Our Practice

Estate planning is the process of organizing your financial and health-care affairs so your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated or pass away. It works for estates both large and small. A complete California plan is usually built from a few core tools: revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney for managing your finances, and advance health care directives for medical decisions.

In California, probate is generally required when someone dies owning real estate, or assets above the state's small-estate threshold, without a living trust in place. A revocable trust is the most common way to keep your estate out of court and pass it to your family privately.

You don't have to administer a trust alone. Trustees commonly work with a team of professionals — an attorney, a financial planner, a realtor, and a CPA — each handling the part that fits their expertise. An attorney keeps the administration compliant with California law and its deadlines, while coordinating the others so nothing falls through the cracks. We can take on as much or as little of the process as you need.

Probate is the court-supervised process of taking control of a deceased person's estate, settling their debts, and distributing what remains to their heirs. It's generally required only when someone dies owning real estate, or other assets above California's small-estate threshold, without a living trust in place. A trust holds your assets outside this process, so having one in place helps your family avoid probate entirely.

Conservatorship is a court-supervised process through which an individual obtains authority to manage the personal care and/or finances of another individual who lacks capacity. The conservator is appointed by the court, must periodically account for the use of conservatorship funds, and must obtain court authorization before certain actions.

Legal Guardianship creates a relationship between an adult and a child that is less extensive than adoption but enables the adult to make certain decisions regarding the child. The need may arise when a child inherits an asset (e.g., a grandparent naming a minor grandchild as beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account). Guardianship may be needed even when a parent will manage the inherited money — a situation that can be avoided with proper planning.

Caregivers carry a great deal of responsibility, which can be overwhelming without support. The firm strives to be a source of support and information, recommending its services when needed while encouraging clients to also draw on family, friends, and more affordable professionals. The page emphasizes self-care for caregivers.

If an estate plan exists, the firm can advise on using those documents to provide care and financial assistance, determine whether a nominated person is willing and able to act, and assist with the process of taking over responsibility. If no (or an ineffective) estate plan exists, the firm can help determine whether conservatorship is appropriate and assist in obtaining it.