Common Questions
About Legal, Real Estate & Insurance

Estate planning records how you want property and decisions handled during incapacity and after death. It can identify trusted decision-makers, address family needs and coordinate ownership and beneficiary arrangements. The documents and follow-up steps should fit your situation; no plan guarantees that a dispute or court proceeding will never occur.

A will does not itself avoid probate. Whether formal probate is needed depends on ownership, beneficiary arrangements and eligibility for simpler transfer procedures. A funded trust may avoid probate for assets it holds, but assets outside it need separate review. See the Probate page for the process.

LAESQUIRE charges $2,000 for a couple trust package and $1,500 for a single trust package, plus $250 per minor child. This includes the customized living trust, pour-over wills, durable power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, living will/advance directive, HIPAA authorization, assignments of personal property, up to two California real estate deeds, and memorial instructions. No hidden fees. No charge for client calls during drafting. See full fee schedule →

Discuss an advance health care directive and financial power of attorney as part of an estate plan. These documents record choices and identify people who may act for you. If adequate arrangements are absent or disputed, a court process may be needed depending on the circumstances.

An online form may not address your ownership arrangements, family circumstances or benefit-planning needs. Individual review can identify which documents fit the situation and what signing, funding or follow-up steps remain.

Possibly yes. An estate plan should be reviewed after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a named trustee or beneficiary, purchase or sale of property, significant changes in assets, or changes in law. It should also be reviewed if your property isn't properly deeded into the trust — a common problem that defeats the entire purpose of having a trust.

The time varies with the court, estate assets, required notices, claims, tax issues and any disputes. A case review can identify the likely steps and possible delays. Ask about authority for expenses or distributions during administration rather than assuming every asset is frozen.

California law provides a compensation schedule for ordinary services in probate. Extraordinary work and court costs are separate questions, and compensation is subject to the applicable rules and court approval. Ask for a case-specific explanation of attorney compensation, representative compensation and other costs.

Locate the will or trust, preserve property and records, and identify urgent needs and deadlines. Before distributing assets, changing ownership or filing a petition, review who has authority and whether probate or another transfer process applies. Start probate intake →

Transfer rules depend on the Medi-Cal program, the transfer date and the type of care. Giving away assets for less than fair value may delay long-term-care coverage. Review current DHCS guidance and obtain advice before changing ownership. Learn more about Medi-Cal planning →

Estate recovery does not apply to every home or every benefit. For deaths on or after January 1, 2017, DHCS limits recovery to specified benefits and assets subject to probate. Exemptions and hardship waivers may apply. Eligibility and estate recovery require separate review; no trust or transfer guarantees protection.

A Special Needs Trust may help coordinate resources for a person with a disability. Its effect on benefits depends on the program, trust terms, source of funds and administration. Review an inheritance or settlement before funding or making distributions. Learn more about special needs trusts →

Property ownership, trust terms and signing authority can affect a transaction. Coordinating questions across brokerage and legal work can help identify what requires separate review. The brokerage and legal engagements remain distinct; discuss the role and scope before work begins.

A probate property sale involves estate property sold under the authority of an estate representative. Sole ownership does not always require formal probate: simplified procedures or other transfer arrangements may apply. Review title, estate circumstances and the required sale authority before listing.

Proposition 19 changed California property-tax rules for certain family transfers and transfers of a taxable value to a replacement home. Eligibility, occupancy, value limits and filing requirements depend on the exclusion. Review current Board of Equalization guidance and the county assessor’s requirements before transferring property.

Ask your insurer or licensed agent to review the proposed ownership change, policy definitions and any required endorsement. How the trust and trustees should be listed depends on the policy and insurer; a particular endorsement is not universally required. Learn more about LA Vakil Insurance →

An umbrella policy provides an additional layer of liability coverage above and beyond your home and auto policies. It's especially important for homeowners, landlords, and anyone with significant assets — because if you're sued for more than your underlying policy limits, you pay the difference out of pocket. For most California homeowners, an umbrella policy is one of the most cost-effective forms of protection available.

Professional Liability Insurance — also called Errors & Omissions (E&O) — protects businesses that provide professional services from claims related to mistakes, undelivered services, or negligent work. It's essential for consultants, accountants, real estate agents, insurance agents, healthcare providers, technology companies, and many other service-based businesses. General liability alone does not cover professional service claims. Learn more about business insurance →

Yes — claims guidance is part of the LA Vakil Insurance service. When a claim arises, having an independent agent who understands the full picture of your coverage — and who also understands legal and real estate implications — can make a significant difference in how the claim is handled. LA Vakil Insurance also works with LAESQUIRE on insurance denial litigation when an insurer wrongfully denies a valid claim. Claims help →

Most families work with three separate professionals — an attorney, a Realtor, and an insurance agent — who rarely communicate with each other. The gaps between them are where expensive mistakes happen: a home not re-deeded into the trust, an insurance policy that doesn't cover trust-owned property, a real estate transaction that triggers unintended tax consequences. LA Vakil brings all three under one roof, so these decisions are made in coordination, not isolation.

Yes. The office is based in Chatsworth, but estate-planning consultations and drafting are available throughout California through secure online intake, phone or Zoom, electronic draft review, and mailed or coordinated originals. Probate representation focuses on Los Angeles County, with venue generally based on the decedent’s residence or, for a nonresident, the California county where property is located. Real estate and insurance services focus on the San Fernando Valley.

Shekhar Chikhalikar serves clients in English, Hindi, and Marathi. California estate-planning clients can discuss and review their plan in the language that feels most natural to them, whether they are local to the San Fernando Valley or working with the office remotely.