This post is part of a sponsored partnership with Yee Law Group but from my personal experience, I highly recommend their services for a family estate plan.

When you have kids, it’s important to have an estate plan in place. A trust isn’t a task to keep pushing off, and yet, that’s what usually happens. It’s one of those things where families say, “I’ll get around to it soon.” Then, another year passes, and this important task is still on the list. At least, this is what kept happening to our family, until we came across Yee Law Group in Sacramento.

Another thing many families in California don’t realize is that setting up a will isn’t enough. In California, a trust is needed to avoid probate (the legal process that occurs after someone passes to settle their estate). Probate court is time-consuming, expensive, and adds stress to an already difficult point in time. Having a trust in place avoids all of that.

Having only recently learned about the need for a trust, Yee Law Group made the entire process smooth and easy, helping to ensure our children are protected by having the necessary trust in place. They made it simple to set up a full estate plan.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the key details to know and the process to expect when setting up a trust for your family. Plus, I’ll share my personal experience of going through the steps with Yee Law Group.

How to Contact Yee Law Group

I highly recommend working with Yee Law Group. From start to finish, they had very clear and responsive communication, happily answered all the many questions we had about a trust, and were fantastic to work with. Sacramento families can rest assured knowing they’ll be in great hands with their estate plan.

Yee Law Group has several locations in the Sacramento area, including Land Park, Folsom, and Roseville. If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable law group to help get your affairs in order, including creating a complete estate plan, contact Yee Law Group here.

Why Families in California Need a Trust

Avoid Probate

If you think finding a free template online for a will is enough, unfortunately, you’d be wrong. At least, this is the case for California. You’ll need to take a step further and ensure a revocable living trust is in place.

Why? A trust means you will avoid probate, which can take months longer, cost thousands in fees, and involve the court.

Protect Your Children

A trust allows you to:

• Control how and when assets are distributed
• Ensure your kids are financially supported if something happens to you

Make Things Easier for Your Family

Instead of navigating courts and paperwork, your loved ones can:

• Follow clear instructions
• Access assets more quickly
• Avoid unnecessary stress

Maintain Privacy

Unlike a will, which becomes public record during probate, a trust keeps your financial matters private.

Trust vs. Will — What’s the Difference?

Many families think a will is enough—but here’s the key difference:

• Will → goes through probate
• Trust → avoids probate

A will can still be part of your estate plan (and usually is), but it works alongside a trust—not in place of one.

What’s Included in an Estate Plan

A complete estate plan with Yee Law Group includes:

• Revocable Living Trust
• Certification of Trust
• Pour-Over Will
• Power of Attorney
• Advance Health Care Directive
• Deed Transfer

These documents work together to ensure your wishes are clearly outlined and legally protected.

What the Process Was Like

Setting up a trust might sound overwhelming, but the process was actually much more straightforward than expected! Yee Law Group made it easy.

Consultation & Questionnaire

After contacting Yee Law Group, the first step is a consultation. If it’s difficult to get to their offices due to kids’ schedules, luckily, they provide an option for a remote consultation.

First, you will receive a questionnaire to complete at least two business days before your initial appointment. During the appointment, an attorney will go over the questionnaire with you to confirm specific items and answers.

In my experience, they took ample time to go over our questionnaire, didn’t rush us, and happily answered the questions we had. The whole process took no more than 30-45 minutes.

In-Office Appointment

After the initial consultation appointment, attorneys review and draft your estate plan based on the information provided and any additional details discussed.

The preparation time is around 7-8 weeks before your next appointment will be scheduled. At that appointment, you will need to physically go to one of their offices as signatures are required on various documents, and a notary will be needed (which their office takes care of).

Before going into the office, you’ll receive a final draft of your estate plan to review and make any last-minute changes. The attorneys may also have additional questions or need confirmations on items.

If you choose the Land Park office, as we did, it’s across the street from the Sacramento Zoo, which is the perfect next stop if your kids are with you. Ours had to come along, and the attorney we worked with was so nice and accommodating to our kids (thank you, Jackie!). Plus, there’s a cool fish tank in their lobby that kids will appreciate.

The Binder

Yee Law Group provides you with a big binder containing all the contents of your estate plan. I’m still impressed by the incredible organization of it all! They do a great job of going over all the specific documents you’ll be signing in the office.

Estate Plan Homework

After you leave the office, there’s just one more thing you’ll have to do, which is to add the trust as a beneficiary to some accounts. Yee Law Group will go over all this with you. They notate a page in the aforementioned binder that will include this task list.

How Much Does It Cost?

Estate planning is an investment in your family’s future. With Yee Law Group, pricing is:

• $2,600 for a married estate plan
• $2,300 for a single estate plan

Depending on your needs, you can also choose standalone documents or customized combinations. So pricing can vary based on your specific situation.

What Happens if I Need to Make Changes?

As people’s lives change, properties are acquired, and kids get older, modifications may be likely to an estate plan down the line.

When doing a trust with Yee Law Group, an additional benefit is that they generally include one amendment within the first year of creation. After that, if adjustments are needed in the future, estate plan revisions are absolutely allowed, but they will cost an additional fee.

Is a Trust Worth It?

For most California families, the answer is yes. When comparing the cost of a trust versus the expenses, time, and stressfulness of probate, a trust is absolutely worth it.

Get Started with Your Estate Plan

If setting up a trust has been on your to-do list, this is your sign to get it done! Honestly, it’s something you really don’t want to think about, but it does feel like a huge relief that such an important task is finally crossed off the list.

When working with Yee Law Group, you can create a plan that protects your family and gives you peace of mind.

👉 Start here: https://mylawyersllp.com/contact-us/

FAQs About Trusts in California

Do I need a trust if I don’t have a lot of assets?
Yes—especially if you own a home or have children.

Can I just have a will instead?
A will alone does not avoid probate in California.

How long does it take to set up a trust?
It varies, but many families can complete the process within a few weeks.

Can I update my trust later?
Yes, revocable living trusts can be updated as your life and assets change over time. In fact, trusts with Yee Law Group generally include one amendment within the first year of creation for free.