JASON S. BUCKINGHAM - Attorney and Counselor at Law
Jason S. Buckingham - Attorney and Counselor at Law
940 Adams Street, Suite S
Benicia, CA 94510
ph: 707.745.2200
fax: 707.780.6357
alt: 877.812.2200
Estate Planning
Estate Planning Services
Most people don't need complicated estate plans. For property and business owners in California, the safest way to avoid California's expensive probate fees is through a living trust.
We offer convenient, affordable, reliable advice and service from a California licensed attorney. We offer living trust packages for property owners and business owners at an affordable flat fee. We also provide estate planning services for Registered Domestic Partners. Please contact us to schedule a no-obligation initial consultation.
Do you already have a plan, but you can't find the lawyer who drafted it? Have you reviewed your plan in the past two years? Have you had any major life changes that are not included in your plan? We routinely review, update and amend existing estate planning documents.
What our packages include:
- Living Trust (to avoid probate)
- "Pourover" Will (for assets left out of the trust)
- Durable Power of Attorney for financial matters
- Advance Health Care Directive
- Trust funding documents to transfer assets into your trust
- Notary services
Special Services:
- Estate Planning for Registered Domestic Partners
- Estate Plan reviews and amendments
- Trust administration
- Living Trust (to avoid probate)
California Probate Code § 10810 sets statutory fees for a probate. Both the lawyer and the executor (or administrator) for the estate are entitled to fees, so the costs are generally double the amounts shown below. Higher fees (for "extraordinary services") can be ordered by a court for complicated cases, such as when real estate must be sold to settle the probate.
Statutory fees are based on your "Gross Estate." Your Gross Estate includes anything that does not pass outside of Probate. In valuing a Gross Estate, the whole value of an asset is used, without backing out any open loans. For example, a home worth $600,000 with a $400,000 loan against it is a $600,000 asset for calculating the probate fees.
The fees are:
4% of the first $100,000 (4% x $100,000 = $4,000),
3% of the next $100,000 (3% x $100,000 = $3,000 PLUS the first $4,000 = $7,000),
2% of the next $800,000 (2% x $800,000 = $16,000 PLUS $7,000 = $23,000),
1% of the next $9,000,000 (1% x $9,000,000 = $90,000 PLUS $23,000 = $113,000), and
0.5% of the next $15,000,000 (0.5% x 15,000,000 = $75,000 PLUS $113,000 = $188,000).
For estates larger than $25,000,000, the court determines the fee for the amount that is greater than $25,000,000.
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
Regarding bankruptcy legal services, Federal law requires the following statement: We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
Copyright 2005-2012, Jason S. Buckingham. All rights reserved.
Jason S. Buckingham - Attorney and Counselor at Law
940 Adams Street, Suite S
Benicia, CA 94510
ph: 707.745.2200
fax: 707.780.6357
alt: 877.812.2200
