Planning for a loved one with disabilities requires careful attention to benefits, financial security, and long-term care. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we focus on creating special needs trust arrangements that protect eligibility for public benefits while preserving funds for quality of life. A well-drafted trust helps families avoid unintended consequences that could jeopardize Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income, or other critical public benefits. Our approach centers on clear communication, thorough review of assets and benefits, and designing trust terms that reflect the beneficiary’s present and future needs within California law and local programs.
Families in Piedmont and throughout Alameda County often face complex decisions when planning for a loved one who relies on public assistance. Special needs trusts provide a structured way to manage resources so they supplement rather than replace benefits. We work with clients to identify funding sources, choose appropriate trust types, and create distribution provisions that address housing, education, medical needs, and personal enrichment. Our goal is to ensure that the trust supports a stable life for the beneficiary while fitting into a broader estate plan that includes wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives tailored to California rules.
A special needs trust can mean the difference between losing benefit eligibility and maintaining access to necessary programs while providing extra financial support. By holding assets in trust and directing how funds are spent, families can pay for supplemental services and quality-of-life items without disqualifying the beneficiary from public assistance. This protection is especially meaningful in California, where access to programs like Medi-Cal and SSI can be essential to health and daily living. Beyond benefits protection, a trust creates a framework for fiduciary oversight, consistent care decisions, and a long-term plan that adapts as the beneficiary’s needs change over time.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers personalized estate planning for families across the Bay Area, including Piedmont and Alameda County. Our practice focuses on practical, client-centered planning that aligns legal tools with real-life needs. We guide clients through trust drafting, beneficiary designations, and the related documents needed to support a special needs trust, such as powers of attorney and health care directives. With a focus on clear communication, we work closely with families to understand financial resources, benefit programs, and caregiving goals so the resulting plan is durable and responsive to changes in circumstances and law.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for a person with disabilities while preserving eligibility for public benefits. The trust is managed by a trustee who follows written instructions about distributions for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs. Trust funding can come from family gifts, inheritances, structured settlements, or other sources. Different trust types serve different purposes; some are established during a person’s lifetime and others are created through a will. Understanding the distinctions and selecting appropriate trust provisions ensures the arrangement aligns with state rules and the beneficiary’s long-term support network.
Key considerations when setting up a special needs trust include the source and timing of funds, the powers granted to the trustee, and the kinds of expenses the trust will cover. Careful drafting addresses payback provisions that may apply to public benefits programs, the trustee’s authority over investments and disbursements, and how the trust coordinates with other parts of an estate plan. Working with counsel familiar with California benefit programs and local administrative practices helps families create a trust that functions smoothly and protects both financial and care-related interests for the beneficiary.
A special needs trust is a legal trust designed to hold assets for the benefit of an individual with a disability while allowing that person to qualify for government benefits that are means-tested. The trust pays for supplemental needs not covered by public programs, such as transportation, therapies, educational supports, recreational activities, and quality-of-life items. It is distinct from a general-purpose trust because distributions are made to enhance the beneficiary’s life rather than to replace core benefits. Properly structured, the trust safeguards eligibility for programs like SSI and Medi-Cal by keeping countable assets outside the beneficiary’s name.
Establishing a special needs trust requires several coordinated actions: defining the beneficiary and trustee roles, choosing whether the trust is standalone or pooled, drafting distribution standards, and addressing payback provisions. Trustees must maintain records, coordinate with public benefits agencies, and exercise discretion consistent with the trust terms. The process typically includes a comprehensive financial review, drafting tailored trust provisions, and integrating the trust with wills, health care directives, and powers of attorney. Periodic review ensures the trust continues to meet the beneficiary’s needs and reflects changes in law or family circumstances.
Knowing common terms helps families make informed decisions. Terms such as “trustee,” “payback provision,” “pooled trust,” and “supplemental needs” recur in planning discussions. Understanding these phrases clarifies how trusts interact with public benefits and what powers are necessary for the trustee to manage funds responsibly. A clear glossary removes confusion when reviewing documents and ensures that family members who will support the trust know their roles. Legal definitions also guide choice of trust type and drafting of clauses governing distributions, investments, and trust termination.
