The Law Offices of Michael K.Lanning, APLC

Specializing in family wealth preservation for over 30 years

Estate Planning Services - Preserve & Protect Your Assets

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Estate Planning

You’ve probably heard a lot about estate planning in the news lately. But what does it all mean? And more importantly, what do you need to do to ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone? Let’s look at the basics of

Estate Tax Planning

When it comes to estate tax planning in West Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, South Bay and the surrounding, there’s no better firm than the Law Offices of Michael K. Lanning, APLC. Our attorneys are experts in the field and have years

Trusts

Trusts are incredibly versatile legal tools that can be used for a variety of purposes. But what are they, exactly? A trust is a legal arrangement between a trustee, who takes possession of property and holds it in the trust to benefit the beneficiary or beneficiaries.

Asset Protection

You’ve worked hard to amass your wealth, but what would happen if something happened to you? If you do not have an effective asset protection plan, your assets could be at risk. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss all the different ways

Conservatorships

If you need a conservatorship lawyer, you are likely feeling overwhelmed and stressed. It is essential to choose the right firm for your needs, and that's where the Law Offices of Michael K. Lanning, APLC comes in. We are experts in all conservatorship-related matters

Probate

When a family member or a close friend dies without their assets being held in a trust, their estate must go through a legal process known as probate to be divided and distributed among their heirs. This process is lengthy, expensive, public, and can be complex

Estate Planning

You’ve probably heard a lot about estate planning in the news lately. But what does it all mean? And more importantly, what do you need to do to ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone? Let’s look at the basics of

Estate Administration

When it comes to estate tax planning in West Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, South Bay and the surrounding, there’s no better firm than the Law Offices of Michael K. Lanning, APLC. Our attorneys are experts in the field and have years

Trust-Administration

Trusts are incredibly versatile legal tools that can be used for a variety of purposes. But what are they, exactly? A trust is a legal arrangement between a trustee, who takes possession of property and holds it in the trust to benefit the beneficiary or beneficiaries.

Asset Protection Attorney

You’ve worked hard to amass your wealth, but what would happen if something happened to you? If you do not have an effective asset protection plan, your assets could be at risk. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss all the different ways

Conservatorships

If you need a conservatorship lawyer, you are likely feeling overwhelmed and stressed. It is essential to choose the right firm for your needs, and that's where the Law Offices of Michael K. Lanning, APLC comes in. We are experts in all conservatorship-related matters

Probate

When a family member or a close friend dies without their assets being held in a trust, their estate must go through a legal process known as probate to be divided and distributed among their heirs. This process is lengthy, expensive, public, and can be complex

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    Estate Planing

    Estate Planing

    Every individual and couple needs an Estate Plan, regardless of the size of their estate. Estate Planning is the general term that applies to protecting a family’s wealth from estate taxes and probate court. A properly drafted Estate Plan can keep families out of court, as is commonly required in the event of death or incapacity. A funded Revocable Living Trust can allow an estate to be administered by a Trustee and not through the probate process, which can be painfully expensive and time consuming for families. Durable Powers of Attorney for Asset Management and Advanced Health Care Directives provide for a family member or close friend to make financial and health care decisions for an individual in the event of incapacity, without having to apply to the court for a conservatorship.
    Estate Tax Planning is necessary for some families to allow assets to pass to the next generation without taxation. This can be done in many ways, most commonly including Revocable Living Trusts with credit shelter provisions, life insurance policies owned by Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, and planned gifting.

    Asset Protection

    A well planned estate anticipates not only court proceedings and estate taxes, but takes into account all other outside factors that may deplete a family’s estate. This may include potential creditors and former spouses. Because many estate tax reduction techniques entail lifetime gifts, many of the Trusts involved offer asset protection benefits. Fundamentally, if an asset is gifted during an individual’s lifetime, that person’s creditors cannot reach that asset. Some examples include Qualified Personal Residence Trusts to protect the home, Grantor Retained Trusts to protect other real estate or cash, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts to protect cash and life insurance policies, Charitable Trusts to protect any type of asset, Premarital and Postnuptial Agreements, and business entities such as Limited Liability Companies, Corporations, and Family Limited Partnerships.
    Asset Protection
    Business Succession Planning

    Business Succession Planning

    While Corporations and Limited Liability Companies are known to provide creditor protection, they often do not provide for proper succession planning. Many business owners do not consider that if their partner were to pass away, the result could be partnership with a surviving spouse or child. A Buy/Sell Agreement or LLC Operating Agreement with Buy/Sell provisions can offer the same level of creditor protection, income tax advantages, and provide proper succession planning.

    Estate Administration

    Without proper planning, court proceedings, such as probate, are often required to transfer an inheritance. There are also several issues that must be addressed when settling an estate, whether or not a proper Estate Plan was established, such as notification to required parties, settling debts, establishing a step-up in income tax basis, property tax reassessment, establishing an estate bank account, lodging a Will with the courts, maintaining an estate accounting, filing an estate tax return, and more. Our attorneys are experts in handling all estate administration matters.
    Estate Administration

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    The first step of creating an estate plan is having a consultation with an estate planning attorney to discuss your assets, family, and any other concerns you may have about what will happen to your stuff when you pass away. Then, the attorney will draft your documents to exactly capture your wishes. Once the documents are drafted, usually two weeks following the consultation, you will meet with the attorney to review and sign the documents. At the time of signing, the attorney will answer any questions you have about your new estate plan.
    You get an estate plan by calling our office and arranging for a consultation with an estate planning attorney who will customize your estate plan to match your individual situation.
    You get a will by calling our office and arranging for a consultation with an estate planning attorney who will customize your will to match your individual situation. (I suggest may this question and the one above be combined to ask, “How do I get a trust and a will?” or something like that)

    The price of an estate plan varies based on the individual circumstances of each client. Generally, a comprehensive estate plan (which includes a Living Trust, Will, Durable Power of Attorney, and a Healthcare Directive) ranges in price from $3,500 - $4,000 for an unmarried individual and $4,500-$5,000 for a married couple.

    To transfer your house into your Trust our office will prepare a Trust Transfer Deed. This deed will transfer your house from your name alone to yourself as trustee of your trust. A Trust Transfer Deed is included in the price of the comprehensive estate plan.
    There are sophisticated and legal estate planning techniques that can dramatically reduce the amount of estate taxes due when you pass away. The first step is to schedule a consultation with our office.
    The amount of estate taxes due when you pass away can be reduced through sophisticated and legal estate planning techniques that utilize irrevocable trusts and gifting during your lifetime. There are ways to gift assets to your children during your lifetime without giving up all of your control of those assets.

    The most effective way to protect your assets for your children’s benefit when you pass away is through a comprehensive estate plan that has customized to fit your individual needs and situation.