Law Office of Susan A. Katzen

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Law Office of Susan A. Katzen The Law Office of Susan A. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Katzen is located in Newport Beach, providing representation for Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Settlement Planning, Trust Administration, Probate, and Conservatorships.

One of the things I appreciate most about this review is the phrase “peace of mind.”That is really what thoughtful estat...
10/23/2026

One of the things I appreciate most about this review is the phrase “peace of mind.”

That is really what thoughtful estate planning should create.

For families thinking about a child’s future care, the process is rarely just about documents. It is about understanding the family dynamics, asking the right questions, thinking through the people who may need to step in, and building a plan that actually fits the child and the family around them.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to those decisions.

Our goal is to help families feel heard, give them practical direction, and create a plan they can feel confident in.

We are so grateful for this review and for the trust our clients place in Susan and her team.

If you are thinking about your child’s future and are not sure where to begin, that is exactly what the planning process is for.

10/22/2026

For many parents, the hardest part of special needs planning is not deciding how much money to leave.

It is thinking about the day when someone else may need to step in.

Who will understand your child’s routines? Who will know what helps them feel safe, what they enjoy, what overwhelms them, which doctors they see, and who the important people are in their life?

Those details may feel like second nature to you because you live them every day. But they are exactly the kinds of things that can be lost if everything is left informal.

A thoughtful plan can do more than name a trustee or leave an inheritance. It can help identify the people who may need to be involved, give them clearer guidance, and create more continuity for your child’s future.

If you have not done this yet, start with something simple: write down the people you would want involved in your child’s life and the roles you imagine each of them playing.

You do not have to solve the whole future in one sitting. You just have to start building the plan.
Request a consultation with Susan today: https://www.skatzenlaw.com/contact-us

“Should my child have a Special Needs Trust or an ABLE account?”It is a good question, but it is usually not the first q...
10/21/2026

“Should my child have a Special Needs Trust or an ABLE account?”

It is a good question, but it is usually not the first question I want to answer.

I want to know what your child needs the money to do.

What benefits do they receive? Where will the money come from? Who should manage it? Will your child need access to some funds directly? What kinds of expenses and opportunities are you hoping to provide for over time?

ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts are not necessarily competing options. Depending on the situation, they may serve different purposes and can sometimes work together as part of a larger plan.

That is why special needs planning is so personal. We are not choosing a financial tool in isolation. We are building around a person, their benefits, their abilities, their support system, and the life you want to help make possible for them.

The goal is not simply to protect money. It is to create a thoughtful plan for how that money can support your child.

If you are trying to decide what may be appropriate for your family, talk with Susan about your child’s future.
https://www.skatzenlaw.com/contact-us

You created a trust years ago in another state. Then you moved to California, sold one home, bought another, and kept li...
10/20/2026

You created a trust years ago in another state. Then you moved to California, sold one home, bought another, and kept living your life.

It is easy to assume the trust simply came along for the ride.

But property is one of the reasons I encourage families to review an estate plan after a move.

The question is not only whether the trust document is still valid. We also want to look at how your current real estate is titled, whether new property has been properly coordinated with the plan, and whether the trust still reflects what you want to happen.

A trust and the assets it is supposed to control need to work together.

If you have moved since creating your estate plan, especially if you bought or sold real estate along the way, it is worth reviewing the entire picture.

Read the full blog here: https://www.skatzenlaw.com/moving-to-another-state-here-s-what-happens-to-your-estate-plan

Moving to California does not automatically mean you need to throw out your old estate plan and start from the beginning...
10/19/2026

Moving to California does not automatically mean you need to throw out your old estate plan and start from the beginning.

But it is a very good reason to pull those documents back out.

The bigger question is not simply, “Is my estate plan still valid?” It is, “Will this plan still work the way I expect it to now that I live here?”

A move can affect how property is handled, how certain documents are used, and what your family may encounter when the plan is eventually needed. And if it has been several years since the plan was created, your life may have changed just as much as your address.

That is why I recommend reviewing an estate plan after a major move.

You may only need updates. You may discover everything is still in good shape. But either way, you will know where you stand.

