Palo Alto and Los Altos, California (650) 325-8276

Practice Areas

Estate Planning – Our Areas of Focus

SERVING FAMILIES & INDIVIDUALS IN LOS ALTOS, PALO ALTO, SUNNYVALE, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Comprehensive estate planning covers nearly every aspect of life. It begins with protecting yourself and your personal dignity, and extends to protecting your loved ones and your hard-earned assets.
Follow the links below to learn more about our estate planning services provided at Law Office of Janet L. Brewer:

Estate Planning Fundamentals

Estate planning tools include wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, and health care documents.

International Estate Planning

Complex estate and gift tax rules apply to your estate planning if you are not a U.S. citizen and you own assets in the United States, and vice versa.

Estate Planning for Non-Residents

Non-citizens face onerous, and surprising, federal estate and gift tax laws (even if the non-citizen spouse has a “green card”).

Probate Administration

Probate is the process through which estate assets are transferred after death, other than those that can be transferred outside of a will.

Trust Administration

If you are a successor trustee, you have a fiduciary duty to the trust. Find the information you’ll need to get the job done.

Charitable Planning

We support the tradition of giving to charitable causes, employing tax-advantaged strategies that maximize the value of your gift.

Estate Tax Planning

Advance legal planning to avoid or minimize federal estate taxes is a critically necessary aspect of comprehensive estate planning.

Estate Planning Fundamentals

Estate planning tools include wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, and health care documents.

Learn more about the estate planning process

International Estate Planning

Complex estate and gift tax rules apply to your estate planning if you are not a U.S. citizen and you own assets in the United States, and vice versa.

Learn more about international estate planning

Estate Planning for Non-Residents

Non-citizens face onerous, and surprising, federal estate and gift tax laws (even if the non-citizen spouse has a “green card”).

Learn more about estate planning for non-residents

Probate Administration

Probate is the process through which estate assets are transferred after death, other than those that can be transferred outside of a will.

Learn more about probate administration

Trust Administration

If you are a successor trustee, you have a fiduciary duty to the trust. Find the information you’ll need to get the job done.

Learn more about trust administration

Charitable Planning

We support the tradition of giving to charitable causes, employing tax-advantaged strategies that maximize the value of your gift.

Learn more about charitable giving strategies

Estate Tax Planning

Advance legal planning to avoid or minimize federal estate taxes is a critically necessary aspect of comprehensive estate planning.

Learn more about estate tax planning

What Janet's
Clients Say

An Overview of Estate Planning

Estate planning focuses on the organization and management of an individual’s assets and affairs, especially in anticipation of their passing or incapacitation. The goal of estate planning is to make sure that a person’s family and assets are protected and that their wishes are carried out as intended.

Estate planning primarily involves creating various legal documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. The purpose of these documents is to describe how a person’s assets should be distributed, who should make medical or financial decisions on their behalf, how to minimize taxes and avoid potential conflicts among heirs, designate guardians for minors, and set up trusts to provide for their well-being.

An Overview of Probate Administration

Probate administration in California is the legal process that takes place after a person’s death to ensure the proper distribution of their assets and property according to their will or the state’s laws if there is no will. This process aims to settle the deceased person’s financial affairs and provide a clear framework for the transfer of assets to beneficiaries or heirs.

When someone passes away, their estate (which includes real estate, bank accounts, personal property, and more) will enter probate. The court oversees this process to verify the authenticity of the will, pay any outstanding debts or taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries. If the deceased left a valid will, the court will typically follow its instructions. In cases where there is no will, California’s intestate succession laws determine how assets are distributed among family members.
The duration and complexity of probate can vary, but it generally lasts several months to a year or longer. Probate fees vary greatly, as well, depending on whether the deceased person had a comprehensive estate plan, which will significantly reduce the pain — and expense — of probate.

An Overview of Trust Administration in California

Trust administration in California is the management and distribution of assets held in a trust after the trust creator’s death. This legal arrangement aims to streamline asset transfer without the need for probate court. A trustee, typically designated in the trust document, takes on the role of overseeing this process. Their responsibilities include asset identification, debt settlement, tax payments, and asset distribution according to the trust’s instructions. An attorney can be a valuable asset in trust administration, ensuring compliance with California laws and providing legal guidance. Their expertise can help navigate the complexities of trust administration and protect the interests of beneficiaries.

Let’s make sure
the right people get your stuff.

Planning and protection
for everything you own
and everyone you love.

Planning and protection
Planning and protection