A trustee is the person or institution responsible for managing the trust assets and making distributions according to the trust terms. The trustee has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the beneficiary, maintain accurate records, and coordinate with benefits programs as needed. Trustee duties include investing trust funds prudently, paying authorized expenses, and communicating with family members and care providers. Choosing a trustee involves balancing familiarity with the beneficiary’s needs, financial acumen, and the trustee’s availability and willingness to perform administrative tasks over the long term.
A pooled trust is a type of special needs trust managed by a nonprofit organization that combines funds from multiple beneficiaries for investment and administrative purposes while maintaining a separate account for each beneficiary. Pooled trusts can be an option for smaller estates or when a private trustee is not available. They often offer professional management, lower administrative burdens, and continuity of care even if family circumstances change. California recognizes pooled trust arrangements when they meet federal and state requirements for preserving beneficiary eligibility for public benefits.
A payback provision requires that, upon the beneficiary’s death, any remaining trust assets be used to reimburse the state for public benefits provided during the beneficiary’s lifetime, up to the amount paid. This provision is common in certain types of trusts that receive public benefits. Families can plan for payback obligations while directing remaining funds to other permissible heirs or charitable causes where allowed. Careful drafting clarifies how reimbursements are calculated and whether any exceptions or alternate distribution plans apply after payback obligations are satisfied.
Supplemental needs refer to goods and services that enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life beyond what public benefits cover. Examples include adaptive equipment, extracurricular activities, dental care not covered by Medi-Cal, transportation expenses, and education or vocational supports. Trust distributions for supplemental needs are intended to add to, rather than replace, core benefits. Clear trust language about permitted supplemental uses helps trustees make responsible decisions while avoiding reductions in benefit eligibility due to improper distributions.
Families considering how to provide for a loved one with disabilities can choose among a few common options: a third-party special needs trust funded by family assets, a first-party trust funded with the beneficiary’s own resources, a pooled trust run by a nonprofit, or alternative approaches such as outright gifts combined with conservatorship in limited situations. Each option has different consequences for benefits eligibility, payback obligations, administrative complexity, and long-term control. Evaluating these choices requires assessing the source of funds, the beneficiary’s current benefits, and the family’s goals for control and oversight across future decades.
A limited approach can be appropriate when the beneficiary has modest supplemental needs, existing public benefits are stable, and family resources are minimal. In these scenarios, a pooled trust or a narrowly tailored third-party arrangement can provide supplemental support without imposing long-term administrative burdens or complex investment oversight. Families should carefully evaluate whether a simpler plan can meet likely future needs, including unforeseen medical or residential changes. Regular reviews remain important to confirm that the arrangement continues to preserve benefits and address the beneficiary’s evolving circumstances.
If the intention is to fund a particular short-term project, such as a vocational training program, transitional housing cost, or a specified therapy, a limited trust or directed gifting strategy may meet the need without creating enduring administrative duties. For families focused on a defined goal, a narrowly structured trust that limits distributions to that purpose can be efficient and cost-effective. The key is ensuring that distributions intended for a defined purpose do not inadvertently count as income or assets that jeopardize the beneficiary’s entitlement to public benefits.
Comprehensive planning becomes necessary when the beneficiary’s support will come from multiple sources: retirement accounts, life insurance proceeds, family inheritances, home equity, or structured settlements. Coordinating these assets requires careful drafting to direct post-death funds into an appropriate trust, manage tax implications, and avoid conflicts between beneficiary designations and trust objectives. A full estate plan integrates wills, trust arrangements, powers of attorney, and health care directives so the special needs trust receives intended funds and interacts correctly with public benefits programs and tax rules.
When long-term housing, changing care providers, or evolving benefit rules are likely, a comprehensive legal plan offers flexibility and continuity. Detailed provisions can authorize trustees to pay for residential supports, arrange for managed care, and adjust disbursement practices as the beneficiary’s life situation changes. Proactive planning also considers potential conservatorship needs, successor trustee selection, and coordination with local service providers. Building flexibility into trust language and related estate documents reduces the need for future court involvement and supports smoother transitions in care and funding over time.
A comprehensive approach provides several important advantages: protection of benefits eligibility, coordinated management of multiple asset types, clear authority and guidance for the trustee, and a plan for successor management as circumstances evolve. By addressing beneficiary needs, funding mechanisms, and contingencies in one coherent plan, families reduce the risk of disputes and administrative gaps. A complete plan also anticipates payback obligations and ensures that any remaining assets are distributed consistent with the family’s wishes while preserving the beneficiary’s quality of life.
