Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Matters

One of our major areas of emphasis involves the creative use of a variety of tax planning and wealth transfer vehicles designed to accomplish family and personal financial objectives in estate planning. The focus is on maximizing and preserving clients’ assets and wealth and also on minimizing and deferring taxes. Because of our extensive business, corporate and transactional expertise, we have a particular ability to tie personal estate planning to the overall business planning and in particular to closely-held businesses, the preservation of value and the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next.

Estate planning includes preparation of all types of wills and trusts, "living wills," and powers of attorney, and advice concerning avoidance of probate where appropriate, intra-family business relationships and post-mortem tax planning. Our lawyers have authored articles and have lectured extensively on estate and financial planning, and have served in positions of responsibility in various professional organizations devoted to this area of practice.

We also have particular expertise in advising trustees on matters concerning the administration of trusts. This emphasis includes advice on the sometimes complex tax and legal matters surrounding post-mortem planning for estate planning trusts. We pride ourselves in working closely with the trustee's other advisers, such as CPAs and investment counsel, in accomplishing smoothly the goals of the particular estate plan.
As an adjunct to our estate planning practice, another of our major areas of emphasis is representation of our clients in the California probate courts. Our practice includes acting as counsel for executors, administrators, conservators, conservatees, trustees and beneficiaries in uncontested and contested matters.