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Best Estate Planning Lawyers San Jose, CA

Our Recommended Best San Jose Estate Planning Lawyers

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
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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.

241Reviewed

149Curated

11Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Expertise.com Rating

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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
San Jose, CA

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (8)
Yelp
5.0 (2)

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
  • Probate

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
1172 Murphy Ave. Suite 231, San Jose, CA 95131

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (73)
Avvo
5.0 (18)
Yelp
5.0 (16)

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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
1250 Aviation Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (81)
Facebook
4.7 (27)
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
  • Medi-Cal Trusts
  • Probate

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
1871 The Alameda Ste 333, San Jose, CA 95126

Expertise.com Rating

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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
17760 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)
Avvo
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.

Best Estate Planning Lawyers Serving San Jose
Los Altos, CA 94022

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (18)
Google
4.3 (6)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

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.

Compare Best San Jose Estate Planning Lawyers

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

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.

San Jose, CA Estate Planning FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in San Jose, California?

    Please call the San Jose Police Department at 408-277-8900 to report non-emergencies.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in San Jose, California?

    Citizens may request reports online, via mail, or in person. Concerned parties may also visit the SJPD Records Unit at 201 West Mission Street, San Jose, CA 95110, or call them at 408-277-4261. Note, however, that there are certain guidelines that must be observed when requesting incident reports, pursuant to Government Code 6254(f). For more information, please visit this link: https://www.sjpd.org/records/crime-incident-reports.

  • Under San Jose estate planning laws, what happens to a trust established with a soon-to-be ex-spouse when an individual files for a divorce?

    In San Jose, when a divorce or Registered Domestic Partnership is finalized, wills and trusts are automatically revoked. However, this is not the case when physical separation occurs or a dissolution petition is filed. The estate plans created during the separation stage prior to the final marriage dissolution are generally not reflective of the grantors' intentions. Additionally, because deaths during this time are handled according to the existing documents, regularly updating the estate plan with an attorney is critical to reflect the grantors' wishes.

  • What is the role of a successor according to San Jose estate planning laws?

    Being named an estate's successor in San Jose means you are responsible for managing the trust and carrying out the wishes of the deceased. Common responsibilities include paying creditors and taxes, distributing assets, and keeping records of estate-related expenses. While not necessary, it is highly recommended to hire an experienced estate planning attorney to help you fulfill your fiduciary obligations by guiding you through the process.

  • Can a trustee in a San Jose estate be removed under California laws?

    To change the trustee, the settlor - the person who established the trust - only needs to make a simple amendment to the trust. However, it's harder to remove the trustee if the trust is irrevocable or if the settlor has passed away. Only the court can do this. A beneficiary may want to do this if they think the trustee is not acting in good faith. To do so, the beneficiary in San Jose must request it from the court.

  • Is it possible to amend or cancel a will after it has been drafted under San Jose estate planning laws?

    Yes, you can modify or revoke a will after creating it. It's a good idea to review your will periodically to ensure it reflects your current assets and property in San Jose. It is a good idea to examine your will before and/or after a significant life event, such as getting married, divorcing, or having a child. Do not change your will by simply crossing out or adding provisions. Taking these certain actions may jeopardize the validity of your will due to specific California probate laws.

  • Can a San Jose resident just create his own estate plan without consulting a lawyer?

    One can, but there is no guarantee that it will be honored by San Jose courts especially if the documents do not adhere to California laws. While many online services offer "do-it-yourself" estate planning packages, a small error or oversight can lead to costly, time-consuming, and contentious probate, which can be emotionally exhausting for the bereaved family of the deceased. It is recommended to consult with an estate planning lawyer to avoid this hassle.