Comprehensive planning can also reduce unintended tax consequences and streamline the transfer of assets at the appropriate time. It clarifies roles for caregivers and fiduciaries, sets out a roadmap for medical decision support through health care directives and powers of attorney, and provides a durable structure for long-term monitoring. Families gain peace of mind knowing that both financial and care arrangements are coordinated and that the plan can adapt to changes in benefits rules, living needs, or family dynamics without compromising the beneficiary’s access to essential public supports.
One central benefit of a carefully drafted trust is that it can preserve eligibility for critical public programs. Properly structured trusts keep assets from being counted as the beneficiary’s personal resources, allowing continued receipt of benefits such as Medi-Cal and SSI. This preservation is especially important when benefits cover basic health care and daily living supports that would be difficult or costly to replace privately. The trust supplements those benefits in ways that enhance the beneficiary’s lifestyle without creating disqualification risk or interruption of necessary services.
A comprehensive trust plan can accept funds from many sources and provide a framework for long-term oversight, investment, and distribution. Trustees can be given instructions that allow thoughtful spending for education, therapy, supportive technology, or recreational opportunities. Over time, supervisory mechanisms and reporting provisions help ensure financial stewardship while allowing necessary discretion to respond to unforeseen needs. This flexibility ensures funds are used in ways that meaningfully support the beneficiary’s wellbeing while aligning with family values and legal requirements.
Keep an up-to-date record of current benefits, income sources, insurance details, and anticipated future funding for the beneficiary. Accurate documentation helps trustees make informed distribution decisions that avoid conflicts with public benefits rules. Maintain copies of benefit award letters, medical records related to eligibility, and documentation for any income or gifts intended for the trust. Clear records reduce administrative hurdles and speed coordination with benefits administrators, care providers, and financial institutions, making it easier to respond to requests from agencies or to justify necessary trust expenditures.
Regular review of the trust and related estate documents ensures they remain aligned with the beneficiary’s needs, changes in benefits programs, and family finances. Life events such as the death of a family member, a change in housing, or an increase in assets may require amendments or a different funding strategy. Periodic check-ins help identify needed updates to distribution standards, trustee powers, or successor appointments. Staying proactive about reviews reduces the likelihood of needing costly court intervention later and helps the trust continue to serve its intended purpose.
Families consider a special needs trust to protect public benefits while preserving funds for supplemental needs that government programs do not cover. A trust offers structure for long-term care and financial management, reduces the possibility of assets disqualifying a beneficiary for essential benefits, and provides a formal mechanism for trustees to make purchases that enhance quality of life. These benefits are especially important in California, where navigating Medi-Cal, SSI, and other assistance programs requires careful coordination between private resources and public benefits rules.
In addition to benefits protection, a trust allows families to plan for continuity of care and designate who will oversee finances when caregivers are no longer available. Trust provisions can direct funds toward services that improve daily living, social engagement, and skill development. When combined with health care directives and powers of attorney, the trust becomes part of a complete plan that addresses both financial and personal decision-making. This integrated approach gives families a practical roadmap for ensuring long-term stability for the beneficiary.
Common circumstances include receiving an inheritance or settlement that would otherwise jeopardize benefit eligibility, transitioning from parental care to independent living, or planning for long-term support after a primary caregiver passes away. Families also use trusts when funding is expected from life insurance proceeds or retirement benefits that must be coordinated with benefit rules. In these scenarios, a trust provides a legal vehicle to accept funds while protecting critical assistance programs and offering guidance to trustees who will manage the assets and distribution decisions.
When a beneficiary receives an inheritance, settlement, or other substantial funds, those assets can disqualify them from means-tested public benefits if held directly. Placing such funds into a properly drafted special needs trust preserves eligibility by keeping the assets off the beneficiary’s personal books while allowing the trustee to use funds for supplemental needs. This planning step prevents sudden loss of critical health and income supports and provides a framework for responsibly managing the new resources over the beneficiary’s lifetime.
