Trust & Estate Planning
Our Trusts & Estates Department provides comprehensive legal services to help clients protect their wealth, minimize tax exposure, and ensure the smooth transfer of assets across generations. We combine technical expertise with practical solutions to address complex estate planning, tax strategies, administration, and litigation needs.
Estate Planning
We assist clients in developing tailored estate plans that reflect their goals and values. Our services include the preparation of advance health care directives, financial powers of attorney, wills, and revocable trusts to ensure clarity and security for loved ones.
We help clients avoid probate, plan for incapacity, and implement business succession strategies that preserve continuity and value. Our approach emphasizes reducing family conflict through transparent and well-structured planning.
Tax Planning
Tax considerations are central to effective estate planning. Our attorneys provide sophisticated strategies for income tax and liquidity event planning, gift, generation skipping, and estate tax minimization, and property tax planning.
We utilize advanced techniques such as irrevocable non-grantor trusts, defective grantor trusts, GRATs (Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts), SLATs (Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts), irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), and dynasty or legacy trusts. For clients with charitable objectives, we offer solutions including charitable remainder unitrusts (CRUTs), charitable lead annuity trusts (CLATs), and charitable testamentary gift planning. We also advise on property tax matters, including planning under California Proposition 19 and entity-level property taxation.
Trust Administration & Probate
Our team guides fiduciaries through every stage of trust administration, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and minimizing risk.
We provide practical advice and support to help trustees fulfill their duties efficiently and effectively, from general administration, accountings, distributions, tax issues, and resolving beneficiary questions and disputes. Our team also handles probate proceedings with precision and care, reducing delays and administrative burdens during challenging times. Our goal is to ensure a smooth process while protecting the interests of all parties involved.