• Estate Tax Planning

We assist individuals and families in evaluating their estates and desires for disposition of assets, including the transfer of control of family businesses, both during life and at death. Once a plan is developed, we prepare the necessary documents, which may include living trusts, wills, insurance trusts, generation-skipping trusts, charitable trusts, property characterization agreements, healthcare directives and powers of attorney, to achieve the clients' desired objectives, to minimize estate taxation and to aid in smooth transitions after death. We also administer gift programs on behalf of persons with substantial estates for whom such programs are important tax planning measures.

• Trust Administration

After our clients execute their trust documents, our experienced legal assistants, under the supervision from our attorneys, prepare the documents required to transfer assets into the trust. Our attorneys assist trustees in trust management by being available to respond to questions that may arise concerning trust affairs or assets. On the death or loss of mental or physical capacity of the maker of a trust, a trustee or a beneficiary, our attorneys and legal assistants work with the trustee or successor trustee to administer the trust according to its provisions as well as applicable state and federal law. When required, this includes the preparation of the federal estate tax return.

• Probate Administration

Our probate attorneys, with more than 35 years of experience in Ventura County, represent executors, administrators, conservators, guardians and beneficiaries in the probate of estates, in the administration of conservatorships and guardianships, and in the preparation of federal estate tax returns.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Our website is maintained as a way of keeping our clients and friends of the firm advised of recent developments in the law and recent news from our practice. It is not intended to be used as legal advice and the reader is cautioned to consult with an attorney experienced in such areas of the law before taking any action on issues we may discuss on this website. In the event this communication is not in conformity with the regulations of any state, we are not willing to accept representation based on this communication.