Every parent worries about what will happen to his or her children after the parent dies. With this in mind, single parents have double their worries. If you are married, the default option is that your children will stay with your spouse. They may remain living in the same house. Based on finances, your spouse will most likely continue to work to support and take care of them. It is horrible to think about your spouse and children having to adjust to life without you. It’s even scarier to think about your children’s future without you if you are a single parent.  Therefore, it is crucial for single parents to get started on estate planning — even single parents who are young and healthy.

What our Clients Say...
“I just recently moved to the Ventura area and didn’t know of any companies to help me with my legal paperwork. I am glad I chose A People’s Choice. They were very friendly and helped me with my documents in a very efficient way in very little time. Give them a try and you will be writing a positive review just as I did.”
D. Buelna
“A People’s Choice is a business that delivers what they promise. I was treated like a VIP by their staff and Sandy was the best. As for their services, they promptly delivered all of the official documents and fillings on my behalf and their price is more than reasonable. In short, this is a business that I will always recommend and continue to use. Thank you!”
Juan B.
“I had the opportunity to use A People’s Choice again, Wow doesn’t say enough for the way the staff was able to get me in and out and all my answers answered. Very Professional, Organized and Friendly. I highly recommend!”
Debbie E.
“Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!”
Gene A.
“I have worked with A People’s Choice since September 2013. They are very knowledgeable and experienced. Their work is done professionally and timely. They show a real concern for my situation. I recommend you give them the opportunity to be of service to you.”
D. Echeverra
“A People’s Choice – Saved me time, money and hardship. The people are professional and a pleasure to work with, I totally recommend them to everyone! I will used them for all my legal documents in the future. Thank you!”
C. Lazalde
“A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I utilized their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.”
Evan J.
“How much is peace of mind worth to you? This company of hardworking, caring individuals will help you get the job done in the quickest, most efficient way. Conveniently located. Check it out. Thank you!”
Diana K.
“I needed to create a living trust, will and end of life statement. I checked out several options and found A People’s Choice. They’ve been in the business for years and their experience/expertise is a great asset. Second, it’s very helpful to have a real person you can work. Finally their prices are fair. Overall I rate A People’s Choice as excellent…quality, speed, personal service are qualities delivered!”
Bruce R.
“Extremely satisfied with the performance of A People’s Choice. The communication was excellent and all was handled in a timely efficient manner.”
Pam T.
“When my father passed away without a will, we needed help handling the transfer of his assets. Since there weren’t significant assets, I didn’t want to spend too much on the legal paperwork. A People’s Choice offered just the right service we needed. In particular, the staff was very responsive to our document filing needs, helping to turn around corrections almost immediately. They helped to ease a tough situation.”
Michael C.
“Made the process so easy for me. Also VERY prompt replies through email. So glad I used their services.”
Kristina C.
“Super prices, great service, I can’t say enough about this place. We had A People’s Choice help us with a trust and POA. They are the best!”
Jessica S.
“A People’s Choice is extremely customer orientated and friendly. Their service was fast and reliable. in the future, should I need their services again, I will not hesitate to call them. All e-mails were answered with either a phone call or e-mail sometimes even late at night.”
Tar
“I used A People’s Choice for a probate transaction and later for the preparation of a deed. All went smoothly. They were professional, efficient, easy to work with and reasonably-priced. Highly recommended.”
David S.
“A People’s Choice is awesome! They made the legal documentation process painless. I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The name says it all.”
Eric J.
“A People’s Choice is a great option to get legal documents prepared inexpensively. They offer a very professional, low cost service for all sorts of legal paperwork. I always received a prompt reply to my inquiries and found the legal guide they gave me extremely helpful and informative. I strongly recommend calling this company. You won’t be disappointed and will save lots of money as compared to using an expensive attorney!”
Kathryn R.
“I was in need of serious help and didn’t know what to do. I had contacted a lawyer and he wanted to charge me $1800.00. Then I found A People’s Choice. They were great. They got my paperwork started and at a much lower cost, and steered me, with the help of lots of paperwork, in the right direction. Very grateful for the company’s services and would recommend them to anyone that may need the services they offer.”
April R.
“Cannot remember how I found A People’s Choice. I think it was through a web search. In any case I found the company and have been and am completely satisfied with the service provided. They were very friendly whenever we spoke on the phone and always responded promptly to any emails. The answers were always clear. The entire process was smooth and painless. I would recommend A People’s Choice without hesitation.”
Les A.
“I can’t say enough about the level of service and professionalism I received working with A People’s Choice. Emails were always responded to quickly and thoughtfully. They really care about the process and helping you get the best result with no up-selling. The process played out according to plan and I ended up saving a lot of money by going with A People’s Choice over an attorney.”
M. Rice
“We love A People’s Choice. It’s legally run and professional. Everyone has to have a recommendation and license. Highly recommended.”
Christy C.
“I recently required the help of A People’s Choice, Inc. and found them to be entirely professional. Everything was done in short order yet all was explained to my satisfaction. They were friendly and courteous. I am happy and impressed.”
C. Zyobel
“Great service. Highly professional and efficient creating legal documents. I am completely satisfied and highly recommend them to others. I am so glad I found you on the internet. People who are looking for professional legal services look no further, try A People’s Choice.”
Radtech N.
“This company is excellent! They helped me get through all of my paperwork, submitted it to the court, and now everything is complete. Everything was clear and almost too easy. I saved thousands of dollars!”
Seth M.
“This team is efficient, professional, ethical and easy to work with. Any of my questions were responded to immediately. They did everything they could to help me. I highly recommend their services.”
Leigh A.
“My wife and I needed to have some papers filed in court but found that traditional lawyers were quite expensive. We found the phone number for “A People’s Choice” and gave them a call, and am so happy that we did. They did a very professional job completing our paperwork and I might say, at a very reasonable price. And you can bet; I will contact A People’s Choice again if or when the need arises. “
D. Hileman
“The service provided by A People’s Choice was very professional and comprehensive. We have used A People’s Choice on a previous occasion and were completely satisfied. We would highly recommend A People’s Choice to anyone!”
R. Betancourt
“Staff there were friendly, courteous and very professional. They did my Living Trust and the price was very reasonable. I am very pleased with their work and would highly recommend them.”
Anne M.
“Lightning fast response, I had my very simple document on the same day as my order for the very fair and reasonable price of $325 (including the rush fee!) compared to my attorney who quoted me 3 weeks and $2500. I will definitely use these folks again and highly recommend them!”
L. Carnes
“We needed to add a few changes to our estate plan. Found “A People’s Choice” on the internet. People were very efficient and helpful. The cost was way less than an attorney would have charged. Thank you.”
Gene N.
“I was very happy with the service received. They were extremely responsive by phone and email and completed the document in less than 24 hours! All questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend this service to anyone needing a legal document prepared!”
M.D.

