Protecting Your Life’s Work.

Providing Comprehensive Legal Counseling for All Stages of Life

Sharing Your Legacy Through Estate Planning

Protecting What Matters to You

H. Vern Payne and Joshua J Jimenez have over 60 combined years of experience and have successfully helped thousands of people. The Payne and Jimenez law firm takes pride in helping to provide you, your
family, and your business with peace of mind, legal protection, and personalized counseling.

Let Us Help You

Allow us to help you with estate planning through wills and trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and planning for individuals with special needs.

We also help you through probate proceedings to settle legal matters after the death of a loved one. Asset protection, long term care, and difficult aging choices can be explored with you.

Our Services

Attorneys At Law

We are Passionate About Helping Clients Achieve Their Goals

Manage

Estate Planning for You

Estate planning is a service dedicated to determining beneficiaries and those who can act in the best interest of any incapacitated individual. We suggest a plan to help you distribute property upon your death to those you select, and prepare other documents you may need.

Grow

Real Estate

Real Estate Law can be a complicated process, so we strive to help you through every step. From deed drafting, purchase and sales agreements, to buying, selling, and leasing commercial property, Payne and Jimenez will provide guidance and expertise to assist you.

Plan

Help for Senior Citizens

Situations involving the incapacity of elderly friends or parents appear suddenly. We can help you decide what to do with assets before or after a senior has been admitted to a care facility. We also prepare documents such as power of attorney, healthcare directives, and more.

Partner

Business Services

In business, problems may arise from a corporate dispute, a breach of contract, money problems, or lawsuits. We also offer pre-trial consultations for these issues. We want to help you by delivering the care, guidance, and skills needed to deliver results in business litigation.

Defend

Criminal Defense

Every client deserves respect, and each person involved in criminal defense needs a dedicated and knowledgeable advocate. We aid defendants with DUI, DWI, or criminal defense on a case-by-case basis, and do everything possible to guide them through their court proceedings.

Advocate

Probate

The loss of a loved one can be a difficult and sensitive time. Unfortunately, dealing with distribution of assets of a loved one can make that time even more difficult. Probate court can be complicated, but we do everything we can to make probate as straightforward as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my estate?

Your estate is the belongings, assets, and property that you own at the time of your death. It can also refer to the net worth of an individual. Estate planning can help you distribute these things at any time, but especially at the time of your passing.

How can I leave my belongings to my family?

Depending on the situation, estate planning can help you prepare a plan to leave your belongings to your family members. You may need a will, a trust, or just some legal documents that can transfer your property. Schedule a consultation with us so that we can help you prepare the correct documents to separate your estate exactly to your specifications.

How can I make my passing easier on my children?

If you have prepared the correct documents, you can make your passing much easier for your children! Estate planning makes the process easy and simple. We offer affordable options for wills, trusts, and other legal documents you may need to prepare for your passing, whenever that may be. We can also prepare documents like durable power of attorney, so that your children can help direct your healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated. This can make your passing much easier on your family.

Why is estate planning important?

If you have an estate at all, estate planning can help you. An estate is your belongings, assets, and property. Anyone with young or special needs children can make provisions for them. Anyone who wants to leave their belongings to certain people needs an estate plan. There are multiple options for estate planning that can also help avoid probate court proceedings and save money long-term.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will is a legal document that expresses a person’s wishes for the distribution of their property after their death. A trust is more comprehensive and can provide specific provisions for distribution of property through ownership, which can help a person avoid probate court. Not every person needs a will or a trust, so it is important to counsel with a lawyer for your specific situation. Contact us for a consultation!

How can I reduce estate taxes?

Reducing estate taxes can be a complicated process, especially if you have been admitted to a care facility or if you have other financial obligations. We can help you review your financial situation and make provisions to reduce estate taxes now and in the future. There is no single solution to reduce estate taxes, but there are many things we can do to help you.

What is probate court?

Probate is a legal procedure that occurs after a person has passed away. Many people believe that a will can prevent probate court proceedings, but it cannot. A will expresses a person’s wishes for their property, but others may want to challenge the will. Probate court can be very simple, but it can also be extremely difficult and challenging. Estate planning with a trust can help avoid much, if not all, of probate.

Why should I avoid probate?

Because probate is a court process, it can take quite some time to complete. Complicated probate cases can take up to several years to come to a conclusion. There are also associated costs of probate that can cost between several hundred to several thousand dollars. These fees are taken from the estate of the deceased person, which also reduces inheritance for those you leave behind. Avoiding probate doesn’t have to be expensive. Depending on your situation, we can prepare documents to help you.

What is Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document that gives one person the power to act on the behalf of another individual. This can be limited or general, long-term or temporary, and can expire if a person has become incapacitated. Contact us for a consultation and we can help you prepare a power of attorney form that will fit your situation and needs.

How long does Power of Attorney last?

Different kinds of powers of attorney last for various lengths of time. Some powers of attorney expire after a certain period of time. Some can remain in force until a person passes away, even if they become incapacitated. This is called a durable power of attorney. We can prepare a power of attorney form for you that will fit your situation and needs.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this website is provided for advertisement and general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any matter. The information on this website, in whole or in part, does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship between our firm and any reader. You should not send us any confidential information in response to this webpage. The material of this website may not reflect the most current legal developments and is subject to revision. We disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the content of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law. Do not act or refrain from acting upon the information contained on this website without seeking professional legal counsel.