Pevney Estate Planning

06/20/2026

a home should go inside of a living trust. This protects it from Probate. Probate sucks. There is a significant cost to it, especially if you are in California. It takes a long time, typically at least a year. It is open to the public because it is a public hearing. Get that home and a trust.

06/19/2026

the 5 most common estate planning questions.

06/18/2026

trusts are extremely flexible and can protect younger adults from spending irresponsibly. We can also create beneficiary designations on almost every type of financial account so that Probate can be avoided. Probate is the judge administered Court lead and government required process for getting money from somebody’s estate when it is not inside of a trust or has a beneficiary designated. Avoid it.

06/18/2026

What happens when someone receives a serious medical diagnosis, speaks with an estate planning attorney, and then decides to wait?

In this video, I share another real-world estate planning story that almost ended very differently.

A family contacted me after receiving a serious health diagnosis. We had a full consultation, discussed their options, reviewed how a living trust could protect their family, and talked about avoiding probate. Everything was ready to move forward.

But they waited.

Months later, I received another call. The diagnosis had progressed. The client was now hospitalized, and what could have been a straightforward estate planning process became a race against the clock.

In this video, I discuss:

✔️ Why families often delay estate planning after a diagnosis
✔️ How quickly a health situation can change
✔️ The challenges of creating a trust during a medical crisis
✔️ Capacity requirements and physician certifications
✔️ Coordinating hospital signings and notaries
✔️ How we were ultimately able to avoid probate
✔️ Why planning from a position of strength is always better

Thankfully, we were able to complete the estate plan, transfer the real estate into the trust, and avoid what could have been a lengthy and expensive California probate proceeding.

But it did not have to be that stressful.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people believe they have more time than they actually do. Even after receiving a diagnosis, many families become overwhelmed with treatment decisions, appointments, and emotional stress. Estate planning gets pushed to the side until suddenly it becomes urgent.

The lesson from this story is simple:

Don’t wait until you’re in a hospital bed to start planning.

The best estate plans are created when you have time to think, time to ask questions, and time to make thoughtful decisions about your family, your finances, and your legacy.

Whether you create a trust with an attorney, update an old plan, or simply begin the conversation, doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.

If you have an estate planning question, leave it in the comments. I try to answer as many as I can.

📍 California Estate Planning Attorney

Pevney Estate Planning, PC
25201 Paseo de Alicia, Suite 140
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

🌐 Visit my website:
https://www.ocestateplanlawyer.com/

Schedule a Free Strategy Session:
https://www.ocestateplanlawyer.com/

I help families throughout California create living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and complete estate plans designed to avoid probate and protect loved ones.

06/16/2026

What happens when someone waits until the very last moment to create their estate plan?

In this video, I share one of the most stressful estate planning cases I’ve ever handled as an estate planning attorney in California. A family member contacted me after their loved one had already received a terminal diagnosis, was in hospice care, and had very limited time remaining.

We had to act immediately.

In just a matter of days, we worked to create a complete estate plan, including:

✔️ Revocable Living Trust
✔️ Financial Power of Attorney
✔️ Advance Healthcare Directive
✔️ Pour-Over Will
✔️ Transfer of the Family Home into the Trust

The client ultimately passed away the same day the trust was signed.

Fortunately, we were able to complete the planning and avoid what could have been a lengthy and expensive California probate proceeding. But this is not a situation anyone should want to be in.

This video is the first installment in my Estate Planning Nightmare Scenarios series, where I discuss real-world situations that demonstrate why waiting too long to create a trust or estate plan can create unnecessary stress, expense, and uncertainty for families.

If you own a home, have children, or simply want to make life easier for your loved ones, this is a story worth hearing.

⏰ The best estate plan is the one created while you’re healthy, clear-headed, and have time to think through your decisions carefully.

If you have an estate planning question, leave it in the comments. I try to answer as many questions as possible.

📍 California Estate Planning Attorney

Pevney Estate Planning, PC
25201 Paseo de Alicia, Suite 140
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

🌐 Visit my website:
https://www.ocestateplanlawyer.com/

06/10/2026

📣 We're hiring — but this one is very specific.
I don't post job openings often, but we're growing and I'm looking for the right person to join our team at Pevney Estate Planning in Laguna Hills, CA.
The role: Client Services Coordinator — guiding families through the signing of their estate plans. Meaningful work, great pay, 4-day work week.
$31–$38/hour · 4 days/week · Hybrid · Laguna Hills, CA

Before you apply or tag someone, please check all three boxes:
☑️ Active California Notary Public commission — required, no exceptions
☑️ Located in or near South Orange County, CA — this is an in-person hybrid role
☑️ Interested in meaningful client-facing work — not just any job
If all three apply to you or someone you know — the link below has everything.
If even one doesn't apply — please don't apply or forward. I genuinely appreciate the support but can only consider candidates who meet all three.
👉 Apply through the link only — do not DM us.
🔗 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v8PeK3HrVhhDZtfKcxlAKSWeCF4bnyc5NakIez1iYRY/edit?usp=sharing
Feel free to share with anyone who checks all three boxes. 🙏

PEVNEY ESTATE PLANNING, PC Laguna Hills, California · www.ocestateplanlawyer.com — NOW HIRING — Client Services Coordinator $31–$38/hour · 32 hrs/week · 4-Day Work Week · Hybrid Laguna Hills, CA ⚠️ PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING An active California Notary Public commission is req...

06/06/2026

Most people think estate planning is only about what happens after they're gone.

But a big part of estate planning is making sure the right people can step in if you're ever unable to make financial or medical decisions for yourself.

Planning ahead can help your family avoid unnecessary stress, confusion, and legal hurdles during an already difficult time.

The best time to create an estate plan isn't during a crisis—it's before one happens.

Learn more at ocestateplanlawyer.com

06/04/2026

A living trust that has nothing inside of it is completely powerless. Make sure stuff gets inside of a trust, especially real estate.

06/01/2026

Estrada property taxes in California suck.

05/28/2026

at some point a trust must end. Once assets are distributed and there’s nothing more inside of the trust. There’s really no purpose for the trust to exist anymore at that point the trust is dissolved.