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Find an estate planning lawyer in Beverly Hills with FaceLaw. Compare attorneys for wills, trusts, powers of attorney, succession planning, probate, and estate administration.

Estate Planning Lawyer in Beverly Hills

Finding the right estate planning lawyer in Beverly Hills can help individuals and families create a plan for managing property, finances, healthcare decisions, and the transfer of assets to loved ones.

Estate planning is not limited to people with exceptionally large estates. California Courts explains that estate-planning documents can address what happens both during a person's lifetime and after death. A plan may include a will, living trust, financial power of attorney, advance healthcare directive, and other documents depending on the individual's circumstances.

For Beverly Hills residents with real estate, businesses, investments, trusts, blended families, or substantial assets, estate planning may involve additional considerations concerning ownership, succession, taxes, beneficiary arrangements, and probate.

FaceLaw is a legal directory and discovery platform that helps users find, research, compare, evaluate, and connect with independent attorneys. FaceLaw is not an estate planning law firm and does not itself prepare wills, create trusts, provide tax advice, or represent clients in probate matters.

What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer in Beverly Hills Do?

An estate planning attorney may help individuals organize how financial, healthcare, and property decisions should be handled during life and after death.

Depending on the lawyer's practice and the client's needs, estate planning may involve:

• Wills
• Revocable living trusts
• Powers of attorney
• Advance healthcare directives
• Beneficiary planning
• Real estate planning
• Business succession
• Trust administration
• Probate planning
• Estate and gift tax considerations
• Planning for minor children
• Planning for family members with special needs

California Courts emphasizes that estate planning can help prepare for situations in which a person becomes temporarily or permanently unable to manage finances or communicate healthcare decisions, as well as determine how property should pass after death.

Not every estate planning lawyer handles all of these issues to the same extent, so experience relevant to your particular estate is important.

Wills in California

A will is one of the most familiar estate planning documents.

California Courts describes a will as a legal document that states how a person wants property distributed after death. A will can also identify the person who should administer the estate and specify intended beneficiaries.

An estate planning lawyer may help prepare a will that addresses issues such as:

• Who should inherit property
• Who should administer the estate
• How personal property should be distributed
• Planning involving minor children
• Coordination with other estate planning documents

A will should also be coordinated with trusts, beneficiary designations, and property ownership arrangements.

Having a will does not necessarily mean that every asset will avoid probate. The way property is titled and the type of asset involved can also affect what happens after death.

Revocable Living Trusts

A living trust can be an important part of a California estate plan, particularly for people who own real estate or other substantial assets.

California Courts explains that a living trust allows a person to designate a successor trustee to manage trust property for named beneficiaries. When assets have been properly placed into the trust, those assets may generally pass to beneficiaries without going through probate court.

A trust can potentially address:

• Real estate
• Investment assets
• Bank or brokerage accounts
• Business interests
• Distribution to beneficiaries
• Management during incapacity
• Distribution after death

Creating the trust document is only one part of trust planning.

Property may also need to be properly transferred or titled into the trust. A lawyer can discuss what assets should be coordinated with the trust and which assets may instead pass through beneficiary designations or other mechanisms.

Can a Living Trust Help Avoid Probate?

Potentially, yes.

California Courts specifically explains that assets properly placed into a living trust can generally pass to the named beneficiaries without the probate-court process.

However, simply signing a trust document does not necessarily mean every asset is automatically owned by the trust.

For example, issues may arise if:

• Real estate was never transferred to the trust
• Accounts were left outside the trust
• Beneficiary designations conflict with the overall plan
• New property was acquired after the trust was created
• Ownership records were not updated

This is why estate planning often involves reviewing both legal documents and the ownership of important assets.

Financial Powers of Attorney

Estate planning also addresses what may happen while a person is alive.

California Courts explains that the California Statutory Power of Attorney can allow a person to appoint someone they trust to handle selected financial, real estate, tax, or other matters. The individual creating the document can determine what authority is granted and, subject to applicable rules, when that authority applies.

