- My Estate-Plan
Estate Planning Attorney in Oceanside, CA
Our estate planning attorney at My Estate-Plan understands that considering the future, especially the aspects we can’t control, can feel overwhelming. Some people hesitate because thinking about the future feels emotionally heavy. Others feel unsure because the legal process seems complicated.
Whether you need to draft a will, establish a trust, create a business entity, or plan for long-term asset protection and succession, we are here to assist you. Our estate planning attorney can answer your questions and guide you through each step, providing thoughtful, practical advice that prioritizes your best interests.
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- My Estate-Plan
Preserving the Life You’ve Worked For and the Legacy You Want to Leave
An estate planning attorney at My Estate-Plan understands that what you’ve built over the years, through work, business, or personal effort, is worth protecting. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy or those close to retirement. It is for anyone who wants to make thoughtful choices about how their assets, responsibilities, and values are passed on.
Your Goals. Your Values. Our Guidance.
What matters most to you should shape every part of your plan. That is why we take a thoughtful and personal approach, focusing on what brings you peace of mind. We listen carefully, offer clear guidance, and stay committed to helping you make informed decisions that protect your legacy and the people you care about.
- My Estate-Plan
Protect What You Have Earned and Avoid Unnecessary Costs
The goal of My Estate-Plan is to educate and prepare potential clients in the area of estate planning.
Mr. Powell, (Dan to his friends) created My Estate-Plan to provide clients and potential clients with a vast resource of knowledge, insight, and understanding. He created MyEstate-Plan.com to mirror his method of practice which is simply “put the client first”.
Attorneys are fiduciaries to their clients which means they are to put their client’s needs and interests ahead of their own. As a matter fact, in order to obtain this, result some representation must be declined because sometimes it’s just not the right fit.
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- My Estate-Plan
Protect What You Have Earned and Avoid Unnecessary Costs
The goal of My Estate-Plan is to educate and prepare potential clients in the area of estate planning.
Mr. Powell, (Dan to his friends) created My Estate-Plan to provide clients and potential clients with a vast resource of knowledge, insight, and understanding. He created MyEstate-Plan.com to mirror his method of practice which is simply “put the client first”.
Attorneys are fiduciaries to their clients which means they are to put their client’s needs and interests ahead of their own. As a matter fact, in order to obtain this, result some representation must be declined because sometimes it’s just not the right fit.
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- My Estate-Plan: Practice Areas
Our Estate Planning Attorney Services
Estate Planning
Estate Planning
LEARN MOREProbate
Probate
LEARN MORESpecial Needs Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
LEARN MOREWills
Wills
LEARN MORELiving Trusts
Living Trusts
LEARN MOREIrrevocable Trusts
Irrevocable Trusts
LEARN MOREPower of Attorney (POA)
Power of Attorney (POA)
LEARN MOREAdvance Healthcare Directive
Advance Healthcare Directive
LEARN MOREAsset Protection
Asset Protection
LEARN MORE- My Estate-Plan
Our Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Estate Planning
LEARN MOREProbate
Probate
LEARN MORESpecial Needs Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
LEARN MOREWills
Wills
LEARN MORELiving Trusts
Living Trusts
LEARN MOREIrrevocable Trusts
Irrevocable Trusts
LEARN MOREPower of Attorney (POA)
Power of Attorney (POA)
LEARN MOREAdvance Healthcare Directive
Advance Healthcare Directive
LEARN MOREAsset Protection
Asset Protection
LEARN MORE- My Estate-Plan
Estate Planning Attorney in Oceanside, CA, Helping You Preserve Your Home, Business, and Savings
The assets you’ve worked hard to build—your home, your business, your retirement savings- deserve more than just basic protection. As your estate planning attorney in Oceanside, we help ensure these assets are managed, transferred, or safeguarded in ways that reflect your priorities and protect your loved ones.
A thoughtful estate plan isn’t just about preparing for the future; it’s about preserving what matters most today and ensuring it ends up in the right hands tomorrow.
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- My Estate-Plan
Work with a Will Lawyer from Our Firm to Clearly Define Your Wishes and Protect What Matters Most
When you begin the estate planning process, creating a legally sound will is often the first and most important step. As an experienced will lawyer in Oceanside, CA, we help clients ensure that their assets are distributed according to their exact wishes, avoiding confusion, conflict, and costly court proceedings later on.
Your will should reflect more than who gets what. It should express your intentions with clarity, name trusted individuals to carry out your wishes, and provide guidance for loved ones during an emotional time. As your dedicated will lawyer, we help draft, review, and update wills that offer real peace of mind.
Ensuring Your Loved Ones Are Cared For and Your Wishes Are Honored
Whether you are preparing your first will or need to revise an existing one, our goal is to help you make informed decisions that secure your legacy.