We Help Single Parents with Estate Planning!

…or continue reading the article below to learn more about estate planning for single parents.

The Worst-Case Scenario

Estate planning for single parents is critical if you have minor children. For example, if you die without a will when your children are minors, the court will require a legal guardianship. Guardianship allows the court to decide who gets custody of them. Maybe they will live with your ex-spouse, even though the relationship may not be strong. On the other hand, maybe they will live with your dreaded ex-mother-in-law.  Maybe the court will grant custody of your children to your sister who hates kids. Worst yet, what if your children go into foster care and have to stay there until they are legal adults. The point is that unless you write a will, it is the court’s choice, not yours.

There is More to Estate Planning for Single Parents Than Just Wills

You may have heard that some people set up a living trust in addition to a will. Setting up a living trust is a sound option of comprehensive estate planning for single parents who own real property or with larger estates.  A living trust is a legal entity (like a company, except for family, not business) that owns the assets you place in it. The trustee can use the assets in the trust to pay for expenses of the designated beneficiaries (usually your children). While you are alive and well, you are the trustee, the person who makes decisions about the money in the trust. As a single parent, you should designate an alternate person to be the trustee if you become incapacitated. That person can be a relative, a friend, or even a legal or financial professional.

Living trusts are not just for very wealthy people. The “trust fund baby” stereotype comes from the fact that living trusts are a popular way for wealthy people to give money to their children and grandchildren. When considering estate planning as a single parent, you need to prepare for the worst. You do not want strangers to make legal and financial decisions about your children if you become too ill to take care of them. Estate planning no longer has a high price tag. In fact, you don’t even need to hire an estate planning lawyer to help you write a will or set up a living trust. Hiring a registered legal document assistant (LDA) is a cost-effective alternative.

Low-Cost Estate Planning for Single Parents

Estate planning for single parents does not have to break the bank. A registered legal document assistant (LDA) can help you prepare your will, living trust, and other estate planning documents. Best of all, our fees are substantially lower than you would have to pay to a lawyer. People often confuse legal document assistants with paralegals. Remember, unlike a legal document assistant, a paralegal is not licensed in California to perform these kinds of document services. Make sure you hire an experienced legal document assistant for your legal document needs. Contact A People’s Choice about estate planning document preparation. Call us today at 805-648-5540.

Get help with your estate plan documents today!

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing your California estate plan legal documents instead of an expensive attorney!

Was this article helpful? We would love to know your thoughts! If you found this article helpful, please check the LIKE button below. Your feedback helps us plan topics for future articles.