As beneficiaries age out of parental care or move toward more independent living arrangements, families need a plan that addresses monthly support, housing, and coordination with service providers. A trust can be used to pay for transitional services, supplemental housing costs, and life skills training that benefit the beneficiary without affecting eligibility for core public programs. The trust also defines who will manage funds on an ongoing basis, which reduces uncertainty when primary caregivers step back or pass away.
Public benefits do not always cover every therapy, recreational program, adaptive device, or educational opportunity that would improve the beneficiary’s life. A special needs trust provides a lawful way to pay for those supplemental items. Trustees can allocate funds for therapies, technology, travel for family visits, or enrichment activities while preserving the beneficiary’s access to foundational benefits. Thoughtful trust language and disciplined administration allow families to enhance well-being without jeopardizing eligibility for necessary public supports.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services tailored to families in Piedmont and surrounding areas. We help design trust structures, prepare related estate documents, and coordinate with local service providers to ensure the beneficiary’s needs are supported. Our approach prioritizes clear communication with family members and trustees, documentation of benefit interactions, and practical guidance about trustee duties. Whether you are beginning the planning process or updating an existing plan, we focus on building arrangements that meet legal requirements and everyday realities in Alameda County.
Families choose our firm because we combine practical estate planning knowledge with attention to individual family goals and California program rules. We guide clients through the selection of trust types, drafting of distribution clauses, and coordination with wills and powers of attorney. Our approach emphasizes tailored documents, transparent communication, and ongoing availability to answer questions during implementation. We work with trustees to establish recordkeeping practices and coordinate with benefits administrators to reduce administrative surprises and preserve the beneficiary’s support systems.
We assist with funding strategies and integration of trust provisions into broader estate plans so that assets pass to the trust as intended. This includes reviewing beneficiary designations, retirement planning documents, and potential tax implications. By aligning financial vehicles with the trust structure, families reduce the risk of unintended disqualification from public benefits. Our team also helps prepare successor arrangements to ensure continuity of care and management if a trustee or caregiver becomes unable to serve.
From initial consultations to finalizing documents and advising trustees on administration, we provide practical guidance and clear documentation. We prioritize listening to family needs and translating those priorities into durable legal language. Our goal is to create plans that remain workable across life changes and that help preserve both benefits and a meaningful quality of life for the beneficiary in Piedmont and throughout Alameda County.
Our process begins with a comprehensive intake to learn about the beneficiary’s needs, current benefits, and funding sources. We then review financial records, benefit letters, and family goals to recommend an appropriate trust type and draft tailored provisions. After approval, we finalize documents, coordinate funding steps like beneficiary designation updates, and provide trustees with guidance on recordkeeping and distributions. Follow-up consultations help ensure the trust works as intended and adapts to changes in the beneficiary’s circumstances or public benefit rules.
The initial step involves an in-depth conversation with the family to gather details about the beneficiary’s medical needs, current benefits, assets, and long-term goals. We request documentation such as benefit award letters, bank statements, and any planned inheritances or life insurance policies. This comprehensive review helps identify potential benefits conflicts and the appropriate trust structure. Our questions also explore preferred trustee candidates, distribution priorities, and how the trust should respond to possible future scenarios to ensure planning is practical and sustainable.
We carefully review all relevant documents to determine how existing benefits will interact with proposed trust funding. This assessment identifies steps to protect eligibility and outlines what distributions the trust can safely make. The review includes evaluation of Medi-Cal, SSI, and any state programs that affect countable assets. By mapping the current benefit landscape, we can recommend drafting choices that reduce the risk of inadvertent benefit loss while enabling the trust to provide meaningful supplemental support.
Based on the benefits assessment and family goals, we advise whether a third-party trust, first-party trust, pooled trust, or hybrid approach best meets needs. Drafting strategy covers trustee authority, permitted distributions, payback language if required, and funding mechanisms. The chosen structure balances administrative ease with long-term flexibility. Clear, precise language is used to reduce ambiguity for trustees, ease administration, and ensure the trust aligns with California rules and federal benefit program requirements.
After selecting a strategy, we prepare the trust documents along with supporting estate planning instruments such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. We also provide guidance materials for trustees that outline recordkeeping practices, examples of permissible distributions, and a process for coordinating with benefits administrators. This phase ensures that both the legal paperwork and the practical administration plan are in place prior to funding the trust, reducing the chance of mistakes that could affect benefit eligibility.
