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Divorce, Disability, Death?

Avoid the Probate Nightmare

We can help you plan your estate.

Call us:

949•413•6535

Should you require probate

or trust litigation?

We Are Prepared to Litigate if Necessary

What decisions do
I need to make?

Who We Are

California estate planning attorney Bill Bernard advocates that everyone should actively make important decisions about their families’ future, their healthcare and their assets. As a result, Bill created ProtectYourEstate365.com.

Simply put, ProtectYourEstate365 is an online resource where you can learn about estate planning and the decisions you need to make. Then you can design your estate plan on the website itself. The entire process has been made  affordable, convenient, and very practical for the people who decide to take action and take advantage of the opportunity being offered.

ProtectYourEstate365.com will allow you to take control over your financial future and avoid the costly and lengthy Probate Court nightmare.

Why Estate Plans Matter

Why is a trust so important for your estate plan?

In the State of California, you are faced with three options:

  • Do Not Create an Estate Plan: After you pass, the Probate Court takes control of your estate and its corresponding assets. The court then determines how to distribute those assets. This process can typically take between 18-24 months and generally costs between 4%-6% of the full market value of your estate.
  • Create a Will: All you really do in this instance is decide who specifically receives the assets in your estate. You still do not avoid the probate nightmare. Rather, your heirs must still endure the same slow and expensive court process.
  • Create a Trust: This choice allows you to decide who receives your estate’s assets and you avoid the cost and expense of Probate Court. It insures the complete privacy of  your estate and avoids expensive attorney’s fees that would otherwise accompany the administration of an estate where no trust was created. 

Calculate Your Savings

CLICK HERE TO VIEW TAX CALCULATOR

How Plans Work

What is PYE365.com?

ProtectYourEstate365.com (PYE365), is an educational and interactive resource where you actually learn about estate planning, the options you have for protecting your estate, and the practical way you can implement the option you choose. PYE365 provides answers to frequently asked questions about the estate planning process and gives you the means to actually build high quality estate planning documents in an affordable way.

How its Done

How is your estate plan built?

Well, for most, plans are relatively straightforward. People generally want to ensure that their spouse, partner and kids, if any, are going to be taken care of when they pass. The next natural progression is to take care of any remaining family members and/or charitable organizations that might be important to them.

What’s Included?

Your estate plan will include:

  1. Trust
  2. Pour Over Will
  3. Health Care Directive (Living Will/Power of Attorney for Healthcare)
  4. Power of Attorney Designation for Assets
  5. Nomination of Guardians (If appropriate)
  6. A Deed of Transfer for one California property
  7. HIPPA Authorization for Release of Medical Records
  8. Trust Certification
  9. Property Inventory
  10. Declaration of Trust

What is a Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney, for our purposes here, comes into play in two different areas: in the form of a healthcare directive, otherwise known as a “living will,” and in the form of asset protection. The healthcare directive allows for your instructions concerning medical treatment and end of life issues, typically should you become incapacitated. The power of attorney for assets ensures that your everyday finances and business, if any, are taken care of in the manner you desire, again typically in a scenario where you can no longer act under your own volition.

How Does a Trust Actually Work?

Simply put, a trust is an arrangement under which one person, called a trustee, holds legal title to property for another person, called a beneficiary. You can be the trustee of your own living trust, keeping full control over all property held in trust. A “living trust” (also called an “inter vivos” trust) is simply a trust you create while you’re alive, rather than one that is created at your death. Different kinds of living trusts help you avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, and even set up long-term money management. For example, assets you leave to your kids can be made available to cover their living expenses until they are old enough to manage the assets on their own. Likewise, a trust will protect inheritances should the children get divorced, sued or even declare bankruptcy.

Your FREE Estate Planning Deficiency Checkup

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR FREE FORM

What Decisions Do I need to make?

When you build your estate plan, you will decide who will manage your financial assets and make your healthcare decisions should you become incapacitated. Likewise, if you have children under the age of 18, you will decide upon a guardian for them.

Who will manage my assets?

You will decide upon a Trustee for your trust. The trustee manages the assets that are in the trust. Many people choose to be their own trustee and continue to manage their affairs for as long as they are able. Married couples are often co-trustees, so that when one dies or becomes incapacitated, the surviving spouse can continue to handle their finances with no other actions or steps required, including court interference.

Who will care for my children?

A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person. Guardians are typically used in three situations: guardianship for an incapacitated senior, guardianship for a minor, and guardianship for developmentally disabled adults. A guardian must raise your children if you pass before they are 18 years old.

 

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YOUR PYE365 INVESTMENT

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How much does a PYE365 plan cost?

A PYE365 estate plan is only $1,599.

This fee includes a total standard trust package, encompassing a pour over will; health care directive; power of attorney for assets; guardian designation for your children (if required); a deed of transfer of one piece of California real estate; trust certification; property inventory list; HIPPA authorization; and a trust declaration. All other California property transfers will cost an additional $250 to transfer into your trust.

