Every family needs a will and a living trust.
You've worked hard to build something. A revocable living trust and a will make sure it goes where you want, your kids are cared for by the people you choose, and your family stays out of court. We make it easy to create both through Snug, our trusted legal service provider.
A will and a trust do different jobs. Together they cover everything.
Revocable Living Trust
You move your home, accounts and business interests into a trust you control for the rest of your life. If you pass away or can't manage things, the successor trustee you chose takes over, with no court involved.
- Generally avoids probate for everything held in the trust.
- Stays private. No public court file.
- Plans for incapacity, not just death.
- Fully in your control. Change it any time.
Last Will and Testament
Your will does the things a trust can't. Paired with a trust, it's usually a “pour-over” will that sends anything left outside the trust into it.
- Names guardians for your minor children.
- Catches anything not moved into the trust.
- Names your executor, the person who wraps up your affairs.
- Simple to create alongside your trust.
A will on its own usually still has to go through probate. That's why we recommend both.
Probate is slow, public and expensive.
California sets probate fees by law as a percentage of the estate's gross value. A home worth $1 million, even one with a large mortgage, can mean about $46,000 in attorney and executor fees, plus court costs, and a process that commonly runs a year or longer.
A properly funded living trust is designed to keep those assets out of probate, so your family can move forward privately and faster.
Why we work with Snug.
Estate planning shouldn't be something you put off because it feels expensive or confusing. Snug, our trusted legal service provider, makes creating a will and a living trust affordable and easy to understand. It walks you through what you need, and explains why you need it, in plain language.
We partner with Snug so our clients can put a complete plan in place without the usual cost and hassle, and so the plan fits with the work we do on your taxes and your business.
Two free documents every adult should have.
Along with your will and trust, Snug offers these at no cost. Each takes under five minutes.
Healthcare Directive
Puts your healthcare wishes in writing, so your family and doctors know what you want if you can't tell them.
Get Your Free DirectiveFinancial Power of Attorney
Names a trusted person to handle your finances, including paying bills and managing accounts, if you can't.
Get Your Free Power of AttorneyYour business needs a plan too.
- Who can sign? If something happens to you, someone needs legal authority to make payroll, pay vendors and talk to the bank.
- Who inherits your ownership? Your LLC or corporate shares are property. A trust can say exactly where they go.
- What does your operating agreement say? It may already control what happens to your share. Your estate plan should match it.
- Is your family ready? A plan, plus organized books, means they inherit a business, not a mess.
Create your will and trust online, at your own pace.
Start with Snug
Create your account through our link.
Answer guided questions
About your family, your assets and your wishes, with plain-English explanations along the way.
Review your documents
Your will and trust are prepared from your answers.
Sign and fund your trust
Follow the signing instructions, then move your assets into the trust so it does its job.
Do I really need both?
For most families, yes. The trust keeps your assets out of probate and plans for incapacity. The will names guardians for your children and catches anything left outside the trust.
I don't have much. Is a trust worth it?
If you own a home, a business or have children, a trust can save your family time, money and stress. In California, probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate, so even a home with a mortgage can trigger them.
Who is Snug?
Snug is our trusted legal service provider for wills and trusts. You create your documents directly with Snug through our link.
When should I also talk to an estate planning attorney?
If you have a blended family, a special-needs beneficiary, a very large estate or complex business ownership, it's worth also getting an attorney's advice.
How does this connect to my taxes and books?
Your plan works best when your assets and business records are organized. If you'd like help with that side, book a call with us.
Accountable BC is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice. Wills and trusts are created through Snug, our trusted legal service provider.
Protect your family with a will and a living trust.
Affordable, guided and easy to understand, through Snug, our trusted legal service provider.