A financial power of attorney may become relevant if someone becomes unable to manage:

• Bills
• Bank accounts
• Investments
• Real estate
• Financial transactions
• Other financial responsibilities

Because a power of attorney can provide significant authority over another person's finances, California Courts advises that having a lawyer prepare or review the document can be helpful.

Advance Healthcare Directives

An estate plan may also include instructions about healthcare decisions.

California's Advance Health Care Directive allows a person to document healthcare preferences and appoint an agent who can communicate or make healthcare decisions if the person can no longer do so independently.

The directive can address matters involving:

• Healthcare decision-making
• Medical treatment preferences
• End-of-life decisions
• Selection of a healthcare agent

California Courts recommends providing a copy of an advance healthcare directive to healthcare providers after it is completed.

An estate planning lawyer may help coordinate this document with the rest of the client's estate and incapacity plan.

Estate Planning for Beverly Hills Homeowners

Real estate is often a major part of an estate plan.

Beverly Hills homeowners may want to consider how their residence and other properties are owned and how those assets should pass after death.

Relevant property can include:

• A primary residence
• Vacation homes
• Rental properties
• Commercial property
• Investment real estate
• Property owned with relatives or business partners

California Courts specifically identifies living trusts as one estate-planning option that can help homeowners transfer properly funded trust property outside probate.

An estate planning attorney may review deeds, ownership structure, trusts, and other estate documents to help ensure that the overall plan is coordinated.

Estate Planning for Business Owners

Business owners may need estate planning that addresses both personal assets and the future of the company.

Potential questions include:

• Who will own the business after the owner's death?
• Who will manage the company?
• Can family members inherit ownership?
• Should other owners have buyout rights?
• How should ownership interests be valued?
• What happens if the owner becomes incapacitated?
• Are shareholder or operating agreements coordinated with the estate plan?

A business succession plan may need to work together with corporate agreements, trusts, insurance arrangements, and tax planning.

A Beverly Hills entrepreneur or professional may therefore benefit from an attorney who understands estate planning involving privately held businesses rather than only straightforward individual wills.

Estate Planning for Families With Minor Children

Parents may also use estate planning to prepare for the needs of minor children.

California Courts notes that planning can address who should be able to assist with children's healthcare or school matters when a parent is temporarily unavailable, and a court guardianship may become relevant when parents are unable to care for a child.

Estate planning discussions may also include:

• Who should manage inherited property for a child
• At what age assets should be distributed
• How educational or living expenses should be handled
• Who should be nominated for important responsibilities

Families should discuss their individual objectives with an attorney rather than relying only on generic forms.

Blended Families and Estate Planning

Blended families can create additional estate planning considerations.

A person may want to provide for:

• A current spouse
• Children from a prior relationship
• Stepchildren
• Other family members

Without careful planning, different family members may have different expectations about the home, investments, businesses, or personal property.

An estate planning attorney may help structure wills, trusts, ownership arrangements, and beneficiary designations so that the documents reflect the client's intended distribution.

If a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement exists, provide it to the estate planning lawyer because it may affect the broader planning analysis.

High-Value Estates in Beverly Hills

Larger estates can involve issues beyond basic document preparation.

Potential assets may include:

• Multiple properties
• Businesses
• Investment portfolios
• Retirement accounts
• Trust interests
• Valuable personal property
• International assets

Estate and gift tax considerations may also become relevant depending on the estate and current federal or state law.

Because tax rules can change, ask whether the estate planning lawyer regularly handles tax-sensitive planning and whether a tax attorney, CPA, financial adviser, or other specialist should also participate.

The State Bar of California recognizes Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law as a certified legal specialty, reflecting the specialized nature of this area.

Estate Planning and Probate Are Related but Different

Estate planning generally takes place during a person's lifetime.

Probate occurs after death when court involvement is required to administer and distribute certain estate property.

California Courts defines probate as the court process used to distribute a deceased person's assets, pay debts, and settle the person's financial affairs.

An attorney who handles estate planning may also handle:

• Probate administration
• Trust administration
• Estate disputes
• Trust disputes

However, not every estate planning lawyer is a probate litigator.

