ESTATE PLANNING is the process of leaving written instructions for the management and distribution of your assets upon incapacity and death. Your "estate" consists of all property you own, such as bank accounts, mutual funds, investments, real estate, stocks, bonds, furniture, and jewelry.

Estate planning involves an analysis of your family status, property holdings, financial situation, dependents and a myriad of other issues. When estate planning involves dependent or disabled children and other complex family issues, it is rarely a simple process. The formation of estate planning documents and the delineation of these issues involve decisions that will affect your family and you for years to come.

The ultimate goal of estate planning is avoiding probate. Probate proceedings involve the appointment of persons to take responsibility of managing another individual’s personal care, estate, and/or assets in court. This can be a very expensive and time consuming process where the legal and court fees can be significant.

For the past 35 years, Sacramento estate planning lawyer Michael Sawamura has assisted his clients to preserve and protect their assets for their heirs by avoiding probate. Michael Sawamura serves his clients in all PRACTICE AREAS of the ESTATE PLANNING process including:

WILLS

TRUSTS (Revocable or Irrevocable)

ESTABLISHING TRUSTS (e.g., Quitclaim Deed or Grant Deed & Preliminary Change of Ownership Report to transfer your real property into your Trust)

TRUST ADMINISTRATION (Affidavits and amendments to change your Trust, substitute a Trustee, or to report a death)

POWERS OF ATTORNEY  (Financial)

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES (formerly known as Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care) and commonly referred to as Living wills.

Michael Sawamura represents clients in and around the California communities of Sacramento County, Placer County, El Dorado County, San Joaquin County and Yolo County, as well as in Japan.