LIMITED ENGAGEMENT LETTER AND TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT

It is my pleasure to represent your family for the limited purpose of nominating guardians who will care for your children in the event of your death or disability.  By signing this engagement letter, you are acknowledging that our firm is representing you only for the limited purpose of legally nominating guardians and for no other purpose.  If you engage our firm for any additional matters, a new engagement letter must be executed.  

THE NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN DOCUMENT EXECUTED ON THIS DATE DOES NOT AVOID PROBATE, PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN’S INHERITANCE FROM THEIR CREDITORS OR PREDATORS, AND DOES NOT PROTECT YOUR ESTATE FROM ESTATE TAX.  

You acknowledge that I have advised you on (and you understand) the following:

WITHOUT FURTHER PLANNING, YOUR ASSETS WILL PASS ACCORDING TO YOUR STATE'S PROBATE LAW AND WILL BE FREELY AVAILABLE TO YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY TURN 18 YEARS OLD.

UPON YOUR DEATH OR DISABILITY, ANY ASSETS TITLED IN YOUR NAME WILL BE PROBATED BEFORE THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUR HEIRS.  PROBATE IS A COSTLY, TIME INTENSIVE PROCESS AND COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

This engagement is limited strictly to legal services related to your nomination of a guardian to care for your children in the event of your death or disability.  It is understood that you are not relying on my office for estate planning, business, investment, accounting, or valuation decisions, and that before relying on us for any such advice, we will execute a new engagement letter.  

If you are married or in a committed relationship and I am advising both you and your partner, by signing this engagement letter, you agree that you are waiving any conflicts that may exist now or in the future between the two of you.  

DISPUTES

By this document, the client and this office agree that any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this contract or breach thereof, including but not limited to any dispute relating to services provided, attorney fees or expenses, shall be settled by arbitration administered in accordance with the California Arbitration Act and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.