California Estate Planning Documents
What Is a Living Trust in California?
A living trust is one of the most commonly used estate planning documents in California. It is often used together with wills, deeds, powers of attorney, and health care directives as part of a complete estate plan.
What Does a Living Trust Do?
A living trust is a written document that holds instructions regarding trust property during life and after death. The person creating the trust is often called the trustor, settlor, or grantor.
Many California estate plans include a living trust, a pour-over will, powers of attorney, health care documents, and trust transfer deeds.
Property may need to be transferred into the trust through deeds or other asset transfer documents.
Estate planning documents may include:
- Living Trust
- Pour-Over Will
- Trust Transfer Deeds
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Advance Health Care Directive
- HIPAA Authorization
Common Parts of a Living Trust Estate Plan
Contains instructions regarding management and distribution of trust property.
Property may be transferred into the trust using deeds and other transfer documents.
Many plans include powers of attorney and health care directives.
Important: Affordable LDA cannot provide legal advice regarding whether a trust is appropriate for your situation. Documents are prepared at your direction.
Living Trusts Often Work Together With Other Estate Planning Documents
Many trust-based estate plans include trust transfer deeds, powers of attorney, health care directives, and related documents.
You may also want to review our Living Trust vs Will page and our Transfer Property to a Trust page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a living trust?
A living trust is an estate planning document that contains instructions regarding trust property and administration.
Can a living trust hold real estate?
Property is often transferred into a trust through deeds and other transfer documents.
Can Affordable LDA advise whether I need a trust?
No. We cannot provide legal advice or recommend estate planning strategies.
Can Affordable LDA prepare living trust documents?
Yes. We prepare living trust and related estate planning documents at your direction.
Need Help Preparing Estate Planning Documents?
Affordable LDA helps clients throughout Fresno and the Central Valley prepare living trusts, deeds, powers of attorney, wills, and related estate planning documents at their direction.
Contact Affordable LDAWe are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice or court representation. Documents are prepared at your direction. LDA Registration No. X202510000031 (Exp. 09/2027).