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08 Nov, 2024 by Jeannine sheppard
I can’t say enough about the kindness and compassion shown by Erika as she helped me get my affairs in order. I’d been putting it off for years, honestly out of superstition—I kept thinking that once I had everything in place, something bad might happen to me. But Erika truly put my mind at ease, never rushing me, always understanding, and guiding me every step of the way. Now, instead of fear, I feel peace knowing that my loved ones won’t have to wonder or guess about my wishes. If you’re hesitant or nervous, trust me, Erika is the person to help you through it.
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19 Aug, 2024 by Bruce hoberg
Excellent law firm, we had our family trust updated from 2002.
It is amazing how much had in 20 years. I have referred family and friends and they were all happy
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19 Aug, 2024 by Gary foss
Skilled, professional legal services/advice, good follow up by staff
and easy to work with as changes occur during the life of the trust
and related legal documents.
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20 Dec, 2024 by Ramón ulice hernández jiménez
26 Nov, 2024 by Dennis barella
21 Nov, 2024 by Sara brett
Evan Zelig is the best criminal law attorney in Sonoma county. I had someone wrongfully accused of DV, and we called Evan immediately. He educated us on the law and the likely outcome. The charges were dropped in the interim but Evan still supported us as a courtesy on the hearing date to drop the charges and emailed back later to answer more questions I had. He's very responsive and I like that he helped me understand how the laws work for criminal cases so I could understand what was going on. He has reasonable prices (even though I didn't need to hire him) and a great attitude. Don't look elsewhere if you find yourself or a loved one charged with a criminal charge.
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16 Feb, 2024 by Veronica patino
09 Jan, 2024 by Tina pappalardo
Brian is very knowledgeable, resourceful and very informative.
He provided me all the information and helped me through the process. He submit it the bankruptcy case without any issues.
He was caring and very helpful. It was a pleasure working with him through the emotionally difficult process.
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27 Oct, 2023 by Donna morosi
Brian Barbosa, Helped me through a very hard time. I Give him a five star rating and highly recommend his services!
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01 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous
Giuliana has been my attorney since 2012. I call her with issues and questions and she is quick to respond and thorough in her advice. I appreciate that as my attorney, she is thoughtful, and takes the time to communicate and confirm my understandings of her legal advice.
As a real estate professional, I have referred clients and family members to Giuliana for estate planning and trust litigation matters. In each case I have received countless thanks for the referral to Giuliana.
It pleases me to have Giuliana not only as my trusted attorney, but also as a solid attorney referral for my clients and family. I love having her in my corner. Simply the best around in my mind...Thanks again G!!!!!
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26 Sep, 2017 by Marie
I highly recommend Giuliana for all of your estate planning and probate litigation needs. In addition to her laser sharp legal skills, Giuliana’s compassion and ability to actively listen to her clients’ emotional, spiritual and economic objectives enable her to craft the personalized solution that satisfies her clients’ legal, economic and human objectives. Giuliana’s authenticity makes her a jewel of an attorney and thus a rare find in this community.
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07 Sep, 2014 by Bobbie and suzanne
Giuliana recently redid our trusts for us and made it a joint trust. She was thorough, very helpful and endlessly patient to make sure our needs and wants were fully explained and understandable to us. She answered questions of our attorneys for durable power for health care and finance and was very helpful to them as to their responsibilities. We feel very fortunate to have her on our team and would highly recommend her.
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14 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
A friend of mine recommended Kevin for some help that I needed with trust administration and estate planning. I found him to be super helpful - very on top of details, and good at explaining things in layman's terms. I highly recommend him.
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13 May, 2022 by Monica
Mr. O’Connor was an excellent lawyer and help to me and my family. He helped my husband to write a will, soon after he unfortunately passed away. Then Mr. O’Connor helped me with estate planning and a trust. He remained professional at all times and explained to me throughly the process and importance of everything I inquired about. He was an amazing lawyer and he even helped me in my main language, Spanish. I would strongly recommend him to anyone.
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20 Jun, 2017 by Mike
Chris prepared a full estate plan package for my wife and I that included a Trust, Will, Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, etc. The process was painless and the finished work product was outstanding. Chris was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. His support staff was friendly and the office environment was very receptive to our needs. I would recommend Chris to anyone interested in estate planning.
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03 May, 2021 by Carrie
Josh West came highly recommended by our friends. Josh and his team help our family through the wrongful death of my mother. We were emotionally devastated, anxious that similar mishaps might happen to others, and just scared because we never had been through any legal events before. Josh was patient with our ignorance of proceedings, empathetic of our hurt, and clearly experienced in not only the legal workings of medical malpractice but a deep knowledge of medical topics itself. Highly recommended.