If your issue concerns a dispute after someone's death rather than preparation of an estate plan, ask specifically about probate and trust litigation experience.

Trust Administration After Death

When someone who created a living trust dies, the successor trustee may need to administer the trust.

Responsibilities can potentially involve:

• Identifying trust property
• Managing assets
• Addressing debts and expenses
• Communicating with beneficiaries
• Distributing assets
• Handling tax-related matters

Trust administration is different from creating an estate plan.

If you are a successor trustee seeking legal help, ask whether the attorney regularly represents trustees and beneficiaries after the death of a trust creator.

Updating an Existing Estate Plan

Estate planning is not necessarily a one-time event.

A plan may need review after major changes such as:

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Death of a beneficiary
• Purchase or sale of real estate
• Starting or selling a business
• Significant changes in wealth
• Moving to another state
• Changes in relationships with trustees, agents, or beneficiaries

Even without a major life event, it can be useful to periodically confirm that the estate plan still reflects current assets and intentions.

A lawyer reviewing an existing plan may identify documents or ownership arrangements that no longer align with the client's goals.

Beneficiary Designations and Estate Planning

Some assets may pass according to beneficiary designations rather than through a will.

Examples can include certain:

• Retirement accounts
• Life insurance policies
• Payable-on-death accounts
• Transfer-on-death arrangements

California Courts notes, for example, that a payable-on-death bank account allows an account holder to identify who should receive the account after death.

This makes coordination important.

An estate planning lawyer may review whether beneficiary designations, trusts, wills, and ownership arrangements work together rather than unintentionally producing conflicting results.

How Can I Verify an Estate Planning Lawyer in Beverly Hills?

Before hiring an attorney, independently review professional information through the State Bar of California.

The State Bar's Attorney Search provides information about an attorney's license status and disciplinary and administrative history. Its Advanced Attorney Search also allows users to search by location, languages spoken, certified legal specialty, and self-reported practice areas.

The State Bar warns that it does not verify the accuracy of self-reported practice areas and does not guarantee an attorney's experience or competence based on those listings.

Therefore, ask prospective lawyers directly:

• How much of your practice involves estate planning?
• Do you regularly prepare trusts?
• Do you handle estates with real estate?
• Do you represent business owners?
• Do you handle trust administration?
• Do you handle probate?
• Do you handle estate or trust disputes?

Consider a Certified Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist

California specifically certifies attorneys in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law.

According to the State Bar, a certified specialist in this field must satisfy enhanced requirements that include a written specialty examination, substantial and varied experience, additional continuing education, and favorable evaluations from attorneys and judges familiar with the lawyer's work.

Certification is not required for an attorney to practice estate planning, and it does not automatically mean a certified lawyer is the right fit for every person.

However, it can be one additional credential to consider, particularly for sophisticated trust, tax, probate, or estate matters.

How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer in Beverly Hills Cost?

There is no universal estate planning attorney fee in Beverly Hills.

Costs can depend on:

• Complexity of the estate
• Number and type of documents
• Whether a trust is needed
• Real estate ownership
• Business interests
• Tax planning
• Family circumstances
• Whether existing documents need substantial revisions

Attorneys may use:

• Flat fees for defined estate planning packages
• Hourly billing
• Retainers for more complex work
• Other agreed fee structures

A straightforward will may involve a different level of work from a comprehensive plan involving several trusts, business interests, multiple properties, tax planning, and succession arrangements.

Ask exactly what is included in the quoted fee and whether future trust funding, deed preparation, amendments, or follow-up work is separate.

What Should I Ask During an Estate Planning Consultation?

A consultation should help you understand both your planning needs and the attorney's experience.

Useful questions include:

• What estate planning documents should I consider?
• Do I need a will, trust, or both?
• How should my real estate be coordinated with my plan?
• How should business interests be handled?
• How can I plan for incapacity?
• How should beneficiary designations be coordinated?
• What happens to assets that are not placed in my trust?
• Do you handle trust administration and probate?
• Are there tax issues I should discuss with another professional?
• Who will prepare my documents?
• How are your fees structured?
• How often should the plan be reviewed?