PYE365 price comparison

Our fees are a full 75% less than the average law firm. The big difference between PYE365 Estate Plans and other online estate planning services, is that your documents are reviewed by me personally and you have direct access to me to answer any questions you may have.

How does PYE365 Benefit You?

Your documents are produced from the information you enter and thereafter technologically comprised so you do not have to cover the cost of a fancy office, payroll processing, or the salaries of an expensive staff. Nevertheless, you are able to have access to top-notch estate planning lawyers.

Client Testimonials

Bill Bernard is an exceptional attorney. He has the personal experience to win cases if you need to go to court but the professional skill to keep you from going there in the first place. Bill’s specialty is protecting your assets and if you own a business, your assets are all you have. Don’t take the risk assuming your employees, customers or suppliers, even your own partners won’t sue you for something they think you done wrong. Cover yourself and your business now!

Steve SmithGrowthSource Coaching

It has been years since I have known William Bernard as a friend and a fine colleague at work. I was first introduced to William, when I joined Lynberg & Watkins, where he was working as an attorney. His ability to work efficiently under stressful conditions and nerve-wrecking deadlines speaks volumes about his hard work, determination and his composed demeanor. He also has a good personality and sense of humor, which you really need in our line of work.

Karen ClarkParalegal, Lynberg & Watkins

William is extremely honest and an utmost professional. He gives more than he gets and always makes sure that his clients have a thorough understanding of their situation. I highly recommend William to anyone that needs his services.

Gerardo "Hank" SamamoInsurance Agent

William is a very knowledgable, capable and dependable individual to work with. He is very articulate and detail oriented. While working on a project he is not impulsive or impatient and will devote whatever time it takes to do the necessary research before reaching a conclusion or providing a recommendation.

Lance SchultzMortgage Broker, The Mortgage Guild

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Mr. William Bernard to clients who need legal representation. Bill Bernard, Esq. is an excellent business attorney. Bill is knowledgeable yet down to earth, and he is certainly integrity driven. For anyone who needs protection, growth and control in their personal lives as well as business, Bill is someone you can trust. Bill specializes in helping business owners with entity formation, contract review and asset protection. He has been a great help to my business clients and I am so glad that I have Bill to take care of their legal matters. Bill’s experience is top notch and I highly recommend Bill to business owners who need comprehensive legal assistance.

Sharon MaslerManager – Masler and Associates, CPA

Bill has a wealth of knowledge in the practice he has designed for his firm. He specializes in wealth protection and accumulation. Our association has been very helpful for myself and for my clients. I have no reservations in referring him to my clients for estate design and protection.

Bill PyottFinancial Services Professional, New York Life Insurance

Bill is a quality person who can be relied upon to follow through with whatever task is presented to him.

Jerry and Sallie HassonOwner - Prepaid Legal

William is a true professional and has a very honest work ethic. I highly recommend William.

Mike TishermanResidential Alarm Sales Consultant, Protection One

My experience with Bill is that he is the consummate business professional: knowledgeable, conscientious, forthright and very dependable. I highly recommend him.

Richard FlaskArea Director – Business Network International (BNI)

Bill is hard working, reliable and not afraid to present his own unique thought processes to any challenge.

Gordon PerryReal Estate Agent

I want to thank you for taking the time to respond to my email and giving me your sound advice. I very much appreciated it. My attorney responded and I believe things will be OK. Thanks again.

Mary Ann KiesLaw Student–Pacific Coast University School of Law

Bill was very trustworthy, his knowledge helped me to make smart decisions, I highly recommend Bill.

Dan SwerkesNeighbor

Your Easy Preparation

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Simply collect the Information Requested on Your Trust Worksheet (which can be downloaded above), such as the full legal names and dates of birth for these people:

a. You

b. Your spouse or partner

c. Your children

Collect the full legal names and addresses for:

a. Your Trustee(s) (The people you want to carry out your estate plan).

b. The persons you want to manage your finances (typically are the same as your Trustee selections).

c. The persons you want to be in charge of your health care directive.

d. The persons you want to raise your minor children.

Should you want to make specific cash gifts to anyone, please provide:

a. The full legal name of each person.

b. The formal name of each organization, if any.

c. The amount you want to give to each person or organization.

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Blog

WHEN ARE YOU ENTITLED TO A COPY OF A TRUST?

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A beneficiary or heir doesn’t automatically get a copy of a trust. Each beneficiary and heir is entitled to notice when a trust settlor dies and/or there is a change of trustee. Once the beneficiary or heir asks, in writing, for a copy of the trust then the trustee must provide a copy of the […]

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WHY A TRUST—HERE’S 10 GOOD REASONS

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For years, many estate planning lawyers have implied that everyone should have a trust yet most Americans don’t have a simple will. And yes, living trusts certainly do avoid probate.  But, there’s a whole lot more to a living trust than just that. Here are some factors to consider for yourself:     1. How much of […]

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