- My Estate-Plan
Trust Attorney Helping You Build the Right Trust for the Legacy You Want to Leave
A well-structured trust enables you to effectively manage the handling, protection, and transfer of your wealth. At My Estate-Plan, our trust attorney will assist you in selecting the right type of trust for your needs, whether it’s a living trust, an irrevocable trust, or a special needs trust.
As your trust attorney, we prioritize understanding your unique financial situation and long-term objectives. Some families seek flexibility and control, while others require protection from taxes or creditors. Trusts can be tailored to meet both of these needs.
Types of Trusts We Handle:
Working with a seasoned trust attorney assures you that your plan is legally sound and truly aligned with your intentions.
Create an Advance Healthcare Directive with Our Attorney to Make Sure Your Medical Choices Are Respected
An advance healthcare directive allows you to take control of your medical future by documenting your wishes and naming someone you trust to make decisions if you are unable to do so. Typically, an advance healthcare directive includes both a living will and a Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA). This is more than just a medical form; it is an expression of care for your loved ones.
As part of a complete estate plan, we help clients create clear, enforceable directives that reduce uncertainty and provide guidance in moments when clarity matters most. Alongside your advance directive, we often coordinate with a power of attorney lawyer to ensure all your bases are covered, including financial decision-making.
Why It Makes a Difference to Plan for the Unexpected with Us
By working with us, an estate planning attorney who understands how to properly draft and align your advance healthcare directive with your other legal documents, you are protecting both your values and the people who care about you.
Whether it’s outlining treatment preferences or naming a healthcare agent, we ensure that your voice is heard, even when you can’t speak for yourself.
- My Estate-Plan
Navigate Probate with the Help of a Trusted Probate Lawyer from Our Oceanside Estate Planning Law Firm
Probate can be a complex and emotional process, especially during a time of grief. As an experienced probate lawyer serving Oceanside, CA, and surrounding areas, we are here to help ease the burden and navigate the legal steps required to settle a loved one’s estate.
The probate process involves filing petitions with the court, managing debts, distributing assets, and often addressing disputes. A skilled probate lawyer understands how to move efficiently through these steps while protecting the interests of the estate and its beneficiaries.
Trusted in Guiding Families Through the Probate Process with Compassion and Clarity
Whether your loved one left a will or died intestate (the legal term for without a will), we’re here to handle the details with professionalism and care. Our role as your probate lawyer includes:
- Filing and managing probate petitions
- Advising executors or personal representatives
- Advising exResolving beneficiary disputes or creditor claimsecutors or personal representatives
- Coordinating with a trust attorney, asset protection lawyer, or power of attorney lawyer when additional planning is required
Probate doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let us provide the legal guidance you need to move forward with confidence.
- My Estate-Plan
A Trusted Estate Planning Attorney Your Family Can Rely On After You’re Gone
One of the most thoughtful things you can do for your loved ones is to leave behind a clear plan, legally sound, and easy to follow. Without one, even close families can face confusion, stress, or conflict during an already emotional time.
As your estate planning attorney in Oceanside, CA, we help you put the right tools in place (whether that is a will, a living trust, or guidance from a probate lawyer) so your wishes are honored and your family is not left guessing about what to do next.
At My Estate-Plan, our support goes beyond paperwork. We build long-term relationships and offer practical guidance that your family can turn to when they need it most. Our goal is to help make life’s hardest moments a little easier by giving your loved ones clarity, direction, and peace of mind.
- My Estate-Plan
Why Families in Oceanside Choose an Estate Planning Attorney from My Estate-Plan
At My Estate-Plan, we believe that estate planning should be clear, supportive, and tailored to your life, not overwhelming or impersonal. Families throughout Oceanside turn to us for trusted guidance and long-term peace of mind. Here’s why:
We prioritize your values and goals.
We offer practical legal guidance with compassion.
We help make complex decisions feel manageable.
We serve clients from all walks of life.
We build lasting relationships.
If you are ready to take the next step or want a second look at an existing plan, we are here to support you with honesty, insight, and personal attention.
- My Estate-Plan
Already Have a Will or Trust? Let’s Make Sure Your Entire Plan Still Works for You
Estate planning is not a one-time task. As your life evolves, your plan should evolve too. If you already have a will or trust, our estate planning attorney can review and update your documents to reflect your current circumstances and goals.
We help clients revise outdated wills, adjust trusts for new financial realities, and ensure that all documents, including advance healthcare directives, are legally sound and aligned with your intentions.
If your documents were created years ago, prepared in another state, or no longer reflect your wishes, we are here to help. We also assist families in determining whether a probate lawyer is needed based on how assets are titled and whether a trust or updated plan might help avoid court involvement altogether.
A regular review of your estate plan ensures your loved ones have clear guidance when they need it most and that your voice is honored every step of the way.
- My Estate-Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
A Plan Built Especially For You
When it comes to wills, trusts, and other types of estate planning, no two situations are the same. This is why my most important job is to listen to what you want to achieve in order to advise you on the best plan possible. Each and every document of your estate plan will be prepared by a licensed attorney to ensure your wishes are properly achieved.
