California Estate Planning Services: Protect Your Family, Your Assets, and Your Future

California estate planning services cover everything from basic wills and powers of attorney to advanced wealth transfer and tax strategies. A complete plan typically includes a revocable living trust, healthcare directives, and financial powers of attorney, along with asset protection, business succession planning, and advanced tax planning when your situation calls for it.

For most California families, a living trust is the foundation of a solid estate plan, making it essential for wealth preservation. Without one, your estate will go through the probate process, which is public, expensive, and slow. A properly funded living trust lets your family avoid probate entirely and access assets without court delays.

The most effective way to avoid probate in California is to hold your assets in a revocable living trust. When you transfer real properties, bank accounts, and investments into a trust during your lifetime, those assets pass directly to your beneficiaries without court involvement. A will alone still requires probate. The key is working with a California estate planning attorney who funds your trust as part of the process, not just drafts the documents.

California does not impose state estate taxes at death, but the federal estate tax applies to estates above $15 million per individual. More importantly, California’s high income tax rates make strategies like Roth conversions and generation-skipping trusts especially valuable. An experienced estate planning attorney California families trust will coordinate your plan with your CPA and financial advisor to reduce tax exposure across your full asset picture.

Prop 19 changed how property transfers between parents and children are taxed in California. Inherited properties are now reassessed at current market value unless the child uses the home as a primary residence. For families with California real estate, Prop 19 planning is essential. Legal strategies still exist to preserve lower property tax assessments, but they require careful structuring.

If you own a business in California, your estate plan and your succession plan are connected. Without a transition strategy, your business could end up in probate. An estate planning lawyer in California that routinely works with business owners will help you structure buy-sell agreements, entity protections, and a plan that keeps the business running if something happens to you. CunninghamLegal’s business law practice works alongside our estate planning team so both sides stay aligned.

Elder law planning helps families prepare for the financial realities of aging, including Medi-Cal planning, guardianship, conservatorship, and protections against elder abuse. CunninghamLegal’s elder law team helps families navigate these issues and plan for long-term care before a crisis forces difficult choices.

For families with substantial wealth, a family office practice provides coordinated legal, tax, and financial oversight across all of the family’s interests. This includes entity structuring, philanthropic planning, and multi-generational governance for families whose needs extend across multiple jurisdictions and future generations.

You should review your California estate plan after any major life event: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, a significant financial change, or the death of a spouse. You should also update after major tax law changes (the OBBBA in 2025 permanently raised the federal exemption to $15 million). As a general rule, review with your estate planning attorneys California families rely on every three to five years.

When choosing a California estate planning attorney, look for a firm that focuses on estate planning, trust, and probate law. The California State Bar offers a Certified Specialist designation that requires additional testing and peer review beyond a standard license. CunninghamLegal has multiple certified specialists on staff. Beyond credentials, you want an attorney who listens and explains the process in plain language. Schedule a free call with a client specialist to see if we are the right fit.