A trust or will is supposed to give your family peace—not legal headaches. But in California, we’ve seen plans get challenged for all sorts of reasons, from confusion over wording to claims of pressure or fraud. At Vistas Law Group, we help people like you create plans that can stand strong—plans built to reduce the risk of family disputes and court battles.
How to Help Protect Your Plan in California
- Work with the right legal team – Litigation experience matters. Our attorneys have the experience in the trenches as litigators to advise on red flags during the intake process that will help reduce the risk of your plan being invalidated.
- Use a living trust – A trust will more likely keep your assets out of probate and makes it so your estate is passed per your specific wishes after death.
- Have the conversation – Financial matters and estate planning decisions are generally confidential. However, talking with your loved ones about your wishes may help prevent misunderstandings before problems start during lifetime or after your death.
- Pick someone reliable – Your trustee or executor should be steady, fair, and loyal to your wishes. In tricky family situations, a professional can be a good choice as well.
- Add a no-contest clause – This discourages anyone from challenging your plan without a good cause.
- Stay organized and up to date – Keep your records in order and review your plan regularly. Our attorneys are ready to discuss any changed circumstances in your life to help advise on planning.
Why Disputes Happen Even With a Plan
Legal challenges often come down to coercion or poor drafting—not just disagreements. Someone might question whether the person creating the plan fully understood what they were doing as well. Experience matters in drafting estate plans. That’s why it’s worth taking the time now to make sure everything is done correctly and per your wishes.
Talk With a California Estate Planning Team You Can Trust
If you want to protect what you’ve built and avoid family tension later, we’re here to help. Call 213-745-8747 in Los Angeles or 909-415-0540 in Inland Empire, or visit vistaslawgroup.com. Let’s make sure your plan works the way you want it to—when it matters most.