Elizabeth Botsford | Studio City Estate Lawyer

Busy Wills, Inc. provides you with the convenience and affordable fixed fee of an online estate planning service together with professional legal advice and individually drafted estate planning documents to meet your unique needs. CONVENIENCE Busy Wills, Inc. is available for mutually convenient weekend or evening appointments, as well as regular business hours. FIXED FEE Busy Wills, Inc.’s fixed fee pricing structure includes all of the documents which the vast majority of busy Californians need to protect their loved ones. Extensive telephone consultations, which can be used at any time throughout the process, are geared towards answering all of your questions so that your unique goals and challenges are provided for in your estate plan. In-house or office visits are available. Extra fees may apply for travel time, depending on your location and needs. THE PROCESS Here’s an overview of Busy Wills, Inc.’s estate planning process: Fill in a simple questionnaire Consultation with Attorney Elizabeth Botsford LLM Tax (Hons) Review draft documents Further consultation Execute completed estate plan Here is an in-depth look at how Busy WIlls, Inc.’s estate planning process works: Begin with a secure, simple questionnaire completed at your leisure, in one session or in as many sessions as you need, to ensure that all of your pertinent information is included in the decision-making process. Once this questionnaire is completed, Attorney Elizabeth Botsford will analyze your situation to make an initial determination regarding how your individual and family needs should be addressed in your estate plan. An in-depth, focused and informative consultation with Ms. Botsford will be scheduled at a time convenient for you. Your options, questions and concerns will be addressed. Our allotted time is designed to be more than sufficient in the vast majority of cases to discuss all matters of concern to you regarding your estate plan. The discussion will be used by Ms. Botsford to devise an appropriate strategy for your individual and family situation. The remaining consultation time will be used after you have had the opportunity to review your draft estate planning documents. After the initial consultation, you will choose to have your draft estate planning documents either mailed or emailed to you. After you have reviewed your draft documents, taking all the time you need, a further consultation will be scheduled at your convenience. Now that your outstanding questions have been resolved, any necessary alterations will be made to your documents. Final estate planning documents will be presented in a customized Estate Planning Portfolio Binder, with detailed instructions on how to proceed with signing or executing your documents. Many people obtain living trusts from purely online services, but then do not “fund” their living trust. Only those assets formally transferred into the living trust will enjoy its benefits – for example, avoiding probate. Establishing a living trust and then failing to fund it is a waste of time and money, leaving your assets exposed to expensive and lengthy probate, as well as potential threats from creditors and others. Busy Wills, Inc. helps you complete the final stages, wrapping up the process of ensuring your estate plan really does become effective, protecting your loved ones.

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
As a mobile estate planning attorney in the Greater Los Angeles area, I have the privilege of helping families find peace of mind by putting in place the right documents to enable my clients and their loved ones to thrive through crises. Helping my clients navigate the legal complexities of California estate planning brings me a deep sense of satisfaction and I genuinely feel able to make a difference in each case.

How did you build a successful practice?
Much of my practice has been built through word-of-mouth. Doing a good job is the best way to build a successful practice. I enjoy practicing this type of law, meeting new clients and hearing their stories. I care deeply about whatever concerns them – whether they have health concerns, a child with particular difficulties, or just want to secure their legacy.

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
Your attorney should specialize in exactly the type of law involved in your case. You need someone who you feel able to confide in. Many of my clients are elderly, with hearing and sometimes speaking difficulties. They need an attorney who respects them and is not in a hurry. Making house calls is a very big plus for a lot of elderly clients who may find it difficult to get to an office building.

How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?
Estate planning is governed by California law. Knowing about the history of Los Angeles can be helpful when dealing with elderly clients, so I understand their stories and what they are trying to achieve in the estate planning process.

What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?
In our free phone consultation, I find out about the immediate family structure and what has prompted the search for legal advice. I explain my process and that the next step is sending them a questionnaire to fill in prior to our initial consultation.

What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
I provide mobile estate planning services, traveling to clients’ homes, offices and hospital beds. Busy Wills, Inc. has a transparent pricing policy. The fees for our fixed fee estate planning packages are posted on the website: busywills.com/pricing – so people do not need to worry about the clock ticking every time they call me with a question. I have a masters in tax law from Loyola Law School. Originally, I qualified as a lawyer in the U.K. and had legal experience in Hong Kong and Brussels before taking the California bar two decades ago.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is helping people who are trying to take responsibility for themselves and their loved ones. I like helping people and bringing them peace of mind that they have done everything possible to secure their legacies and look after their families.

What are your other interests in addition to law?
I have raised two children, so I understand parental love as a prime motivator. I have a dog and a cat. Originally, I am from the UK and sometimes I return on vacation to see friends and family.

Are you involved in your community?
I attended college at the London School of Economics and I am the co-chair of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Friends of LSE.

Position	Organization	Location	Duration
Owner	Busy Wills, Inc		Present

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University	LLM (Tax) Hons	Law School	2009
London School of Economics	LLB	Law	1987

State / Court	Date
California	1997
United Kingdom	1992

• Member | California State Bar Association

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 Available for consultations at your home, office, or hospital bed in the Greater Los Angeles area. By appointment only. Please call (818) 579-7900 or email elizabeth@busywills.com to schedule your initial consultation.

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How Estate Planning Can Help Your Loved Ones Thrive Through A Crisis  (2018-02-26 13:03:35)
An advance healthcare directive (or ‘living will’) is one of the documents included in any complete estate plan. It is addressed to medical professionals, appointing someone to speak for you when you are unable to communicate. The instructions detailed in an advance healthcare directive ensure that your wishes are carried out in the aftermath of a serious car accident, a stroke or when dealing with dementia. This article explains some basic information that you need to know when creating an advance healthcare directive. -- Attorney Elizabeth Botsford LLM Tax (Hons) is a mobile estate planning attorney in the Greater Los Angeles area, visiting homes, offices and hospital beds. Please visit busywills.com to learn more about Busy Wills, Inc.’s fixed fee estate planning packages.