Estate Planning Attorneys in  El Dorado Hills

Clark Allison LLP is an estate planning law firm based in El Dorado Hills, serving families throughout the Sacramento region and all of California. Our main office is located at 4944 Windplay Drive, Suite 117, right off Highway 50, convenient to El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Shingle Springs, Placerville, and Sacramento.

Estate planning is all we do. We don't do divorces, business transactions, or litigation. Every attorney at our firm focuses exclusively on living trusts, wills, trust administration, and the documents that protect California families. That focus means we are good at it, and very efficient.

Why El Dorado Hills Families Need a Living Trust

El Dorado Hills and the surrounding Sacramento region have seen significant appreciation in home values over the past decade. For most families, their home is their most valuable asset, and without a properly funded living trust, that asset will go through California probate when they die.

California probate is supervised by the court, takes 12 to 18 months on average, and costs more than most families expect. The statutory attorney and executor fees are calculated as a percentage of the gross value of your estate — not the net. On a home worth $800,000, those fees exceed $38,000. On a home worth $1,000,000, they exceed $46,000. And this is before court costs, appraisal fees, and any contested issues.

A revocable living trust, properly funded, avoids all of this. Your assets pass directly to your family without any court involvement, in a matter of weeks rather than months, at a fraction of the cost. And unlike probate, the process is entirely private.

Our El Dorado Hills Estate Planning Process

We designed our process to be as straightforward as possible. Most clients can complete their estate plan in two attorney meetings over about two weeks.

In your first meeting, you'll sit down with one of our attorneys, not a paralegal or intake coordinator, to discuss your family situation, your assets, and what you want your estate plan to accomplish. We'll design your plan and answer every question you have. In your second meeting, you'll review and approve your documents. Then you'll meet with our notary to sign.

We charge flat fees. We never bill by the hour. And once you're a client, it's always free to contact us with questions.

Services at Our El Dorado Hills Office

Our El Dorado Hills attorneys provide the full range of California estate planning and trust administration services:

• Revocable Living Trusts: the foundation of most California estate plans, designed to avoid probate and protect your family
• Wills: including pour-over wills that work alongside your living trust
• Durable Power of Attorney: authorizes a trusted person to manage your finances if you become incapacitated
• Advance Health Care Directive: documents your medical wishes and designates a health care agent
• Trust Administration: guidance for successor trustees after the grantor passes away
• Trust Updates and Amendments: keeping your existing estate plan current as your life changes

Frequently Asked Questions — El Dorado Hills

Do I need to come into the office?

No. We offer virtual Zoom appointments for the entire estate planning process: design meeting, review meeting, and remote notarization. Many of our El Dorado Hills and Sacramento-region clients prefer the virtual option. If you prefer to meet in person, our El Dorado Hills office is open for in-person appointments.

How much does a living trust cost in El Dorado Hills?

We publish our fees on our pricing page. We charge flat fees for a complete living trust estate plan - no hourly billing, no surprises. Most families are surprised at how affordable it is compared to what they expected.

How long does it take?

About two weeks for most families. We can move faster if your situation is urgent.

What if my estate plan is outdated?

We can review and update existing living trusts regularly. If your trust was created more than five years ago, or if your family or financial situation has changed, it's worth a review. An outdated estate plan can create as many problems as no plan at all.

Our El Dorado Hills attorneys Jennifer Ferraiuolo, Nora Hall, and Tristan L'Engle are available for a free intro call. Click here or call us at (916) 983-9410 to get started.