Practice Area
Trusts & Estates
Protecting your family, preserving your legacy, and ensuring your wishes are carried out requires thoughtful, experienced estate planning counsel. Paul D. Gullion has guided California families through every aspect of estate planning and administration for decades, backed by more than fifty years as a Central California attorney.
Services
Trust & Estate Services
Living Trust Drafting & Funding
A revocable living trust is the cornerstone of a modern estate plan for most California residents. It avoids probate, preserves privacy, and allows for efficient transfer of assets to your beneficiaries. Paul drafts comprehensive living trusts tailored to your family, your assets, and your wishes — and guides you through the funding process to ensure your assets are properly titled in the trust.
Trust Amendments & Restatements
Life changes: marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and significant changes in wealth or circumstances all warrant a review and likely update of your estate plan. Paul helps trustees and grantors amend specific provisions or, when more extensive changes are needed, prepare a complete trust restatement.
Wills & Pour-Over Wills
A will is a fundamental legal document that expresses your wishes regarding the disposition of your estate. In conjunction with a living trust, Paul often prepares a "pour-over" will that captures any assets inadvertently left outside the trust and directs them into it at death. He also drafts standalone wills for clients whose situations do not require a full trust.
Decedent Estate Administration
When a loved one passes away, the family is left to navigate the administration of their estate — often while grieving. Paul provides compassionate, experienced guidance through the full administration process, whether the estate passes through a living trust, a will, or intestate succession. He assists successor trustees and personal representatives with asset inventories, creditor notifications, tax matters, and distribution to beneficiaries.
Trust Administration & Successor Trustee Guidance
If you have been named as a successor trustee, you have accepted significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities. Paul advises successor trustees on their duties, helps them navigate the administration process, and ensures that the trust is administered in accordance with its terms and with applicable California law — minimizing exposure to claims by beneficiaries.
Why Act Now
Estate Planning Is Not Just for the Elderly
Many people delay estate planning because it feels like a concern for "later." But incapacity and unexpected death do not keep a schedule. The absence of a trust or will forces your family through costly, time-consuming, and public probate court proceedings — and leaves the distribution of your estate to the default rules of California law, which may not reflect your wishes at all.
A thoughtful estate plan — drafted with an experienced attorney — gives you control, protects your family, and provides peace of mind. Paul makes the process straightforward and manageable, and ensures you understand every provision before you sign.
Common Questions
Trusts & Estates FAQ
What is the difference between a living trust and a will?
A revocable living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and passes them to your beneficiaries without probate, preserving privacy and saving time and expense. A will directs the disposition of your estate but generally must pass through California probate court. Many estate plans use both — a living trust plus a 'pour-over' will that captures any assets left outside the trust.
Do I need a living trust if I already have a will?
For most California residents who own real property, a living trust is worth considering because it avoids probate — a public, court-supervised process that can be slow and costly. Paul reviews your assets and family situation and recommends the plan that fits your circumstances.
When should I update my estate plan?
Review your plan after major life events — marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a death in the family, or a significant change in wealth. Paul can amend specific provisions or, when broader changes are needed, prepare a full trust restatement.
What does a successor trustee have to do?
A successor trustee accepts significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities, including inventorying assets, notifying creditors, handling tax matters, and distributing assets according to the trust's terms. Paul advises successor trustees through the full administration process and helps minimize exposure to beneficiary claims.
Is estate planning only for the elderly or wealthy?
No. Incapacity and unexpected death do not keep a schedule, and a thoughtful plan protects families of all sizes and asset levels. A plan gives you control over medical and financial decisions and spares your loved ones from unnecessary court proceedings.
Protect Your Family's Future
Contact Paul to discuss your estate planning needs. He will help you understand your options and develop a plan that reflects your wishes.