divorce
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Naming guardians for minor children and backup options
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Blended family and second-marriage planning
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Keeping plans updated after divorce or death
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Planning for incapacitated adult children or special needs beneficiaries
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Clarifying inheritance for non-married couples or LGBTQ+ families
The Estate Planning Process
We make the process simple, respectful, and confidential:
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Initial Consultation – We discuss your goals and explain your options in plain English.
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Information Gathering – You complete a secure intake or provide documents.
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Plan Design – We tailor your documents to your unique situation.
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Review Meeting – We walk you through every document and make changes as needed.
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Final Signing – You sign and notarize your documents; we provide instructions for safekeeping and updates.