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28 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
Great lawyer, highly recommend! Professional and wants the best for the client
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18 Mar, 2021 by Benjamin
Our friends referred us to Josh West. We needed someone who would be kind and patient with our elderly father and who wouldn't mind overcoming a language barrier. Josh would explain things to us as many times as we needed to not just understand, but to feel confident.
He won our case, medical malpractice or wrongful death for my mother in law, but went further in pushing Kaiser to develop new procedures to protect patients. This was our real goal, eliminating that negligence. Josh and also his team, including the experts he hired - people that he knew through his network or discovered for us - have our thanks and recommendation.
Here is his profile on the site, in case you want to find him: https://www.smithdollar.com/attorneys/joshua-m-west/
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16 Feb, 2024 by Veronica patino
09 Jan, 2024 by Tina pappalardo
Brian is very knowledgeable, resourceful and very informative.
He provided me all the information and helped me through the process. He submit it the bankruptcy case without any issues.
He was caring and very helpful. It was a pleasure working with him through the emotionally difficult process.
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27 Oct, 2023 by Donna morosi
Brian Barbosa, Helped me through a very hard time. I Give him a five star rating and highly recommend his services!
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29 Nov, 2024 by Jeneane wagner
Scott was very professional, he was able to handle my case with efficiency and years of knowledge. I highly recommend hiring Scott Lewis.
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22 Nov, 2024 by Jan tyler
Scott Lewis is an excellent attorney and helped us to favorably settle our lawsuit.
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07 Nov, 2024 by Jon schutz
This firm was great at getting me through a rough divorce, Marla and her team kept me focused in a very emotional divorce. I highly recommend them for a divorce attorney and many other services they can provide. I got exactly what I paid for and understood most of the process, but I am far from an attorney. I believe I would have paid a lot more if not for the hard working team there and would like to thank all of them all over again! Thank you everyone that helped me through this difficult process.
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06 Nov, 2024 by Michael hohndorf
Unbelievably poor service . My mother passed well over three years ago. My sister was the Trustee for the trust. I requested copies of my mothers bank statements and was advised that they were Not going to provide them… I.have called and emailed numerous times to get clarification on the remaining fund distribution. I find it amazing that it has taken over three years to settle an uncontested trust. Communication is a great thing and I don’t understand the unprofessional attitude of these folks. I guess the longer they drag it out the more fees they collect. I cannot stand folks that don’t answere calls or emails. Finally, I did get ahold of the paralegal yesterday morning and “ Jonny” stated she would get back to me in one hour. I never received the call…,
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28 May, 2024 by B p
In 2022 I had came in and needed their services. I spoke with Julie and It was a tough situation revolving my father that passed away. She told me what they could do and they did their best to help me. I didn't understand certain things at the time and was under a cloud of pain among other things. They still gave me patience and took the time to listen to what had happened. I couldn't get a resolution in my case and retrieve my fathers items to this day, but it was never because of Brockway Law. Just an unfortunate series of events that made it difficult to continue further financially & emotionally. Brockway Law did the best they could and I will always appreciate it. Thank you
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04 Apr, 2024 by Cynthia healy
Dear Roy,
I know some folks who look back and think they could have gotten their awards from the Fire Victim Trust without an attorney.
That is not my experience. From my first meeting with you, I was comforted by your confidence that you would fight for us, even while you were dealing with your loss as well. That impressed me. You were clearly, “one of us”.
You have been consistently responsive and supportive in getting me and my family through this experience of joining the law suit. Your staff were always kind and helpful. And now you have helped me get to closure with my deceased husband’s claim. I thank you. And my sons do too.
You have my deep appreciation and admiration.
Cynthia Healy
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30 May, 2024 by Anonymous
Worst ever. Her pernicious effect about thinking she can tell everybody has live lives when it’s not her business is disgusting and if she doesn’t like your lifestyle well hopefully you have enough moxie to put up a fight.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Trusts Lawyer Can Do for You
A trusts lawyer specializes in creating and managing trusts, which are legal entities that allow individuals to transfer assets to beneficiaries while maintaining control over how and when those assets are distributed. Trusts are used for estate planning, asset protection, tax planning, and ensuring the financial security of loved ones. Trusts lawyers help clients choose the right type of trust for their needs, draft trust documents, and advise on the administration and management of trusts.
Whether you're planning to pass on your assets to your heirs, protect your wealth from creditors, or provide for a disabled family member, a trusts lawyer can help you establish a trust that meets your financial and personal goals.
When Should I Hire a Trusts Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a trusts lawyer in various situations, particularly when you're planning for the future distribution of your assets or protecting your wealth. Common reasons to hire a trusts lawyer include:
- Estate planning: If you want to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, a lawyer can help you create a revocable or irrevocable trust to avoid probate and provide for your heirs.
- Asset protection: If you want to protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, or potential future liabilities, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to shield your wealth.
