Protect Your Family's FutureWithout the Attorney Price Tag

An LDA is a California-registered professional who helps you prepare legal documents at your specific direction. Unlike an attorney, I cannot provide legal advice, but for straightforward estate documents, I offer professional guidance at a fraction of attorney costs. I'm registered as LDA #LDA082 in Shasta County.

In Redding, attorneys typically charge $3,000-$8,000+ for trust preparation. Our comprehensive trust document preparation package is $1,495, which includes your revocable living trust, pour-over will, healthcare directive, financial power of attorney, and property transfer deed with county recording.

If you own real estate in California, a trust is highly recommended. Without one, your home will go through probate — a public court process that can take 12-18 months and cost your family thousands in attorney and court fees. A properly funded trust allows your home to pass directly to your beneficiaries, privately and efficiently.

A will tells the court how you want your assets distributed, but it still requires probate. A trust holds your assets and allows them to pass directly to your beneficiaries without court involvement. In California, where home values are high, the probate costs avoided by having a trust often far exceed the cost of creating one.

Probate in Shasta County typically takes 12-18 months for straightforward estates, but complex cases can take 2+ years. During this time, your family cannot sell property or fully access assets. Probate costs often total $15,000-$30,000+ for average estates.

A revocable living trust is a legal document that holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries when you pass — without going through probate. "Revocable" means you can change or cancel it at any time.

Your estate will go through probate, a court-supervised process that can take 12-18 months and cost your family thousands in legal fees. Your assets also become public record, and the court decides how they're distributed if you don't have a will.

Yes! A revocable living trust can be amended or revoked at any time while you're alive and competent. Life changes like marriage, divorce, new children, or property purchases are common reasons to update your trust.

A trustee manages the trust and its assets according to your instructions. A beneficiary is someone who receives assets from the trust. You can be both the trustee and beneficiary of your own trust during your lifetime.

Yes. We include a "pour-over will" with every trust package. This catches any assets not transferred to your trust and directs them into the trust upon your death. It also names guardians for minor children.

A healthcare directive documents your medical wishes and names someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you can't. Without one, your family may face difficult decisions — or disagreements — during a medical crisis.

A financial power of attorney names someone you trust to manage your finances if you become incapacitated — paying bills, managing investments, handling property. Without one, your family may need to go to court to get authority to help you.

No. A paralegal works under an attorney's supervision. As an LDA, I work directly with you — the client — at your specific direction. I'm registered and bonded with Shasta County, and I help you prepare legal documents without the attorney price tag.

Yes. The documents we prepare are the same legal documents an attorney would create. The difference is that I prepare them at your direction rather than providing legal advice. For straightforward estate planning, the documents are fully valid and enforceable.

I cannot provide legal advice, represent you in court, or tell you what decisions to make. I can explain your options and prepare documents based on your choices. If you need legal advice for a complex situation, I'll refer you to a trusted attorney.

With online services, you're on your own — filling out forms, hoping you chose the right options, and figuring out how to fund your trust. With us, you get personalized guidance, someone who knows your situation, and we handle the deed recording for you. That last step is what keeps your family out of probate.

California requires LDAs to register with their county, pass a background check, and carry a bond to protect consumers. My registration (LDA #LDA082) is on file with Shasta County and means I've met all state requirements to provide document preparation services.

Funding a trust means transferring your assets into it — retitling your home, updating bank accounts, changing beneficiaries on life insurance. A trust only works if your assets are actually in it. We handle the most important piece: recording your property deed.

A trust only avoids probate if your property is actually transferred into it. The deed recording officially transfers your home into your trust with the county. This is the step DIY services skip — and why many families still end up in probate.

Yes! This is one of the most valuable parts of our service. We prepare and record your Property Transfer Deed with Shasta County. Many people create trusts but never transfer their home — which means their family still ends up in probate.

We can prepare deeds for properties in other California counties as well. Recording fees vary by county, and we'll walk you through the process for each property.

Yes. If you purchase a new home or other real estate after creating your trust, we can prepare a new deed to transfer that property into your trust.

Bring information about your assets (home value, bank accounts, investments), your beneficiaries' full names and contact info, and any thoughts on who you'd want to manage your affairs if you couldn't. Don't worry if you're not sure about everything — we'll figure it out together.

Yes. Most married couples choose a joint trust, which is included in our $1,495 package. We'll discuss whether a joint or individual trust makes sense for your situation during your consultation.

We'll review all your documents together to make sure everything is correct, then you'll sign with a notary present. It typically takes about 30-45 minutes. You'll leave with your completed documents, and we'll handle the deed recording from there.

For clients in Redding and Shasta County, we typically meet at our office at 5000 Bechelli Lane. However, we offer virtual appointments for clients throughout California and Nevada, and we can arrange mobile notary services for signing.

We accept cash or card, and payment is collected at your Planning Appointment after your initial free phone consultation.

Your documents remain valid until you revoke or amend them. However, it's a good idea to review your estate plan every 3-5 years or after major life events like marriage, divorce, new children, or significant asset changes.

For most families with straightforward situations, an LDA provides everything you need. If your situation involves complex tax planning, business succession, contentious family dynamics, or estates over the federal exemption limit, I'll refer you to a trusted attorney.

Our primary office is in Redding, serving Shasta County, Tehama County, and surrounding Northern California communities. We also serve the Reno/Lake Tahoe area and Las Vegas metro through our Nevada insurance license. Virtual appointments available throughout California and Nevada.