Introducing Estate Attorney Brynne Wilson. She answers the big question “Now that you have a home, do you need an estate plan?”

Once you have purchased a home, there are lots of big questions around how to title it. Thankfully there are estate planning attorneys who have the answers! We reached out to Attorney Brynne Wilson to get some solid advice.

She informed us that once you own more than $184,500 of property (including up to $61,500 of real property) in your individual name, there could be a court order required to access the assets if you became ill or disabled. If/when you die, there could be court involvement required in order for your family to collect your assets.

In oder to avoid public court process, a good option is to create a comprehensive estate plan, including a revocable living trust, and to transfer your assets (including your home) into the trust.

That way you control the terms of the trust, including the trustees and beneficiaries.

It is also important to procure documents such as estate plan, a Will, Durable Power of Attorney, and Advanced health care directive. These documents, as well as the trust, protect you in the event of incapacity, and provide for the private distribution of assets at your death.

We’ve all either heard stories or dealt with it ourselves, when a family member passes without the proper documents in place. It can be a long, complicated process, with lots of infighting, disagreements and hurt feelings. We’re grateful for Brynne Wilson’s valuable advice, so we can set our families up for success in dealing with all this someday.

You can contact:

Brynne Wilson, Esq.

Plageman, Lund & Cannon LLP

1631 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, CA 94612

Tel (510)899-6100

Bwilson@plagemanlund.com