Trusts & Estate Planning
How We Can Help
We help create your Trust and comprehensive Estate Planning solutions tailored to your specific needs and goals. Our dedicated team is here to support you in developing personalized Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, and robust Trusts and Estate Plans.
You're Unique, So Your Plan Should Be Too.
We listen carefully to what you need. We work closely with you to create a strategy that effectively protects your assets and ensures the future well-being of your family. With our guidance, we can help you develop and maintain family privacy and fulfillment of your your wishes.
Protecting Your Family And Your Future
What is an "Estate Plan"?
You don't need a mansion in Beverly Hills to need an Estate Plan. Your greatest asset is your independence and autonomy. An "Estate Plan" allows us to prepare a variety of documents to make sure the state or county doesn't step in to control your wishes during your lifetime and following your life.
Estate Planning is the planning of your estate for after your life. Your estate includes all of your money (savings, investments, etc.), your life insurance, your house, other real estate, your business, all of your personal property, and even your pets. By planning what you want to happen to these things before your death, you can guarantee that your life’s work will garner the respect it deserves after your death by having your wishes honored. Your estate plan will also protect you as you get older, making sure you are safe and taken care of. In addition to this, estate planning helps protect your children, family members, and pets amid a hard time, helping them avoid the stress of planning your estate after you are gone. Our team can help you achieve all that you want to with your legacy and to protect it.
What is a will?
I like to say a will is a "Dear Judge Letter." A will is not dispositive and must be administered in a process called Probate. Your Last Will and Testament describes how you wish your affairs to be handled and how your assets will be distributed following your death during the probate process.
What is a Trust?
I hear clients ask “Why do I Need a Trust” every day. A Trust holds your money or property in a special way. It helps you avoid probate and keeps your plans private. It's a strong tool to help you and your family.
Think of a Trust as a "bucket" to hold your assets: take a look at our bucket Why a Trust Matters diagram.
Take a look at my recent Article regarding What to Expect at an "Estate Plan Consultation"
What can our team do for you?
We develop your personalized plan using a variety of documents such as Wills, Trusts, Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney to meet your individual needs and goals. We help develop the plan to best protects your assets and your family’s future; while maintaining family privacy and keeping control of your wishes.
We discuss what your values are, what your needs are and how your needs and the needs of your family can be protected and represented in your Estate Plan.
Our unique law firm experience is a 5-step proven process you will be 100% thrilled with.
Unlike other firms, we don't just sell documents, we deliver peace of mind. We communicate with you, listen to you, and we treat you with the same care and respect we'd want for our own family.
We have streamlined the estate plan process, so you can spend less time at your lawyer’s office and more time living your life!
The JakobLegal Difference: 5-step process:
1. We Get to Know Each Other
You will be assigned a Client Coordinator who will immediately begin helping you to prepare for your appointment. You will chat with us about your goals, concerns, and your family. We will schedule your signing date so you'll know your goal is in sight.
2. Meet with your Attorney
At your attorney meeting, once our client agreement is signed, we will begin our promised attorney/customer service experience. We will curate the best plan to achieve your goals and ease your concerns at this comprehensive appointment.
3. Personalized Plan Developed
Our team will roll up their sleeves to begin your personalized and detailed plan design. It will be developed and tailored to your exact needs, and the appropriate documents will be drafted.
4. Signing Meeting
At the signing, we'll go over every detail and ensure you fully comprehend your plan. We simplify complex legal jargon, making it accessible to you and your family, so you don't need legal expertise to understand how it benefits you.
5. Life Happens
We are all human and life has its unexpected twists and turns. Our promise to you is we will help you along the way and be here for your family when you need it the most.
Get "My Trustee Manual" Today
Effective Trusts & Estate Planning Services
A trust may offer you a variety of advantages, such as:
- Avoiding Probate
- Protecting Adult Children from their Potential Mistakes
- Minimizing or Avoiding Tax Consequences
- Keeping Financial Information Private
- Setting Money Aside for Your Children and Grand Children
- Setting Aside Money for Potential Disability or Long-Term Care
- Assisting with Supplemental Needs or Special Needs
- Obtaining Medicaid for yourself or a loved one
Types Of Trusts
- Revocable Living Trust
- Living Trust
- Joint Trust
- Spendthrift Trust
- Irrevocable Trust
- Medicaid Trust
- Land Trust
- Testamentary Trust
Links and Resources
Featured September 2025 Article | Our City Weston Magazine Being featured by Our City is a meaningful nod to what matters most here: clear, customized planning. At Andrea L. Jakob, PA, we go beyond documents—designing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and deeds that protect assets, preserve harmony, and prepare the next generation. Our streamlined process…
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National Stepfamily Day: Planning With Blended Families in Mind (September 16) Happy National Stepfamily Day to everyone who celebrates! With family structures evolving, there’s a good chance you’re part of a step/blended/“bonus” family—or you love someone who is—making September 16 a perfect time to celebrate and to plan. At its heart, this day honors second…
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Most people think of probate (the process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s money and property) as a private process. However, because probate involves the court system, most filings become a matter of public record. That means your nosy neighbor Nellie can simply go to the courthouse or hop online to learn all…
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A Public Life, A Private Death. Private Estate Plan The passing of actor Val Kilmer in April 2025 brings attention to estate planning issues that affect far more than just celebrities. While Kilmer was a public figure, the challenges his estate faced—such as managing real estate in multiple states, handling digital assets, and using charitable…
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“You can have an ex-wife, but never an ex-child” George Foreman lived a rags-to-riches tale of pure Americana: Olympic gold medalist, heavyweight boxing champion, ordained minister, global pitchman, and father to a dozen children. Unlike many celebrities, Foreman was considered relatable and connected to his audience. But beyond the fortune and fame, George’s life reminds us…
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From Game Shows to Estate Plans: Insights we can Learn from Regis Regis Philbin, the Guinness World Record holder for the most hours on US television, was a familiar face in millions of homes for decades. By the time he retired from his show Live with Regis and Kelly in 2011, he had spent more than 16,740…
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Etsy has grown from a small marketplace for handmade goods to a global e-commerce powerhouse, with millions of sellers—many of whom rely on it for income. But while sellers pour their time and creativity into building their shops, few consider what would happen if they could no longer manage their store due to illness, disability,…
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As one-child families become increasingly common in the U.S., many parents find themselves facing unique estate planning challenges. While having just one heir can simplify things, it can also create added pressure—both for parents making decisions and for the child who may inherit responsibilities along with assets. Why Only Child Estate Planning Is Different Gone…
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Believe it or not, it is not easy to disinherit your spouse in the United States. In many states and the District of Columbia, you cannot intentionally disinherit your spouse unless your spouse agrees to receive nothing from your estate in a prenuptial, postnuptial, or other marital agreement. However, the same is not true for other family…
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If your divorce is finalized, congratulations on making it through a tough chapter. But don’t stop there. One more step is crucial—talking to an estate planning attorney. Why? Because even if your divorce decree revokes some roles your ex held (like trustee or power of attorney), many things don’t change automatically. Your ex may still…
Read More“Leave A Legacy, Not A Mess”
Emerald Publications – September, 2007
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