Estate Planning and Probate for Half Moon Bay Residents

Start with what has changed

A plan may need attention after a change in family relationships, a move, a change in who you trust to make decisions, or a substantial change in what you own. These are prompts to review the plan, not automatic instructions to replace every document. Estate planning can coordinate a will or trust with financial authority and health-care decisions, so consider whether the documents still work together and reflect your current wishes.

• Gather the documents you have, including any amendments, and note when each was last reviewed.
• Write down what has changed, which people or assets it affects, and what outcome you now want.
• List questions about decision-makers, asset ownership, and how property should pass.

Choose the planning work that fits

Planning while you are alive is different from administering property after a death. For a lifetime plan review, consider which decisions need attention rather than assuming one document can address every concern. A will or revocable living trust may be part of the conversation; a pour-over will may be relevant to a trust-based plan. Financial power of attorney and health-care documents address different kinds of decision-making. The right combination depends on your circumstances and the documents and ownership arrangements already in place.

• For health-care choices, explore advance health-care directives, living wills, and health-care powers of attorney.
• For financial authority, consider whether a financial power of attorney belongs in the review.
• For property transfer planning, consider wills, revocable living trusts, and pour-over wills.
• For more specialized circumstances, the related topics include business succession, charitable, pet, special needs, irrevocable, asset protection, and gift tax planning.

After a death: identify the administration path

Trust administration and formal probate are not interchangeable labels for the same process. Which path applies depends on the governing documents and how assets are owned. A will or trust alone does not establish the administration route for every asset; the relevant documents and ownership must be considered together.

• Trust administration concerns carrying out a trust after a death; probate concerns formal estate proceedings.
• If formal probate or a trust matter arises in San Mateo County, the Probate Division handles decedent estates and trusts. Consult its current division and case instructions for applicable information.
• The related topics include probate administration, trust administration, executor and trustee services, and ancillary probate.

Prepare for a useful plan review

Bring the existing plan and a concise change list to the discussion. Organize questions by decision-maker, health-care preferences, financial authority, and property transfer. If you are unsure how an asset is titled or whether a document was updated, mark that uncertainty rather than guessing. This preparation helps focus the review on where the plan may no longer match your circumstances.

A practical next step

Choose the most important mismatch to address first: who should make decisions, what treatment preferences should be reflected, or how property should be managed or transferred. Then gather the relevant documents and identify any affected people or assets. Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. can discuss estate planning and probate matters with California clients virtually, including residents of Half Moon Bay.