Wills Compassionate in Our Approach, Decisive in Our Strategy

Wills Lawyers in Carlsbad

We Can Help You Legally Document Your Final Wishes

Simply put, a will is a legal document that states your final wishes. If you have a spouse, children, stepchildren, or a significant amount of assets, chances are good that you should create a will.

For families with younger children in particular, a will is necessary to name a guardian for those children, should both parents die or become incapacitated. A will also ensures your child’s inheritance is secure.

To create a will in Carlsbad, contact Griffith, Young & Lass. Our talented team of attorneys can help you create the legal documentation you need to secure the future of your loved ones. Call (858) 371-5569.

Those who have life insurance policies, retirement accounts and property deeds likely have included beneficiary information, but a will covers much more, such as who gets family heirlooms, vehicles and artwork, to name a few examples. You can even make arrangements for your pets, should they outlive you, by designating someone to be a caregiver and providing financially for their care.

Without a will in place, your assets that don’t designate a beneficiary must go through a court proceeding known as probate, where it will be determined who gets those assets.

Once you have a will in place, you should review it every five years to ensure that it’s up to date and still accurately reflects your future wishes. You can change your will whenever you wish.

Naming an Executor in Your Will

An important element of your will is naming an executor to manage your property and assets until it is distributed according to your wishes. An executor oversees the payment of any taxes owed, handles bills that come up after your death, and appears in court if the estate is in probate.

Living Wills & Advance Health Care Directives

A medical crisis that leaves you too ill to make your own health care decisions could happen at any age. Yet, more than two-thirds of the adult population has no living will or other advance health care directive, according to the American Bar Association.

An advance health care directive enables you to avoid confusion among your loved ones by clearly defining how you want decisions regarding your medical care to be made in the event that you’re too ill to speak for yourself. It provides instructions about your health care, and it allows you to appoint someone to make medical treatment decisions for you.

These legal documents tell your family, friends and health care professionals:

The type of health care you want, such as whether to have CPR, a ventilator or artificial nutrition
Whom you wish to make decisions on your behalf
Orders not to resuscitate
Organ donation

DIY Wills vs. Hiring an Attorney

There are many resources available to help you create your own will, but there are some circumstances in which it is advisable to hire an attorney to walk you through the process. According to the American Bar Association, you should consult a wills attorney in the following circumstances:

Complications exist regarding past marriages, divorce or combined families.
Anyone in your immediate family has international citizenship.
You own or have an interest in property outside of your state of residence.
Your assets exceed a certain amount (typically several million dollars, but this amount changes periodically).
You or your soon-to-be spouse are marrying or re-marrying and complications related to trusts, property ownership or guardianship for minor children could crop up.

If you are at all concerned or confused about establishing a will, your best bet is to work with an attorney to ensure you complete the process with confidence. At GYL, we are happy to extend our estate planning legal services to drafting, reviewing / modifying, and executing wills for our clients. And, because we take a client-centered approach in all that we do, we are confident in our ability to help you establish a document that best suits your needs and interests.

We’re only a phone call or click away. Dial (858) 371-5569 or submit an online contact form to get started today.

Meet Our Team

Honest. Fearless. Bold.

John N. Griffith, Esq., CFLS
Catie E. Young, Esq., CFLS
Amy J. Lass, Esq., CFLS
Shirin Asgari, Esq., CFLS
Eric Cowdery, Esq.
Jeffrey Wittliff, Esq.
Joshua Yee, Esq.
Shaudi Malekzadeh, Esq.

Meet our team

Our Results Speak for Themselves

Over 100 5-Star Reviews Throughout Our Social Media Platforms

The way John presented our case was pure genius with meticulous preparation and deliberate action in court.
“We were referred to John Griffith at GYL by our former attorney. I specifically was looking for an aggressive attorney that would yield results. John, Josh, and the firm performed flawlessly, and did ...”
- MoMo M.
I would highly recommend Griffith, Young & Lass to anyone looking for ethical, honest, hard-working and skillful lawyers.
“I would highly recommend Griffith, Young & Lass to anyone looking for ethical, honest, hard-working and skillful lawyers (I would stress these are actually rare qualities within the legal industry and ...”
- Scott G.
You cannot find a better law firm.
“I cannot say enough good things about John Griffith and this law firm. Each person i interacted with was responsive, intelligent, thoughtful and professional. Attorney Griffith worked very hard to ...”
- Michelle P.
It was the best decision I’ve made yet and hopefully, it will be yours too.
“She doesn’t back down from anyone. It was the best decision I’ve made yet and hopefully, it will be yours too.”
- Ian R.
Understanding, accessible, and I was very happy with the outcome of my case. If I could give a higher rating I would!
“Easy to work with, forthcoming about the process, set realistic expectations, and always kept cost in mind.”
- Jennifer P.
All three lawyers worked together on the issues surrounding my case, which helped greatly when I was in need of answers or support.
“The GYL team is always prompt at returning calls & emails. From personal experience, I can tell you that they will not step away from your case until it's finished.”
- Kelsey L.
I couldn’t have made it without them! I highly recommend them!
“GYL has been an extraordinary support and backing in my divorce. Being a male in the military, the process for divorce and custody is difficult. GYL was extremely helpful, and I was able to full custody of my children. That alone is such a monumental feat.”
- Frankie S.
Worth every penny! My custody case went as stress-free as it could possibly be.
“I hate seeing anyone go through custody battles but if you’re in that situation and need someone who is trustworthy and great at what they do, then I swear this is the place to get the help!”
- Emily B.
I highly recommend GYL if you are ever in need of a family law attorney.
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- Kimberley F.
Highly professional and supportive in a very uncertain time in my life.
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- K. Brooks
Always willing to listen to your concerns. I would highly recommend.
“Compassionate and kind, however, he will fight for you and your best interests. He is calm and calculated and extremely smart.”
- Ann M.
Extremely helpful, responsive, and reasonable and got the job done amidst tenuous circumstances.
“She and her team were extremely compassionate, sensitive with me while concurrently advocating strongly on my behalf.”
- Jeremy R.
I felt like she was practical and knowledgeable and most importantly, she listened.
“The professional and succinct assistance was a much-needed breath of fresh air in the maze of hurdles and complications with our family law case.”
- David R.

Why GYL?

Turn to a Team that Does It Best

We're Leaders in Our Field
From case planning to preparation, to superior courtroom presence, our clients can be sure that they will walk into the Courtroom prepared and with the best chance of success.
Client Centered & Results Oriented
Our representation is tailored to the unique circumstances of each client. We deploy the GYL strategic case trajectory dynamic to ensure the best chance at success at the most reasonable cost.
Brilliant, Hard-Working & Honest
We don't believe in wasting our client's time and money. Helping people is what drives us to excel at our craft. We first identify the goals and interests of each client, we then develop an efficient and effective case plan aimed at achieving those goals.
Responsible & Ethical Practices
We believe in a responsible and ethical practice and stick to our values regardless of the situation. We're transparent and don't just tell our clients what they want to hear, unless it's what we believe, even if it may deter them from moving forward. We stand by our team's expertise and will always be upfront and honest with our clients.

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