Representing Clients Throughout Northern California
500 Sansome Street, 8th floor, San Francisco CA 94111

San Francisco Trusts and Estates

When your estate is large or complicated, a simple will may not be enough to provide the protection your heirs need in the future.  Although they are more complicated and can require a significant amount of maintenance, a trust may be needed to support your wishes for your estate—before and after your death.

Trusts and Estates in San Francisco

Simply stated, a trust is a legal obligation in which a person (donor) assigns responsibility over property to a trustee for the benefit of a beneficiary.  While the trustee's obligation begins at a trust's inception, the donor retains control over the assets as long as he or she is capable.

There are a number of benefits to establishing a trust:

  • You remain in control as long as you are able
  • You can be confident that your financial responsibilities are going to be handled by someone you trust and chose yourself
  • Your beneficiaries can avoid the often-stressful probate process
  • There can be tax benefits, both during your life and for your heirs
  • Your financial details remain private because they are not listed in the public records

Conversely, there are a few negative aspects that might deter some individuals from establishing a San Francisco trust:

  • They are complicated to set up
  • They require maintenance during your lifetime
  • They do not have certain protections offered by probate in San Francisco in terms of creditor claims for outstanding debt

Of course, establishing a trust for your estate is only part of the full estate planning process.  You may need many legal documents to work together to provide the full protection you need for your heirs and the value of your estate.  It is critical that you retain skilled San Francisco estate planning attorneys to build the plan that is right for your situation.

Seek Experienced Legal Counsel

At Michael B. Bassi, A Law Corporation, our San Francisco probate litigation attorneys have experience handling a wide variety of trust, estate, and probate issues, including creating and modifying all documents need to protect your estate and heirs.  To speak to one of our attorneys and learn how we can successfully resolve your legal matter, contact Michael B. Bassi, A Law Corporation today.


LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbel

Attorney Advertising. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. [ Site Map ] [ Bookmark Us ]