Supporting documents like pour-over wills, powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and guardianship nominations integrate the trust into a full estate plan. These documents help ensure that assets intended for the trust are routed correctly after death and that health care decisions can be made without delay. Preparing these instruments together with the trust creates a cohesive plan so family members and trustees have a clear roadmap for decision-making and funding, minimizing the risk of administrative complications during critical moments.
We provide trustees with orientation materials and training on recordkeeping, permissible distributions, and interaction with public benefits agencies. Guidance includes best practices for maintaining receipts, documenting medical and supplemental expenditures, and communicating with family members. Clear administrative protocols reduce the likelihood of disputed decisions and provide accountability. Trustees leave prepared to balance the beneficiary’s needs with the legal constraints of benefits programs, enabling consistent and well-documented management of trust assets.
The final phase is funding the trust and establishing routines for ongoing administration. Funding may include beneficiary designations, transfers from family members, or directing settlement proceeds into the trust. We review each funding step to ensure compliance with benefit program rules and minimize tax consequences where possible. Once funded, we advise trustees on periodic reviews, required reporting, and how to coordinate distributions with service providers to maintain the beneficiary’s eligibility and quality of life.
Coordinating funding often involves changing beneficiary designations, directing life insurance proceeds, or allocating retirement assets through trust language. Each source requires specific actions to ensure funds reach the trust as intended without triggering unintended tax or benefits consequences. We work through the details of each funding mechanism, communicate with financial institutions when necessary, and document the transfers. Thoughtful coordination at this stage prevents gaps in coverage and aligns the trust’s financial structure with the family’s overall estate plan.
Trust administration includes periodic reviews to account for changes in the beneficiary’s needs, updates to benefit program rules, and new family financial events. Trustees should reassess investment strategies, distribution priorities, and successor arrangements at regular intervals or when significant changes occur. We offer follow-up consultations to update documents, revise distribution standards, and confirm that the trust continues to serve the beneficiary effectively. Ongoing attention helps avoid surprises and supports long-term stability for the person the trust is designed to protect.
A special needs trust is designed to hold assets for a person with a disability while preserving eligibility for public benefits that are means-tested. The trust allows a trustee to pay for supplemental goods and services that enhance quality of life without counting those assets as the beneficiary’s personal resources. Common supplemental needs include therapies not covered by public programs, adaptive equipment, educational activities, and social or recreational opportunities that improve daily living. Drafting the trust carefully is essential to make sure it complements rather than displaces benefits such as Medi-Cal and SSI. Trust language should specify permissible distributions and administrative duties, and it should coordinate with other estate documents. Families often rely on professional guidance to decide whether a third-party trust, first-party trust, or pooled trust best suits their situation and to handle the technical details of funding and administration.
Properly structured special needs trusts are designed to preserve eligibility for programs like Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income by keeping assets out of the beneficiary’s name. Third-party trusts funded by family members typically do not affect benefits, while first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets often include a payback provision to reimburse the state for benefits paid during the beneficiary’s lifetime. Understanding these distinctions is essential before placing funds into a trust. Coordination with benefits administrators and careful bookkeeping are important to maintain ongoing eligibility. Trustees should document distributions and retain receipts that demonstrate funds are used for supplemental needs. When in doubt, families can seek guidance to confirm that specific planned distributions will not be treated as countable income or assets by program administrators.
Choosing a trustee involves balancing personal knowledge of the beneficiary’s needs with the ability to manage finances and maintain records. Many families appoint a trusted relative or friend who understands the beneficiary’s daily needs alongside a professional co-trustee or corporate trustee to handle investment and administrative responsibilities. The ideal arrangement depends on family dynamics, the size of the trust, and the level of oversight needed for long-term management. Trustees must be willing to communicate with benefits administrators, maintain accurate paperwork, and make distribution decisions that align with the trust’s purposes. Naming successor trustees and providing written guidance can reduce the risk of disputes and ensure continuity of care if the primary trustee becomes unavailable. Clear trustee selection and orientation help the trust function smoothly over time.
A pooled trust is administered by a nonprofit that manages combined funds for multiple beneficiaries while maintaining separate accounts for each person. It can be a good option for smaller estates or when families prefer a nonprofit to handle administration. A private trust, by contrast, is established by an individual or family and managed by a named trustee or trustees, offering greater control over investments and distribution decisions but potentially higher administration responsibilities and costs. Each option has trade-offs related to control, cost, and administrative burden. Pooled trusts often provide professional administration and can be more affordable for smaller funding levels, while private trusts are preferable when families want greater customization and direct oversight of distributions and investment choices. The decision depends on family priorities and the size and sources of funding.