- Special needs planning: If you have a disabled family member, a lawyer can create a special needs trust to provide for their care without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
- Tax planning: If you're looking to minimize estate taxes or manage tax liabilities, a lawyer can help you create tax-advantageous trusts, such as a credit shelter trust or charitable remainder trust.
- Charitable giving: If you want to leave a legacy through charitable donations, a lawyer can help you set up a charitable trust to ensure your donations are managed according to your wishes.
- Business succession planning: If you own a business and want to ensure a smooth transition of ownership, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to pass the business on to your heirs or chosen successors.
Hiring a trusts lawyer early in the estate planning process ensures that your assets are protected and your wishes are clearly documented, reducing the chances of disputes after your death.
What Does a Trusts Lawyer Do?
A trusts lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help individuals create, manage, and administer trusts. Their responsibilities often include:
- Drafting trust documents: Preparing the legal documents needed to create the trust, ensuring it is tailored to your specific goals and complies with state and federal laws.
- Choosing the right type of trust: Assisting clients in selecting the most appropriate type of trust for their needs, whether it's a revocable trust, irrevocable trust, living trust, or special needs trust.
- Trust administration: Guiding trustees through their legal responsibilities, including managing assets, making distributions to beneficiaries, and filing tax returns.
- Modifying or terminating trusts: Helping modify or terminate trusts if circumstances change, such as changes in tax laws, family situations, or personal preferences.
- Protecting beneficiaries' interests: Structuring trusts to protect the interests of beneficiaries, especially if there are concerns about financial management, disability, or dependency issues.
- Minimizing estate taxes: Assisting clients in structuring their trusts to minimize or avoid estate taxes, ensuring more of the estate passes to beneficiaries.
- Handling disputes: Mediating or representing clients in court if disputes arise among beneficiaries or between trustees and beneficiaries.
How Are Trusts Lawyers Paid?
Trusts lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the trust and the type of legal work involved. Common payment methods include:
- Flat fee: For drafting basic trusts, such as revocable living trusts or special needs trusts, many lawyers charge a flat fee. This can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the trust.
- Hourly rate: For more complex trust planning, ongoing trust administration, or resolving disputes, some lawyers charge by the hour. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: For long-term trust administration or complex estate planning cases, some lawyers may require a retainer, an upfront payment that covers ongoing services.
- Contingency fee (rare): In rare cases, particularly in disputes involving the administration of a trust, lawyers may work on a contingency fee basis, getting paid only if they successfully recover funds or resolve a legal dispute in your favor.
Always discuss the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the total cost of services.
How Much Does a Trusts Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a trusts lawyer depends on the complexity of the trust, the lawyer’s experience, and the fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Basic trust creation: For simple trusts, such as revocable living trusts, fees may range from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Complex trust creation: For sophisticated estate plans involving multiple trusts, tax planning strategies, or special needs considerations, legal fees may range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Trust administration: If you are serving as a trustee and need ongoing legal advice, hourly rates for trust administration can range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Dispute resolution: Costs for litigation or mediation in trust disputes may range from $5,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case.
Be sure to get a detailed cost estimate from your lawyer during the consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask a Trusts Lawyer
Before hiring a trusts lawyer, consider asking the following questions:
-
What experience do you have with creating trusts?
Ensure the lawyer has experience drafting trusts and managing trust administration for clients with similar goals or asset structures. -
What types of trusts do you recommend for my situation?
Ask the lawyer to explain the different types of trusts available and which ones best suit your needs. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify the fee structure and request an estimate of the total cost. -
What are the tax implications of the trust?
Ensure the lawyer can explain how the trust will affect your taxes and strategies to minimize tax liability. -
How long will it take to set up the trust?
Ask for a timeline for creating and finalizing the trust documents. -
Will you handle the trust administration?
If ongoing management is required, inquire whether the lawyer will assist with trust administration or if you'll need a separate trustee. -
Can you help resolve disputes if they arise?
Ask about the lawyer's experience in resolving trust disputes.
How to Check the Credibility of a Trusts Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable trusts lawyer, take the following steps:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and has no disciplinary actions.
- Look for trust law experience: Review their website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in estate planning and trusts.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for feedback on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google.
- Ask for references: Request references from past clients who can speak to their experience with the lawyer.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications such as Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) or memberships in organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with a trusts lawyer, bring the following:
- List of assets: Prepare a list of all your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and personal property.
- List of beneficiaries: Provide names and contact information of individuals or organizations you want to name as beneficiaries.
- Existing estate planning documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, or other estate planning documents.
- Financial information: Bring financial statements, tax returns, and other relevant financial documentation.
- Questions for the lawyer: Prepare a list of questions about the trust creation process, fees, and how the trust will protect your assets and beneficiaries.
- Goals for the trust: Clearly outline your objectives, such as asset protection, tax minimization, or provisions for beneficiaries, so the lawyer can tailor the trust to your needs.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation effectively and receive the best possible legal advice for creating and managing your trust.
