Answers in plain English.

A will provides important instructions for your estate, but it does not, by itself, avoid probate. Many homeowners use a living trust together with a pour-over will, allowing the documents to serve complementary purposes.

The answer depends on how the home is titled and the transfer procedures available to your family. Formal probate may be necessary, but other options can apply. We review the ownership and your circumstances before recommending a course. A properly funded living trust is one established way to avoid formal probate for the home.

Your plan comes with guidance on funding your trust and coordinating beneficiary designations. As your family, property or wishes change, we welcome the opportunity to review it with you and recommend thoughtful updates; we discuss the scope and fee before proceeding.

Funding puts your trust into effect for the assets it is intended to hold. That may involve preparing deeds for real property and retitling bank or brokerage accounts. We explain the appropriate steps and offer the convenience of having our office prepare and coordinate the recording of California deeds for a separate fee. Retirement accounts and life insurance generally call for coordinated beneficiary designations rather than retitling into the trust.

Generally not. With a revocable trust you usually serve as your own trustee and can manage your property and revise the trust, subject to your capacity, the trust’s terms and, for a joint trust, the rights of your co-settlor.

Our practice focuses on California families with U.S.-based assets. If you or your spouse own assets outside the U.S., please mention it when you contact us so we can talk about whether we are the right fit.

Take a moment; you do not need to have every answer right away. The most helpful first step is to speak with us before distributing, selling or retitling anything. We will learn about the trust, the property and your family, and explain how we can guide the administration.

Every administration is different. The timing depends on the assets, any real estate, tax filings and family circumstances. After reviewing the trust, we give you a realistic sense of what to expect.

Yes, and most successor trustees are family members. Trustees owe legal duties to the beneficiaries and can be held personally responsible for mistakes, so many choose experienced counsel to guide the administration from the start.

In appropriate circumstances, signed documents may support a trust confirmation (Heggstad) petition asking the court to confirm that the property belongs to the trust. The answer depends on the documents and the legal requirements, so we review the record before recommending a path.

It depends on what was owned, how it was titled and its value. Formal probate may be required; in other cases a simpler procedure may apply. We review the estate and recommend the appropriate course.

Probate is court-supervised, and even straightforward estates commonly take a year or more. After reviewing the estate, we give you a realistic sense of what to expect.

Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa counties and all surrounding Bay Area counties, plus matters elsewhere in California, including Southern California.

Sometimes. Whether assets can pass without formal probate depends on how they were owned and titled and on the size of the estate. We review what was owned, and how, before recommending a route.

We work with MetLife Legal Plans, ARAG, LegalEase and Exemplar Legal, and coverage varies from plan to plan and member to member. Your employer’s legal plan may provide benefits toward estate planning services. We can help identify the services to review with your plan provider; coverage and any client responsibility depend on your benefits and the work involved.

Yes, and most clients prefer it. Consultations and planning meetings are usually held by Zoom. Signings take place at our San Jose or San Francisco office.

Yes. Cynthia meets with clients in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Documents and written correspondence are in English.

With your permission, involving loved ones can help them understand your wishes and their future responsibilities. We can discuss the appropriate arrangements and also make time to speak with you privately.

Meetings are by appointment only, Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, by Zoom or at our San Jose or San Francisco office.

Yes. Cynthia is licensed throughout California and works with many clients in Southern California by Zoom.

Any existing will or trust, recent statements or a list of your accounts, deeds for real estate you own, and the names of the people you would choose as trustee, guardian and agents. Our questionnaire walks you through it.