Trusts & Estates Law/Post Question

Ask Janet Brewer a Question about Trusts & Estates Law

Important:

Please read the following and "Instructions from the Expert" carefully before you post the question:

  • Please don't set your question to private unless it will personally identify you. The public questions will get high priority to be answered and can benefit more users. Don't put your personal information in the question.

  • After you submit your question, we'll send you an email as a receipt. You will be notified when the answer is ready. Please make sure your email server does not block or filter out emails from allexperts.com.

  • AllExperts is a 100% free site. Our experts spend lots of time to answer your questions. We ask only that you thank and rate the volunteer's answer upon your return.

Instructions from the Expert:

If this is a probate question, please indicate what state the deceased person resided in.<BR><BR>
If this is a revocable trust question, please indicate in which state the "grantor" ("trust-maker") resided and where the trustee resides.<BR><BR>
Please note that my answers will be based on the laws in California.<BR><BR>
Probate and estate planning laws vary from state-to-state.  The laws of one state can be very different from those of another state.
Read our NO SPAM! guarantee

65000-character limit

Please Note:

By clicking below to send your e-mail, you understand and agree to the following:

  • The information you receive is not professional advice and is provided solely for educational and informational purposes only; all investment decisions you make are your own responsibility.

  • AllExperts.com has no responsibility or control over the content of any information you receive.

  • Click to send your message only if you agree to these terms.

Click to send your message only if you agree to these terms.

All Answers

Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Janet Brewer

Expertise


BE CAREFUL about taking legal advice from non-lawyers.

I am a licensed attorney in California. II am available to answer questions about probating estates, preparing wills and trusts, administering estates and trusts, forming family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, and establishing a wide variety of estate and gift tax-sensitive trusts (charitable trusts, children's trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, etc.).

I can also answer questions regarding the preparation of estate tax returns (Form 706) in taxable estates. Please note that I do not prepare trust income tax returns and cannot provide you with any information about that type of return.

Please note: I am only able to practice law in the State of California. I cannot answer specific questions about other states' laws; I can only provide some "general" information that may or may not apply to your situation.

Experience

I have practiced California estate, gift-planning, and probate law exclusively since 1991. I am certified as a specialist in estate planning and probate law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization (there are less than 125 such specialists practicing in Santa Clara County and fewer than 7,000 practicing in California - out of over 170,000 lawyers statewide).

I have served as an Instructor in the CFP (certificate in financial planning) program at University of California – Santa Cruz, teaching the estate planning segment.

Organizations
Silicon Valley Bar Association
Wealth Counsel
Wealth Advisors' Forum
Executive Committee Member, Solo and Small Firm Section of the California State Bar (appointed to a 3 year term by the California State Bar Board of Governors)

Education/Credentials
I received my law degree (J.D.) from University of Denver Law School in 1975. I was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1975 and to the California Bar in 1977 (NOTE: although I am a member of the Colorado Bar, I am on INACTIVE status there). I earned an M.B.A. in 1982, and I am currently studying for a Masters Degree in Taxation Law (LLM) at Golden Gate University Law School.
More at:
http://www.calprobate.com

Awards and Honors
2007, 2008, & 2009 - chosen as a "SuperLawyer" - one of the top 5% of Northern California lawyers practicing in the estate planning and probate area (www.superlawyers.com)

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.