Estate Planning
Our firm specializes in sophisticated estate planning, and probate and trust administration for clients in the South Bay and throughout Los Angeles County. Our trusts and estates practice group is headed by Christopher M. Moore and Rebecca L.T. Schroff who are both Certified as Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Our trusts and estates practice includes advice and representation regarding:
- Estate Planning
- Estate & Gift Tax Planning
- Trust Administration
- Probate Administration
- Trust & Estate Litigation
- Conservatorships
- Guardianships
Estate Planning
When preparing an estate plan, our lawyers consider the needs and goals of our client, and prepare tax-sensitive estate planning documents individually tailored to each the client’s needs. Each estate plan includes an analysis of the proper use of probate avoidance techniques and provides a plan to deal with future incapacity of the testator. Our estate planning services include the preparation of:
- Wills
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Estate and gift Tax Planning
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Limited Liability Companies
- Limited Partnerships
- Property Agreements
- Financial Powers of Attorney
- Advance Health Care Directives
As part of our estate planning services, we help our clients implement their plan, including transferring California real property into the client’s revocable trust, and assist with the correct beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement accounts.
Estate & Gift Tax Planning
Transfer tax planning is part of the estate planning process, and we routinely advise our clients on strategies to minimize gift, estate, income and generation-skipping taxes. We advise clients regarding gifting strategies, including charitable planning for clients with charitable motivation.
Trust Administration
We represent trustees in administering trusts following the death of a settlor. We also advise trustees administering irrevocable trusts such as life insurance trusts, special needs trusts and charitable trusts.
Our lawyers have the knowledge and experience required to advise our clients regarding all issues that may arise during trust administration, including:
- Trustee accountings and recordkeeping
- Fiduciary duties and powers of a trustee
- Managing trust assets
- Resignation or removal of a trustee
- Modification, revocation or termination of a trust
- Creditor’s rights
- Subtrust funding
- Trustee compensation and attorneys’ fees
- Taxation of trusts
- Preparation of estate tax returns.
Probate Administration
Our lawyers have a wealth of experience in probate administration matters, and have handled estates of all sizes, with particular expertise in larger estates involving complex tax issues. We work closely with the estate fiduciary to administer every estate with a minimum of expense and delay.
Trust & Estate Litigation
If litigation is necessary to resolve a dispute, our lawyers handle trusts and estate litigation, including:
- Will and trust contests
- Allegations of lack of capacity, undue influence, or fraud
- Allegations of a breach of fiduciary duty
- Trust termination and modification proceedings
- Accountings
- Removal of a trustee or executor
Conservatorships
A conservatorship is a court proceeding where the judge determines that a person (the "conservatee") is unable to care for his or her personal well-being or finances, and appoints a conservator to act as the fiduciary and handle the conservatee’s care or finances. We assist families facing the incapacity of a loved one by establishing and administering a conservatorship.
Guardianships
Our firm handles court proceedings for guardian of the person and guardian of the estate for minor children when needed.
