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2024

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Best Estate Planning Lawyers in San Jose, CA

Our Recommended Top 13

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored San Jose Estate Planning Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

243Reviewed

151Curated

13Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

San Jose, CA 95113

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (33)
Avvo
4.7 (6)
Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 1978, Del Ponte & Hirz serves the entire Bay Area and focuses on offering professional representation and consultation with compassion, competence, experience, and aggressive legal counsel. The company provides legal services for matters that include estate planning and probate, enforcement and collections, and family law. They are rated by Lawyers.com, are AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rated, and are AVVO rated as a Top Attorney in Divorce.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Christopher Hirz - PartnerActive18 yrs

2542 S Bascom Ave Ste 200, Campbell, CA 95008

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (13)
Avvo
4.6 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Serving families and businesses for over 25 years, Sowards Law Firm is a San Jose-based estate planning attorney that focuses on protecting the future of each client’s loved ones after death or disability. Founded in 2000, the company provides legal services for matters that include wills and trusts, estate planning, pet trusts, litigation, employment law, guardianships, special needs planning, asset protection, and more. They are rated by SuperLawyers, a member of the American Bar Association, are rated by AVVO, are associated with AARP, and are a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Benjamin Sowards - PrincipalActive20 yrs
Benjamin Sowards - AttorneyActive20 yrs

San Jose, CA 95128

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

A real estate, business, and tax law attorney based in San Jose, John D. Teter Law Offices holds over 30 years of experience serving professionals, business owners, and individuals in the surrounding areas. They focus on serving clients with assertive, skillful, cost-effective, and efficient representation. The company offers legal services for matters that include wills and trusts, real estate transactions, contracts and agreements, business formation, taxation law, and more. They are AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell® Lawyer Rated, are a member of the American Bar Association, are a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, are a member of The State Bar of California, and are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Teter - PrincipalActive42 yrs

Palo Alto, CA 94306

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (24)
Avvo
5.0 (7)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Based in Palo Alto and established in 1991, the Law Office of Janet L. Brewer specializes in bringing each client comprehensive planning for each unique situation. Serving families in the Bay Area, they focus on helping families and clients gain lasting peace of mind in times of loss. The company offers legal services for matters that include estate tax planning, asset protection, business succession, special needs planning, charitable planning, probate and estate administration, estate planning for non-resident, and more. They are a member of the Board of Trustees of the California State Bar, are rated by SuperLawyers, are a Founding Member of the WealthCounsel, and are rated by AVVO.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Janet Brewer - OwnerActive47 yrs

Los Gatos, CA 95032

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (19)

Why choose this provider?

Representing individuals and businesses since 1990 in the Bay Area, Sweeney, Mason, Wilson & Bosomworth is a full-service law firm. They focus on offering superior client service, reasonable prices, and a collaborative team to ensure each case’s needs are fulfilled in a way that also fosters a long-lasting relationship. The company provides legal services for matters that include real estate law, intellectual property, labor and employment law, estate planning, trust and probate, corporate and business law, construction law, and civil litigation. They are a member of the California State Bar, American Bar Association, Santa Clara County Bar Association, and more.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Joseph Sweeney - PartnerActive47 yrs

Los Altos, CA 94022

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.5 (11)
Google
4.4 (7)

Why choose this provider?

A full-service law firm founded in 1992, Kramer Radin, LLP is based in Los Altos and serves the San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. They focus on protecting their client’s assets and providing for their loved ones with well-thought out estate continuity and protection. The company offers legal services for matters that include trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, Medi-Cal planning, real estate, and more. They are AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rated, a member of the California Board of Legal Specialization, and are rated by SuperLawyers.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Deborah Radin - Managing PartnerActive29 yrs
Beau J. Jacob Attorney At Law logo

Beau J. Jacob Attorney At Law

17760 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Beau J. Jacob, Attorney at Law is a San Jose law firm that provides legal representation including DUI defense, business transactions, and estate planning. The firm's founder, Beau Jacob, has over 30 years of legal experience and helps clients create an estate plan in accordance with the law while ensuring effectiveness in court. Common elements in his estate package include a last will and testament, a trust for property transfers, and powers of attorney.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Beau Jacob - PrincipalActive30 yrs

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (46)

Why choose this provider?

A family business, Gilfix & La Poll Associations LLP focuses on maintaining innovative and creative legal solutions to help clients manage and plan the future for their family and loved ones. The firm recognizes that each client’s needs will be unique and they are dedicated to creating tailor-made plans with respect and individual attention. The company offers legal services for matters that include Medi-Cal (Medicaid) planning, long-term care planning, asset preservation, family protection trusts, special needs trusts, revocable living trusts, advance health care directives, durable powers of attorney, estate and gift tax planning, and more. Michael Gilfix is a founding member of the Trump Policy Analysis Group. The firm is rated by SuperLawyers, a member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners, and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Gilfix - OwnerActive51 yrs

Los Gatos, CA 95032

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (5)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Owned and operated by Patrick Ryan Bartelmie, a Silicon Valley native, Patrick R. Bartelmie, Attorney at Law serves the surrounding area since being founded in 2010. The company offers legal services for matters that include estate planning, business law, probate, and trust administrator.