Bring a general list of your major assets, family circumstances, existing estate documents, business interests, and planning goals.

Why Use FaceLaw?

FaceLaw helps users discover, research, compare, evaluate, and connect with independent legal professionals.

For someone searching for an estate planning lawyer in Beverly Hills, FaceLaw can provide a starting point for comparing available attorney profiles based on professional background, practice information, location, language information, and other available details.

FaceLaw does not prepare estate planning documents or determine which estate planning strategy a user should choose.

Users should independently verify:

• California professional status
• Estate planning experience
• Trust experience
• Probate experience
• Experience with comparable estates
• Consultation policies
• Fees
• Current availability

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I find an estate planning lawyer in Beverly Hills?

Use FaceLaw to browse available lawyer profiles and compare estate planning experience, professional background, location, language information, and other available details. Then independently verify prospective attorneys.

2. What does an estate planning lawyer do?

Depending on their practice, estate planning attorneys may prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, succession plans, and other documents related to incapacity and transfer of property.

3. Do I need an estate plan if I am not wealthy?

Estate planning is not only for wealthy individuals. California Courts explains that estate planning can address healthcare, finances, children, property, and decision-making during incapacity as well as distribution after death.

4. What is a living trust?

A living trust is created during a person's lifetime to hold and manage property for beneficiaries. Properly transferred trust assets can generally pass to beneficiaries without probate.

5. Does having a will avoid probate?

Not necessarily. A will states how property should be distributed, but whether property requires probate can depend on the type of asset, ownership structure, trust planning, and other circumstances.

6. What does a financial power of attorney do?

California's statutory power of attorney can allow a trusted agent to handle selected financial, property, tax, or other matters according to the authority provided in the document.

7. What is an advance healthcare directive?

It allows a person to document healthcare preferences and appoint someone to communicate or make healthcare decisions when the person cannot do so independently.

8. Can an estate planning lawyer help a business owner?

Potentially. An attorney experienced in business succession may help coordinate ownership interests, trusts, succession objectives, and existing corporate agreements.

9. Can an estate planning lawyer help after someone dies?

Some can. Estate planning attorneys may also handle probate or trust administration, but you should verify the lawyer's actual post-death administration experience.

10. How can I verify a Beverly Hills estate planning lawyer?

Use the State Bar of California's Attorney Search to review license status and disciplinary or administrative history, then confirm actual estate planning experience directly.

11. What is a Certified Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist?

It is a California attorney who has satisfied additional State Bar requirements involving specialty examination, substantial experience, continuing education, and professional evaluations.

12. Does FaceLaw provide estate planning services?

No. FaceLaw is a legal directory and discovery platform. It helps users research and compare independent attorneys, while estate planning advice, document preparation, consultations, fees, probate work, and representation are provided directly by individual lawyers and law firms.

Conclusion

Finding the right estate planning lawyer in Beverly Hills begins with identifying what you want your plan to accomplish.

A basic estate may require different planning from one involving several properties, businesses, investments, a blended family, minor children, international assets, or significant tax considerations.

Estate planning can also address much more than what happens after death. California Courts explains that powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives can help prepare for financial and medical decisions during incapacity, while wills and living trusts can address how assets should ultimately be distributed.

If probate avoidance is important, discuss whether a living trust is appropriate and how assets would actually be transferred into the trust. California Courts notes that properly funded living-trust assets can generally pass to beneficiaries without probate court.

Before retaining an attorney, review professional information through the State Bar of California and ask about actual experience with estates similar to yours. California also recognizes Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law as a certified legal specialty, which can be an additional credential to consider for more complex matters.

FaceLaw helps organize this search by allowing users to discover and compare available independent lawyer profiles. Review potentially relevant estate planning attorneys, verify their professional information, discuss your family, property, business, and succession goals directly with prospective lawyers, and choose an attorney whose experience and approach fit your estate planning needs.