Request a consultation to have your estate plan reviewed.
https://www.skatzenlaw.com/contact-us

Or, learn more on our blog!
https://www.skatzenlaw.com/moving-to-another-state-here-s-what-happens-to-your-estate-plan

When someone says they felt heard, supported, and never overwhelmed during the estate planning process, that means a gre...
10/16/2026

When someone says they felt heard, supported, and never overwhelmed during the estate planning process, that means a great deal to us.

Estate planning can feel like a lot at first. There are decisions to make, questions you may not have thought about before, and sometimes difficult conversations to work through.

Our goal is to make that process feel manageable.

That means listening carefully, explaining the options clearly, and making sure the final plan reflects what matters most to you and your family.

We are so grateful for this thoughtful review and for the trust our clients place in Susan and the entire team.

If you have been putting off estate planning because you are worried the process will feel confusing or overwhelming, you do not have to figure it out alone.

Maybe you created your estate plan years ago when you lived in another state.Since then, you moved to California. You bo...
10/15/2026

Maybe you created your estate plan years ago when you lived in another state.

Since then, you moved to California. You bought a different home. You opened new accounts. Your children got older. Maybe there are grandchildren now. Maybe one of the people you named as trustee or agent is no longer the person you would choose today.

And through all of those changes, the estate plan stayed exactly where it was.

In a drawer.

This is why I do not look at an older estate plan and ask only whether the documents are still valid. I want to know whether the plan still reflects your actual life.

A move is often a good reminder to look at everything together: your property, your family, your decision-makers, your beneficiary designations, and the documents themselves.

Sometimes the plan still works beautifully. Sometimes a few changes are needed. Either way, it is better to know now than to have your family find out later.

If you have moved since your estate plan was created, consider having it reviewed.

Learn more on our blog: https://www.skatzenlaw.com/moving-to-another-state-here-s-what-happens-to-your-estate-plan

“I moved to California. Does that mean I have to redo my entire estate plan?”Not necessarily.An estate plan created in a...
10/15/2026

“I moved to California. Does that mean I have to redo my entire estate plan?”

Not necessarily.

An estate plan created in another state does not automatically disappear or become invalid the moment you move. But that does not mean you should assume everything still works exactly the way you intended.

Different states have different laws, procedures, and property rules. You may also own different assets now, have new real estate, or have experienced family changes since the plan was originally created.

So when I review an out-of-state estate plan, I am not just asking whether the documents are technically valid.

I am asking whether they still make sense for your life now and whether they will work the way you expect under California law.

You may not need to start over. But after a major move, it is worth taking another look.

Most people do not wait to make an estate plan because they do not care. They wait because life is busy, nothing feels u...
10/14/2026

Most people do not wait to make an estate plan because they do not care. They wait because life is busy, nothing feels urgent yet, and it is easy to assume there will be more time later.

The problem is that “later” can look very different from today.

A diagnosis, accident, hospitalization, or change in capacity can suddenly turn planning into a much more urgent conversation. Decisions that could have been made carefully and thoughtfully may now have to be made under pressure, with fewer options and more uncertainty for everyone involved.

That is why I often tell families that the best time to plan is when nothing is wrong.

Planning ahead gives you time to think, ask questions, choose the right people, and make your wishes clear while those decisions are still yours to make.

In my latest blog, I talk about why waiting can make estate planning harder and why doing it before a crisis gives both you and your family more clarity and control.

Read the full blog here: https://www.skatzenlaw.com/the-best-time-to-make-an-estate-plan-is-before-you-need-one

“We are not wealthy. Do we really need an estate plan?”I hear some version of this question often, and my first thought ...
10/12/2026

“We are not wealthy. Do we really need an estate plan?”

I hear some version of this question often, and my first thought is usually not about the size of someone’s bank account.

I want to know who would make healthcare decisions if they could not. Who could manage their finances? Do they own a home? Do they have children or anyone else depending on them? Who would they trust to step in during an emergency?

Those questions matter whether someone considers themselves wealthy or not.

Estate planning is not just about deciding who gets your assets someday. It is also about choosing the people you trust, giving them the right authority, and leaving clearer instructions for the people who may one day need to help you.

If you have been putting this off because you assumed estate planning was only for people with substantial wealth, start with the basics.

My free Estate Planning Checklist can help you see what may need your attention:
https://www.skatzenlaw.com/free-estate-planning-checklist

Address

1301 Dove Street, Suite 750
Newport Beach, CA
92660

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+17143742244

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