1871 The Alameda Ste 333, San Jose, CA 95126

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (41)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Serving the regions of the Bay Area and Orange County since 2015, Henshaw & Henry, PC holds locations in San Jose and Mission Viejo. They focus on giving each client high-quality, versatile, well-rounded, and knowledgeable services to resolve each unique issue and problem. The company provides legal services for matters that include employment litigation, trust administration, estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and more.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Henshaw - Founding Partner/ShareholderActive14 yrs

San Jose, CA

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Christina Gorokhovsky, Attorney at Law, is a woman-owned firm that assists its clients in San Jose in estate planning matters. Gorokhovsky, its lead attorney, helps families draw legal documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. She also guides clients going through the estate administration process when a family member dies or becomes incapable of making decisions. Gorokhovsky, who founded the office in 2018, strives to have a client-focused practice by utilizing the Clio Practice Management software. She gives back to the community by supporting a local nonprofit.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Administration

1172 Murphy Ave. Suite 231, San Jose, CA 95131

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (28)
Yelp
5.0 (15)
Avvo
4.7 (15)

Why choose this provider?

The boutique law firm Insight Legal offers customized estate planning services throughout the San Jose area. It prepares comprehensive estate planning packages to avoid probate and handles matters involving revocable trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorneys, advance health care directives, and trust transfer deeds. It provides asset protection services for its clients by preparing trusts and LLCs together. The firm was established by lawyers in Fremont with experience in big law firms. Founding attorney Ranvir Sandhu can also accommodate Punjabi-speaking clients.

1250 Aviation Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (55)
Facebook
4.8 (28)
Avvo
4.9 (27)

Why choose this provider?

Copenbarger & Copenbarger LLP is a law firm specializing in comprehensive legal and financial services in Santa Ana, San Jose, and California's surrounding areas. Established in 1979, the firm provides estate planning to ensure that clients, their families, and their valuable assets are properly protected. Its team assists individuals and families in designing comprehensive estate, asset protection, and long-term care plans for financial resources that clients want to secure. The firm also offers advanced estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation, business & tax planning, and elder law.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
  • Medi-Cal Trusts

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Lloyd Copenbarger - Senior Partner/ FounderActive45 yrs

Compare our Top Estate Planning Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Del Ponte & Hirz
San Jose, CA 95113
Sowards Law Firm
2542 S Bascom Ave Ste 200, Campbell, CA 95008
John D. Teter Law Offices
San Jose, CA 95128
Law Office of Janet L. Brewer
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Sweeney, Mason, Wilson & Bosomworth
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Kramer Radin, LLP
Los Altos, CA 94022
Beau J. Jacob Attorney At Law
17760 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Gilfix & La Poll Associations LLP
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Patrick R. Bartelmie, Attorney at Law
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Henshaw & Henry, PC
1871 The Alameda Ste 333, San Jose, CA 95126
Christina Gorokhovsky, Attorney at Law
San Jose, CA
Insight Legal
1172 Murphy Ave. Suite 231, San Jose, CA 95131
Copenbarger & Copenbarger LLP - San Jose
1250 Aviation Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What does an estate planning attorney do?

    An estate consists of the total assets that form an individual’s net worth, no matter how large or small. Estate planning attorneys use their in-depth knowledge of state and federal laws to help people best manage what will happen with their estates after they die or become incapacitated. Estate planning attorneys can prepare wills, form trusts, reduce estate tax burdens, and decrease or eliminate the need for probate court.

  • What are valuable estate planning services an attorney can provide?

    With the many intricacies of assets, taxes, and state and federal laws that can affect a person’s estate, an estate planning lawyer can be a valuable professional asset, no matter how large or small a person’s estate may be. An estate planning attorney can:

    • Create a comprehensive plan to protect a client's legacy, that includes a will, power of attorney, trusts, life insurance, and advanced medical directives
    • Optimize an estate plan as tax laws, life events, assets, and goals change over time
    • Protect a client’s loved ones by preventing assets from entering probate
    • Help clients designate a person to make important health decisions for them if they become incapacitated

  • Can estate planning attorneys help create trusts/wills?

    Estate planning attorneys can create trusts and wills. Through a will, an attorney can help a client designate their estate’s beneficiaries and assign an executor to represent the will in probate court. These attorneys can also create trusts, allowing a client to assign a trustee to oversee the estate, potentially avoiding probate court and holding assets to be distributed over time.

  • Is estate planning the same as drafting a will?

    While both estate plans and wills officially document how their owners wish to allocate certain assets after their death, there are key differences. In estate planning, a will is often just one of several documents that form a comprehensive plan. In a will, people must designate a person responsible for executing their will after their death. The will can include guardians for their children when they die and beneficiaries to receive an inheritance of money, property, and other assets.

  • What are the steps involved in estate planning?

    To create a thorough and effective estate plan, individuals should follow these steps:

    • Prepare a will that designates an estate executor; indicate who will receive what assets, and assign a trust and guardians for any children. Consider using an attorney if the will is in any way complex.
    • To avoid probate, have an attorney create a revocable living trust.
    • Assign beneficiaries to other assets, such as life insurance policies, retirement plans, and securities.
    • Use an attorney to prepare a living will, name a health care proxy, and create a HIPAA release form.
    • Update the plan every five years.

  • How long does the estate planning process last?

    The length of the process can vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the estate, the specific law office, and whether there’s an emergency or urgent need. If you’re using an attorney, you can generally expect it to take one to five weeks. You may be able to speed up the process by immediately providing your attorney with any bank statements or other documents they need.

  • What is a trust?

    A trust is an agreement between a grantor, a trustee, and a beneficiary. In this agreement, the grantor allocates funds or real property assets to the trustee to be held either until the grantor passes away or until a specific, agreed-upon date. At that point, it's the responsibility of the trustee to distribute funds or property to the beneficiary or beneficiaries. While there are similarities between a will and a trust, a will is a more comprehensive document that typically requires probate court, while a trust allows assets to pass to the beneficiary without probate.