Chaney Counsel

10/08/2026

What documents should be part of your estate plan? The answer depends on your family and unique circumstances, but for many people, a comprehensive plan may include a trust, pour-over will, advance health care directive, and durable power of attorney.

For parents of minor children, naming a guardian is another important step that can help ensure your wishes are known.

Chaney Counsel helps individuals and families throughout Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Southern California build personalized estate plans that protect what matters most.

10/02/2026

10/01/2026

Helping families plan for the future of a child or adult with a disability is some of the most meaningful work Lindsey does.

Special needs planning can help families protect their loved one’s future while creating a plan tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. Chaney Counsel helps families throughout Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Southern California navigate special needs trusts, estate planning, and long-term planning with care.

09/29/2026

I’m really excited to become a member of The Arc and be part of an organization that advocates for individuals and families with disabilities.

This is something that means a lot to me personally, and it also connects closely with the work I’m doing through Chaney Counsel. I’m looking forward to getting more involved, meeting others who are passionate about this work, and finding more ways to support families in our community. ❤️

09/29/2026

A parent died with a house in California. Does it HAVE to go through probate? Many families face this urgent question. Find out what you need to know.

Read more: https://www.chaneycounsel.com/blog/a-parent-dies-with-a-house-in-california-does-it-have-to-go-through-probate/

Your parent has passed away, and now you are trying to sort through everything they left behind. Among the paperwork, accounts, and personal belongings, one question may feel especially urgent: what happens to the house?Maybe your parent had a will. Maybe you are not sure whether there was a trust.....

09/24/2026

Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you pass away. A comprehensive estate plan can also prepare for incapacity through tools like advance health care directives and powers of attorney.

And having a trust is only part of the process. Properly funding your trust is essential to making sure it works as intended.

Chaney Counsel helps families throughout Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Southern California create and maintain estate plans built for the future.

09/18/2026

4 Time Periods We Look At When Doing Estate Planning

When most people hear “estate planning,” they think about what happens after they die.

But estate planning is about much more than that.

There are really four different time periods we need to think about:

1. Now – Who can help manage things if needed?
2. Incapacity – What happens if you become mentally incapacitated?
3. Death – Who receives your assets and how?
4. Post-Death – Who handles everything after you’re gone?

One of the most important parts of estate planning is planning for incapacity.

A properly drafted revocable living trust can include provisions for managing the assets held in your trust if you become incapacitated. But that only addresses the assets that are actually funded into your trust.

That’s why a complete estate plan may also include:

• Durable Power of Attorney for Finances – Allows someone you trust to handle financial matters that may fall outside your trust, including certain tax matters, IRAs, life insurance, annuities, and other assets or financial decisions.

• Advance Health Care Directive – Names the person you want making medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself.

• HIPAA Authorization – Gives designated people permission to access your health information when needed.

Estate planning isn’t just about deciding what happens when you’re gone.

It’s also about making sure someone you trust can step in and help while you’re still here. ❤️

09/17/2026

For Lindsey Chaney, being an attorney is about helping people navigate some of life’s most important and challenging moments. She is especially passionate about advocating for the disability community and helping families plan for a more secure future.

From estate planning and special needs planning to wills and trusts, Chaney Counsel helps families throughout Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Southern California protect what matters most.

09/15/2026

FACT: Probate Fees Are Based on Gross Value

Here’s something many California homeowners don’t realize:

Probate fees are generally calculated based on the gross value of the estate, not the equity you actually have after a mortgage or other debts.

For example:

Home value: $800,000
Mortgage: $600,000
Probate fee calculation: $800,000

And it doesn’t stop there. Statutory fees can apply to both the attorney and the personal representative.

Why does this matter?

Probate can become expensive quickly, especially when a large portion of your estate’s value is tied up in real property.

That’s one reason many California families explore estate planning strategies designed to avoid probate altogether.

Estate planning isn’t just about deciding who gets what. It’s also about understanding how your plan works when your family needs it most.

Plan ahead. Plan with purpose. Plan with heart. 🤍