Yes, a special needs trust can be funded with life insurance proceeds, inheritances, and other assets, but each funding source requires careful planning to ensure funds reach the trust as intended. Life insurance ownership and beneficiary designations must be aligned so proceeds pass to the trust without unintended tax or benefits consequences. Retirement accounts may need special handling because distributions from retirement accounts can have income tax implications and may affect benefits unless properly directed into the trust through planning steps. Coordinating beneficiary designations, rollover rules, and potential tax consequences is an important part of implementing a comprehensive plan. Working through these details in advance and documenting the funding steps helps prevent accidental disqualification from benefits and ensures that assets are available to support the beneficiary as intended.
What happens to trust assets upon the beneficiary’s death depends on the trust terms. Some trusts include a payback provision requiring reimbursement to the state for benefits received, while others direct remaining assets to specified family members or charitable causes. When a payback provision applies, the trust must reimburse public agencies to the extent required before any leftover funds are distributed according to the trust’s instructions. Careful drafting can provide clarity about post-death dispositions while complying with state and federal rules. Families often choose to direct remaining trust funds to relatives or charities after satisfying any required reimbursements. Clear directives reduce the likelihood of disputes and ensure that remaining assets are handled in line with the grantor’s wishes.
Trusts should be reviewed periodically and whenever significant life changes occur, such as the death of a caregiver, changes in the beneficiary’s health, receipt of an inheritance, or changes in public benefits rules. Regular reviews help ensure that trust provisions reflect current circumstances and that funding strategies remain effective. A review also allows families to update trustee appointments and adapt distribution standards as the beneficiary’s needs evolve. Keeping the trust under periodic review minimizes the risk of administrative errors and helps trustees respond proactively to changes in benefits or personal circumstances. Even without major changes, an occasional check-in ensures that the trust continues to operate smoothly and that the family is prepared for foreseeable transitions.
Tax consequences depend on how the trust is funded and structured. Third-party trusts funded with family assets typically have different tax treatment than first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own resources. Income generated by trust investments may be taxed at trust rates unless distributions pass through to a beneficiary, and certain distributions can create taxable income depending on the trust terms and funding sources. It is important to consider tax implications when selecting funding methods such as retirement accounts or investment assets. Coordinating with financial and tax professionals helps families minimize adverse tax outcomes and structure distributions efficiently. Addressing tax considerations during the planning phase ensures that funding steps, trust provisions, and beneficiary designations work together to preserve both benefits and financial resources in the most advantageous way.
Trusts can generally pay for housing and transportation that enhance the beneficiary’s life without replacing core benefits, but the details matter. Payment for room and board provided by family members or certain living arrangements may affect means-tested benefits if not structured carefully. Trustees should document that housing payments serve a legitimate supplemental purpose and do not count as income or accessible resources for the beneficiary under program rules. Transportation costs such as adaptive vehicles, ride services, or fuel for medical appointments are commonly permissible trust expenditures when they supplement the beneficiary’s needs. Trustees should maintain receipts and records showing that such payments improve quality of life and are consistent with the trust’s purpose, thereby minimizing the risk of benefit reductions or disputes with program administrators.
Starting the process involves an initial consultation to discuss the beneficiary’s needs, current benefits, and possible funding sources. Families gather documentation such as benefit award letters, bank statements, insurance policies, and any planned inheritances. This information allows a careful assessment of how to structure the trust and which supporting documents are necessary to create a cohesive estate plan. After the assessment, we recommend a trust type and draft tailored documents including the trust instrument, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives. We also guide funding steps and provide trustee orientation. Taking these steps early helps families avoid last-minute decisions and enables a smooth transition to ongoing trust administration when funding occurs.
Criminal Defense
Homicide Defense
Manslaughter
Assault and Battery
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Battery Causing Great Bodily Injury
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Arson Defense
Weapons Charges
Illegal Firearm Possessions
Civil Harassment
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
School Violence Restraining Orders
Violent Crimes Defense
Estate Planning Practice Areas