As residents of Pasadena, and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley areas, we are deeply heartbroken by the devastation so many have suffered in our community. We are grateful to be safe, but our hearts are with all our friends and neighbors who are facing unimaginable losses.
Losing estate planning documents in a disaster like the Eaton Fire can be stressful, but there are steps you can take to rebuild and ensure your estate plan remains intact. Here’s a helpful list of steps:
1. Assess the Situation
- Confirm which documents are lost (e.g., wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives).
- Check if you have copies or digital versions stored in safe locations, such as a fireproof safe, with your attorney, or in a digital vault.
2. Contact Your Estate Planning Attorney
- Reach out to the attorney who prepared your estate plan. They may have copies of your documents or records to help recreate them.
- If your attorney is retired, or deceased, or unreachable then please know that Vistas Law Group is here for you, offering our estate planning services PRO BONO to those who lost their homes in the fires. We have two (2) locations in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.
3. Retrieve Documents from Financial Institutions
- Contact financial institutions where you have accounts or plans referenced in your estate documents (e.g., retirement accounts, life insurance policies).
- Request beneficiary designations, account statements, or any documents related to your estate.
4. Notify Key Parties
- Inform family members, executors, trustees, and agents under powers of attorney about the situation. They may have copies or information about your estate plan if you provided them with those copies.
5. Update and Recreate Lost Documents
- You may be able to restate your lost or destroyed Trusts: If your residence is currently vested in a trust and you cannot obtain a copy of your trust, we can prepare a restatement of your trust which utilize the same name as your previous trust and will.
6. Retrieve or Replace Important Documents
- Deeds and Titles: Visit the local county recorder or clerk’s office to request copies.
- Vital Records: Replace birth certificates, marriage licenses, or death certificates by contacting the relevant government agencies.
7. Secure Digital and Backup Storage
- Create electronic copies of all recreated documents and store them in a secure digital format (e.g., cloud storage with encryption).
- Invest in a fireproof and waterproof safe for physical copies.
8. Review and Update Beneficiaries
- Confirm and/or update beneficiary designations on insurance policies, retirement accounts, and investment accounts to ensure they align with your new documents.
9. Consider Additional Protections
- Enroll in a document storage or estate plan maintenance service for ongoing support and security.
- Explore options for disaster-proofing your estate plan, such as storing documents with a trusted third party or using secure online tools.
10. Keep the Process Moving
- Rebuilding can take time, but prioritizing estate documents helps avoid complications if something happens in the interim. Draft temporary or emergency versions if necessary.
We understand that recovering from a disaster like the Eaton Fire is overwhelming, and rebuilding your estate plan may feel like one more daunting task. Please know that we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you’ve lost important estate planning documents or need help recreating your plan, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
At Vistas Law Group, we’re offering our estate planning services at no cost to those affected by the fires. Whether you’re in Los Angeles or the Inland Empire, we’re ready to help you rebuild with compassion and care.
Visit us online at vistaslawgroup.com or call us directly at (213) 745-8747 for Los Angeles or (951) 307-9154 in the Inland Empire. Let us help you restore peace of mind during this challenging time.