---
title: Estate Planning Guide Quick Read
description: Quick guide to California estate planning
---

# Estate Planning Guide

## Quick Read

## Do I Need an Estate Plan?

Yes, because like all humans, you will not live forever. And if something happens to you while you are still alive, you will need help.

## What Documents Do I Need In My Estate Plan?

#### **Durable Power of Attorney **- for when you need help with your financial affairs.

#### **Advance Health Care Directive and HIPAA** - for when you need help with your health care.

#### **Will** - your instructions for who gets your assets.

#### If you are a homeowner, you will also need a [**Living Trust** so your family can avoid probate](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/how-to-avoid-probate-in-california-with-a-revocable-living-trust?hsLang=en).

## What's So Bad About Probate?

[California probate](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/california-probate?hsLang=en) is expensive, time consuming and your family's personal information becomes a public court record. And, do your want the probate attorneys to get your money?

## How Do I Get My Estate Planning Done?

You have three options:

### **1. DIY Estate Planning Websites - Legal Zoom, etc.**

Cheap, and your family and all you've worked for depends on you doing it correctly. Cross your fingers and hope it works.

### 2. Basic Law Firm

Many attorneys make things complicated, are slow and unresponsive and bill by the hour.

### 3. Clark Allison LLP

- We only do estate planning, and with over 50 years experience, we've created a very easy process.
- Most estate plans can be completed in two meetings in two weeks.
- You will work directly with one of our smart, kind and responsive attorneys.
- We use fixed fees. No mysterious billable hours.
- We can work with you virtually from your home, or in person in one of our four California offices.
- We offer free annual attorney estate planning reviews.
- We never charge for questions. 

### **[Compare: Clark Allison v Law Firms and DIY Estate Planning](https://www.clarkallison.com/en-us/ep-how-to-comparison?hsLang=en)**

## What Should I Do?

Click below to learn more about how we can help you get your estate plan done.

[![Contact us to learn more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5583907/c3f2649d-6b03-46a3-bac0-eec6882d244d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5583907/c3f2649d-6b03-46a3-bac0-eec6882d244d)