Estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all document. It is a plan built around your family, your assets, your wishes, and what you are leaving behind. Whether you are a parent who needs to make sure your children are protected, a business owner whose company is part of your legacy, or someone who simply wants to make sure the people you love are not left dealing with a mess, we help you put the right plan in place and make sure it actually works.
In California, a will alone usually means probate: a court process that is public, time-consuming, and expensive. A properly funded trust keeps your estate out of court and your family out of unnecessary stress.
Download the complimentary Estate Planning Checklist and walk through
the essentials before your consultation.
Getting your estate plan in place is a clear, straightforward
process designed around you. Here is how it works.
Want to come in prepared? Watch our on-demand estate planning webinar before your session. Joyce walks through the basics so you arrive informed and ready to make decisions. This is completely optional. You are welcome to jump straight to booking your session whenever you are ready
This is your strategy session with Legendaria. We go through your family, your assets, and your goals, and together we determine the right plan for you. You will learn about your options and our flat fee pricing.
Here we go through the details of your estate plan together. We work through every decision so your plan truly reflects your wishes. After this meeting, your documents are drafted and sent to you for review.
This is the moment your plan becomes real. Your estate planning documents are formally executed and everything is done correctly so your plan is legally valid and ready to protect you and your family.
A complete estate plan has several moving parts. Understanding what each document does and why it matters gives you confidence that your wishes will be honored and the people you love will be protected.
If you have children, own property, or want to make sure someone you trust can make decisions for you if something happens, you need one, regardless of your age.
A revocable living trust is a tool that, if set up and funded correctly, lets your assets pass to your beneficiaries without going through probate. You can change or revoke it at any time during your life.
A pour-over will works alongside your trust as a backup. If you acquire an asset and never get around to formally transferring it into your trust, the pour-over will directs that asset into the trust when you pass away, so nothing gets left out.
A will by itself almost always means probate in California, even a simple one. A living trust, once it is properly funded, lets your assets pass to your beneficiaries without court involvement. Most complete estate plans include both, a living trust as the primary plan, and a pour-over will as the backup for anything left outside it.
A durable power of attorney lets you name someone you trust to manage your finances and legal affairs if you are unable to do so yourself, whether temporarily or long-term.
An advance healthcare directive lets you name someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate your wishes, and lets you document your own preferences for care in advance.
A HIPAA waiver authorizes your doctors to share your medical information with the people you designate, like family members or your agent under your healthcare directive, so they can stay informed and help make decisions.
A nomination of guardian names who you want to raise your minor children if something happens to you. Without one, the court decides, without your input.
Online services can create documents, but they typically will not ask about details specific to your situation, like a blended family, a business, or property out of state. They also will not walk you through what happens after signing, like retitling your assets into the trust, which is the step that actually makes it work.
Our foundational estate plan, starting at $2,995 for an individual or $3,995 for a couple (married or in a registered domestic partnership), includes a revocable living trust, pour-over will, durable power of attorney, advance healthcare directive, and nomination of guardians if needed, among other documents, along with notarization and recording fees for your primary residence. More complex situations may call for additional documents, which we will go over at your Legacy Planning Session.
Most plans are completed in six to eight weeks from your Legacy Planning Session to your Signing Ceremony. If you need to move faster, expedited service is available for an additional fee.
Yes. As long as you have legal capacity, you can update your estate plan at any time, whether that means a simple amendment for smaller changes or a full restatement if your circumstances have changed significantly. We recommend reviewing your plan every three to five years, or sooner after a major life event like a marriage, divorce, birth, or move.
California’s intestate succession laws decide who inherits your assets, regardless of your wishes. Assets in joint tenancy or with a named beneficiary may pass outside probate, but anything titled in your name alone will likely still need to go through it.
Estate planning isn’t just paperwork — it’s the clearest way to make sure your wishes are honored and your family is cared for.
