5 Estate Planning Mistakes That Cost California Families Thousands
Most California families know they should have an estate plan — but many don't realize that common oversights can leave their loved ones facing lengthy probate proceedings, unnecessary taxes, and tens of thousands of dollars in avoidable costs. In this practical, jargon-free presentation, estate planning attorney Dhrumil Patel walks through the five most frequent mistakes he sees — from relying on a will alone in a state where probate can consume 4-5% of an estate's value, to creating a trust but never funding it, to overlooking critical documents like powers of attorney and healthcare directives. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what a complete California estate plan looks like and a simple checklist to evaluate whether their own family is protected. This presentation is educational, not a sales pitch — just straightforward information every family should have.

Dhrumil Patel is the founder of the Law Office of Dhrumil Patel, an estate planning practice in Newport Beach serving Orange County families and small business owners. He helps clients protect their families and assets through revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. Licensed to practice in California and New York, Dhrumil brings a distinctive combination of legal training and over 15 years of leadership experience in enterprise analytics, giving him a practical, client-focused approach to solving complex planning problems.

Before launching his practice, Dhrumil held senior analytics leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies, where he built a reputation for translating complicated information into clear, actionable guidance — a skill he now applies to helping families navigate California estate planning. He holds degrees in Mathematics, English, and Law, along with a Master's in Analytics. Dhrumil is passionate about community education and offers a free presentation on the most common estate planning mistakes that cost California families time, money, and peace of mind.