Estate Planning Attorney San Francisco, CA
Catherine Yee, Attorney At Law, has provided estate planning attorney services to San Francisco, CA, families since 1991. If you own property in the Financial District, Sunset, Richmond, or anywhere in the Bay Area, a sound estate plan can protect your assets, spare your loved ones from probate, and keep your wishes legally enforceable. Call today at (415) 982-7312 to schedule your consultation with Catherine Yee, Attorney At Law.
What Documents Are Included in a California Estate Plan?
A complete California estate plan typically includes four core documents that work together to protect you during life and after. Each document serves a distinct, essential purpose.
- Revocable Living Trust: Holds and transfers your assets to named beneficiaries without probate court involvement, which can save your family significant time and cost.
- Will (Pour-Over Will): Captures any assets not yet titled in your trust and directs them into it at your passing.
- Durable Power of Attorney: Authorizes a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.
- Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD): Documents your medical treatment preferences and names a healthcare agent to make decisions on your behalf.
Ms. Yee can help you determine which combination of documents fits your household, asset profile, and family goals.
Why Do San Francisco Homeowners Need an Updated Estate Plan?
California's Proposition 19 requires your child to use an inherited home as a primary residence within one year to avoid full property tax reassessment. Investment and vacation properties no longer qualify at all. In San Francisco, where property values are among the highest in the state, reassessment can add tens of thousands of dollars a year to your heirs' taxes. California is also a community property state, so assets acquired during marriage must be titled and addressed carefully in your planning documents. An updated estate plan helps your family navigate these rules before a transfer occurs.
Who Should Consider Estate Planning?
Estate planning isn't only for the wealthy. It can benefit homeowners, parents of minor children, business owners, retirement account holders, and anyone wanting to avoid costly probate.
How Catherine Yee Approaches Your Estate Plan
A straightforward process makes it easier to move from uncertainty to confidence.
- Initial Consultation: Catherine listens to your situation, identifies your goals, and explains your options in plain language.
- Strategy Development: She recommends a document package tailored to your assets, family structure, and California-specific considerations.
- Document Drafting: Your trust, will, power of attorney, and AHCD are prepared with precision and reviewed together with you.
- Signing and Funding: Documents are executed properly, and she guides you through funding your trust so assets are correctly titled.
- Ongoing Review: Life changes. Catherine can review and update your plan when your circumstances shift.
Why Clients Choose Catherine Yee as Their Estate Planning Attorney
Ms. Yee has practiced estate planning services in San Francisco since 1991. She is a member of the California State Bar and the Bar Association of San Francisco. She communicates complex legal concepts clearly, and she is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Toishanese, making her a trusted choice for multilingual Bay Area families. Learn more about her background on the San Francisco law firm profile page.
Related services include probate, trust administration, and estate tax planning.
Take the First Step Today
Your estate plan may be one of the most important legal decisions you make for your family. Call Catherine Yee, Attorney At Law, at (415) 982-7312 to schedule a consultation with a trusted estate planning attorney and begin building a plan designed for your life in San Francisco, CA.
