Estate Planning

ESTATE PLANNING

Modesto Estate Planning Lawyer
Tax Planning - Living Trust - Wills - Probate
Conveniently located in Modesto, the estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Robert L. Buchler represents clients throughout the California Central Valley and San Joaquin Valley areas who require tax planning, healthcare directives, and probate assistance.

When you have had a significant change in your family dynamics, including marriage, children, divorce, or the loss of a loved one, then it is a good idea to have your estate plan reviewed and revised.

Experienced Modesto Estate Planning Lawyer
Our Modesto estate planning lawyer, Robert Buchler, has over 29 years of experience with estate planning.

While many attorneys will help you plan your estate, many of them do not take the time to do it properly. They approach each person with a generic formula when the reality is that each person's financial situation is nearly as unique as their fingerprints; one type of estate plan will not work for every person.

Our office can create a customized estate plan that will maximize the assets that your heirs will receive while minimizing the amount of taxes that your estate will have to pay. A properly drafted estate plan can also reduce or eliminate the need for probate, which will ultimately save you and your family time, effort, and money. Our office can help you with:

Creating a Customized Estate Plan

Estate and Probate Administration

Drafting Wills

Living Wills - Healthcare Directives

Creating Powers of Attorney

Reviewing and Updating Existing Wills

Establishing Trusts, including Totten Trusts and Living Trusts

Designating a Guardian

Will Disputes

Robert L. Buchler has the skills and knowledge to choose the most appropriate tax minimization devices for you and your family. We will also educate you on how to properly maintain a trust so that you will retain its benefits after major changes have taken place in your life, such as re-financing a home or the unfortunate loss of a loved one.

LIVING TRUSTS

Modesto California Living Trust Attorney
Minimize Taxes - Avoid Probate - Maximize Unified Credit
Conveniently located in Modesto, California, the living trust attorney at the Law Office of Robert L. Buchler creates living trusts for clients throughout the California Central Valley and San Joaquin Valley as part of our overall estate planning service. Knowledgeable Modesto

California Living Trust Attorney
As a knowledgeable Modesto, California, living trust attorney, Robert Buchler understands how the creation of a living trusts can benefit client with estates valued over $100,000, and minimize estate taxes while maximizing the unified credit to which each person (or couple) is entitled.

Mr. Buchler has over 29 years experience in estate planning and understands which estate planning tools and strategies are best suited for your individual needs.

Living trusts are effective estate planning tools because they allow you to maintain control of your assets while you are living, and their distribution upon your death or incapacitation.

In addition, living trusts, if properly prepared, can allow you and your family to avoid probate, thereby saving you money. More importantly, they can help you avoid estate taxes, which can be as high as 45%. That could be an extra 45% that could go to your children or heirs.

Living trusts are also effective tools for ensuring children from a previous marriage receive their fair share of your estate.

WILLS

A Plan for the Future
A will is one of the most important ways to ensure that your desires are fulfilled upon your death. At the Law Office of Robert L. Buchler, we can help you draft a customized will that puts you at ease regarding the future of your assets.

What Does a Will Include?
A will is a legally binding document that provides guidance and direction to your family when making the difficult decisions related to your estate after you have passed away. Whether your estate is large or small, a lawyer experienced in estate planning will guide you through the process of creating a will. Some key elements of a will include:

Naming an executor

Directing the distribution of your assets

Designating beneficiaries, including family members, friends and/or organizations

Nominating a guardian for any minor children

Schedule a Free Consultation

Our dedication to personal service and exceptional quality makes us a popular choice for estate planning services in the Central Valley area. If you are considering creating a will or require assistance in modifying an existing will, attorney Robert L. Buchler would be happy to speak with you. Call our office at 209-576-8404 or e-mail us to set up a free initial consultation.

GUARDIANSHIP

Helping People Make Critical Decisions
If you are a parent of a minor, one of the most important decisions included in your estate plan will be to appoint as a guardian for your child. In a guardianship or conservatorship, a person is appointed by a court to manage the affairs and assert the rights of another person who the court ruled is unable to on their own. At the Modesto Law Office of Robert L. Buchler, we have assisted residents of California's Central Valley in establishing a guardianship, via wills and other estate planning methods, for more than 29 years. We know how critical this decision is and want to support you in making your guardianship appointment official in the eyes of the law.

Contact our firm to schedule a consultation with attorney Robert Buchler, who will review your options regarding the establishment of a guardianship. Call us at 209-576-8404 or contact by email.

When to Appoint a Guardian
It is in your children's best interests to appoint a future guardian in order to ensure that your children receive the best possible care if anything should unexpectedly happen to you. There are two common circumstances in which a guardian (or conservator) is appointed:

Minor children — if the natural parents die or become incapacitated and they have a minor child, a guardian will be appointed for the child by a court.

Adult who is incapacitated — an adult might be in a coma or suffering from dementia or other debilitating mental health disease. In this situation, it may be necessary for the safety of the adult to have someone manage their affairs

WILL DISPUTES AND LEGACY LITIGATION

An Attorney Who Understands Will Contests
If you wish to contest or defend the accuracy of a will or other estate document, it is important to seek advice from an experienced attorney. Will disputes can be emotionally draining and typically involve disputes between family members. At a time like this, an attorney who is knowledgeable in legacy litigation can minimize conflict and help guide you to an optimal solution regarding the desires of your loved one.

Will disputes usually occur when a family member challenges the validity of a will. Some common claims include:

Lack of capacity

Undue influence

The validity of a handwritten will

Arguing that a will fails to meet legal stipulations

Litigation is Sometimes Necessary
Litigation may also be necessary when disputes arise over the administration of assets, evaluation techniques, or a surviving spouse's elective share.

You may have questions regarding a "no-contest" clause in a will. Under a "no-contest" clause, a person forfeits their right to their part of the estate if they challenge the terms of the will. However, the law in California only allows "no-contest" clauses to remain in effect if there is not probable cause to sue. A lawyer can help you determine whether you have probable cause in a will contest.

PROBATE ADMINISTRATION

Personalized, Efficient Probate Services
If you are looking for a probate lawyer, it's likely because someone close to you has passed away. During this difficult, emotional time, our firm can begin work on your probate matters as swiftly and completely as possible. Our attorney's knowledge of estate planning, probate, taxation and business law comes from his 29 years of experience representing the citizens of Central California.

Our firm is able to represent personal representatives and beneficiaries in all matters of probate administration. With extensive experience in estate planning and probate administration our attorney, Robert L. Buchler, can manage the scope of your probate needs to ensure that your family member's wishes are honored.

Your Probate Resource
Emphasizing reliable service with a personal touch, our legal team is dedicated to protecting your rights and pursuing your interests as:

An heir to an estate or will

An executor or administrator of an estate

Anyone desiring to dispute the accuracy of a will or other estate documents, with valid reasoning

Contact an Experienced Attorney
Contact us to discuss your estate planning or probate needs. We offer free initial consultations with an experienced, knowledgeable attorney. Call us at 209-576-8404 or contact us through our email to schedule a complimentary consultation.