Attorneys and Staff

Estate planning involves putting in place documents and strategies to manage your assets during your life and to direct how they are distributed after your death. It typically includes wills and/or living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives.

A revocable living trust can help you avoid probate and conservatorship proceedings by allowing you (and your successor trustees) to manage and transfer assets without court involvement. It also provides privacy and can be more efficient and cost-effective than probate.

Trust administration is the process of carrying out the terms of a trust after the trustor's death. The successor trustee must give required notices, manage and distribute trust assets according to the trust document, and comply with California law. We guide trustees through this process.

Probate is generally required when a person dies owning assets in their sole name without a beneficiary designation or joint ownership. Having a will does not avoid probate; the will names an executor who must be appointed by the court through the probate process. We help clients avoid probate through proper planning and, when necessary, guide executors through the process.

Public benefits planning includes Medi-Cal (Medicaid) qualification for long-term care and special needs trusts for individuals with disabilities who receive or may receive government benefits. We help families navigate eligibility rules and preserve benefits while providing for loved ones.