Our Services
Estate Planning:
Wills, Living Trusts, & Powers of Attorney
We assist you in removing the mystery from the estate planning process. As your allies in the planning process, we “translate” the legal vocabulary to plain language, commonsense terminology.
Generally, your estate plan will include the following documents: living trust, will, advanced health care directive, and durable power of attorney. Depending on your circumstances, other planning may be appropriate, including special needs, charitable, life insurance, or other types of trusts or business entities. A well-designed estate plan will state your goals today, implement tax planning strategies appropriate for your situation, and set the foundation for future revisions as your family and financial situation change over time. Not all attorneys are equally skillful in estate planning matters. Some lawyers prepare documents with limited understanding of the legal or tax consequences.
Tricia A. Shindledecker has over twenty years’ experience in estate planning matters. Tricia is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law with the State Bar of California. Her law colleagues have named her as a “Super Lawyer” for seven consecutive years in the areas of estate planning and elder law. Tricia has the experience to understand the intricacies of estate planning.
Generally, your estate plan will include the following documents: living trust, will, advanced health care directive, and durable power of attorney. Depending on your circumstances, other planning may be appropriate, including special needs, charitable, life insurance, or other types of trusts or business entities. A well-designed estate plan will state your goals today, implement tax planning strategies appropriate for your situation, and set the foundation for future revisions as your family and financial situation change over time. Not all attorneys are equally skillful in estate planning matters. Some lawyers prepare documents with limited understanding of the legal or tax consequences.
Tricia A. Shindledecker has over twenty years’ experience in estate planning matters. Tricia is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law with the State Bar of California. Her law colleagues have named her as a “Super Lawyer” for seven consecutive years in the areas of estate planning and elder law. Tricia has the experience to understand the intricacies of estate planning.
Estate Administration :
Trust Administration & Probate
Trust Administration. You may find yourself responsible for handling the affairs of a friend or loved one who has died after creating a trust. The role of trustee can be confusing and overwhelming. Hiring a qualified attorney to advise you about your responsibilities is an important step. As the trustee you may hire any attorney to help you with your responsibilities, and you need not return to the attorney who originally drafted the trust.
California law imposes numerous requirements on trustees, and we can advise you about practical options for satisfying your obligations in the trustee role. We regularly advise individual and professional trustees who are named to handle trusts for incapable or deceased individuals, including special needs trusts.
California law imposes numerous requirements on trustees, and we can advise you about practical options for satisfying your obligations in the trustee role. We regularly advise individual and professional trustees who are named to handle trusts for incapable or deceased individuals, including special needs trusts.
Probate. Whether a person uses a Will to state their wishes (or never states their wishes at all), probate is the court process for distributing assets after the person has died. The probate court process is detailed and time-consuming. The death of a loved one is an upsetting experience. Spending hours settling a loved one’s finances in the probate process makes the ordeal more agonizing and emotionally trying. Hiring reliable, experienced attorneys skilled in the probate process will ease the difficulty, reduce stress, and expedite the distribution.
Not all attorneys are equally versed in probate rules and procedures. We routinely handle probate administration matters and probate petitions of all types.
Not all attorneys are equally versed in probate rules and procedures. We routinely handle probate administration matters and probate petitions of all types.