Once Again, Proof Positive! – A robust, superbly drafted Revocable Living Trust centered estate plan is a superior method to prevent loss of time and money, and achieve your desires.
Affordable Plans, Competitive Rates, and Peace of Mind
You do not have to trade sound professional legal advice for a reasonably priced will, trust, or complete estate plan. My law office offers packages that are affordable and competitively priced.
With so much riding on your decisions, you and your family cannot afford mistakes. An attorney, like myself, who practices estate planning is the only person who can properly guide you to ensure your wishes are carried out and give you the peace of mind that comes with a properly executed and implemented estate plan.
What Do I Get With an Estate Plan Prepared by William Daniel Powell?
You will get an affordable plan, at a competitive rate, and the peace of mind that comes with a plan built especially for you.
Your exact situation and desired distribution will dictate the means to be used, as well as the ultimate cost of the plan. However, every estate plan I create contains the Revocable Living Trust, Certificate of Trust, Trust Summary, Pour-Over Will, Durable Power of Attorney, California Advanced Healthcare Directive, funding instructions for various assets, and the funding of your residence with a new deed and Preliminary Change of Ownership Report prepared by my office to put the residence into your trust. All documents are attorney prepared, and all advice is given by an attorney.
Legal Zoom won’t help you with funding or provide legal advice on such a personal level! Further, I will review the estate plan I create for you every three years, upon your request, with you for no additional charge*. Moreover, I am more than happy to discuss future changes to your situation, or family situation, as they arise and how it may impact the plan I drafted for you, at no additional charge*.
*Modifications will be at an additional charge.
But If I Create A Revocable Living Trust, Will I Lose Control of my Property?
Absolutely not. Think of a Revocable Living Trust as a bucket. It is a bucket that you constructed, and one which you hold. You are free to put things into the bucket, and take them out whenever you like. In the event you become incapacitated, you can determine whom you would like to hold the bucket on your behalf. In the event of your passing, you determine how the bucket is to be poured out to your family and friends. Moreover, the bucket and its content are not public record.
What Does Probate Cost?
California Probate Code sets the rate currently as:
- 4% of the first $100,000 of the gross value of the probate estate
- 3% of the next $100,000
- 2% of the next $800,000
- 1% of the next $9 million
- .5% of the next $15 million
Keep in mind that the value of the estate is based on the value of the asset, and not its equity. Therefore, if you own a home valued by the appraiser at $500,000 and you have a mortgage balance of $400,000 – the value is not $100,000 but the full $500,000. Also, for example, let’s say you also have other property such as accounts and a car or two (worth an additional $150,000) that raise the total value of the estate to $650,000.
So the attorney probate fees for the estate break down like this:
- 4% of the first $100,000 = $4,000
- 3% of the next $100,000 = $3,000
- 2% of the remaining $450,000 = $9,000
For a total fee of $16,000
So given everything we know now, let’s see what the potential costs will be for a simple $650,000 estate. This can be any combination of probate property, but let’s say the home is $500,000 (not difficult in California) and an additional $150,000 in probate property. Please keep in mind that fees given are approximate and may vary by location, changes in laws, or other factors.
- $400 Court filing fee
- $650 appraisal fee
- $150 publication fee
- $16,000 attorney fees
- $16,000 executor fees (potential)
- $400 fee to file Petition for Final Distribution Total of $17,600 to $33,600
So you see that an average cost of $1,000 to $2,500 for a Revocable Living Trust Centered Estate Plan is far more affordable than the cost of a $10,000 to $30,000 probate.
- My Estate-Plan
Wills? Trusts? Probate?
The most important aspect of estate planning is providing for your loved ones after you pass away. Without an estate plan, the state of California will determine how your assets are distributed among your heirs according to intestate succession laws. This may not align with your wishes and could potentially leave your loved ones without proper financial support.
- My Estate-Plan
Customer Testimonials
I am so thankful I have met Mr. Powell for preparing my Will and all documents necessary needed. He was very professional, on time, respectful and very flexible to my schedule too. I highly recommend it to everyone! Thank you again I have a well peace of mind now.
I have had the good fortune of knowing Dan Powell for about five years, both personally and professionally. He has always demonstrated professionalism in his knowledge of estate planning, while also conveying attributes I consider to be equally-valuable: honesty, integrity, and ethics, all while maintaining a healthy sense of humor (which I appreciate!) I would highly recommend Dan to anyone in need of professional estate planning services!
William was very professional in every way. He listened carefully to my needs for the Trust I wanted to update. He asked all the right questions, verified all my information and he executed the Trust masterfully. He made sure I was totally covered with nothing left to chance. He was quick, efficient and knows his stuff! If I need anything in the future, I will be calling on his expertise once again.
- My Estate-Plan
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