A Retirement Plan Trust can be an effective way to manage retirement account assets, such as IRAs and employer plans, within an overall estate plan in Portola Hills and greater California. This page explains how a trust designed for retirement plans can protect beneficiaries, provide tax-aware distribution options, and coordinate with wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. We outline the choices available, the common benefits and tradeoffs, and practical steps to create or update a retirement plan trust so that your retirement assets are managed according to your goals and California law.
Choosing the right approach for retirement accounts helps reduce unintended tax consequences and can simplify the transfer of assets to heirs and loved ones. A retirement plan trust can serve to control distributions, provide for continuing care for a disabled beneficiary, or maintain privacy and orderly administration after you are gone. On this page we cover how these trusts work in conjunction with revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and beneficiary designations, and describe the types of trust provisions commonly used to address retirement plan distributions and tax considerations under current California rules.
A retirement plan trust offers structured control over how retirement accounts are distributed and managed after the account owner’s passing. This can be particularly useful where beneficiary designations alone do not achieve the owner’s intentions, or where a beneficiary needs protections such as staged distributions or oversight. Properly drafted trust provisions can help preserve tax deferred status when allowed, provide for minors or beneficiaries with special needs, and complement other estate planning documents like a revocable living trust or pour-over will. Thoughtful planning reduces the likelihood of disputes and provides peace of mind about retirement assets.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman has provided estate planning guidance to individuals and families throughout California from our San Jose base. We approach retirement plan trusts with care, helping clients understand options for IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement accounts and how to integrate those accounts into a full estate plan. Our practice emphasizes clear communication, practical drafting, and coordination with financial advisors and retirement plan administrators to facilitate efficient transfers and administration consistent with client goals and applicable law.
A retirement plan trust is a trust created to receive and manage distributions from retirement accounts after the owner dies. The trust can be a standalone irrevocable trust or a provision within a revocable living trust that becomes effective at death. Key considerations include who will be named as trust beneficiaries, whether the trust will qualify as an eligible designated beneficiary for stretch distribution purposes where applicable, and how required minimum distributions and tax liabilities will be handled. Careful drafting ensures the trust provisions align with federal tax rules and California estate administration goals.
When creating or updating a retirement plan trust, it is important to review beneficiary designations and coordinate trust language with plan administrators so that the retirement account can transfer smoothly. Trusts may include provisions to preserve tax treatment, provide asset protection for beneficiaries, or distribute income according to specific time frames or milestones. The decision to use a retirement plan trust depends on family circumstances, tax implications, the ages and needs of beneficiaries, and the type of retirement accounts involved. We help clients weigh these considerations and draft tailored trust provisions.
A retirement plan trust is a legal instrument designed to receive retirement account assets at the death of the account owner and to manage the subsequent distributions to trust beneficiaries according to the trust terms. It may serve to control timing of distributions, protect beneficiaries from mismanagement, or provide for incremental payments. The trust document must be drafted with attention to tax rules governing retirement accounts to preserve favorable distribution options where allowed. In many cases the trust must be structured to be recognized by retirement plan custodians for beneficiary designation purposes.
Creating an effective retirement plan trust requires careful planning and specific provisions. Important elements include naming the trust as beneficiary on account paperwork, drafting trust language that allows required tax distribution treatment, selecting trustees and successor trustees, and setting instructions for distribution timing and purposes. The process typically involves reviewing existing beneficiary designations, coordinating with custodians or plan administrators, and incorporating the trust into an overall estate plan with wills, powers of attorney, and health directives. Regular reviews ensure the trust remains aligned with changes in family circumstances and law.
Understanding common terms makes it easier to decide whether a retirement plan trust is the right tool. This glossary explains frequently used phrases such as beneficiary designation, required minimum distribution, designated beneficiary, and pour-over will. Knowing these terms helps when discussing coordination with plan administrators and when reviewing draft trust provisions. The glossary below offers concise definitions and practical implications so you can make informed choices about how retirement accounts should be handled in your estate plan and how trust provisions affect tax and distribution outcomes.
The beneficiary designation is the form on file with the retirement plan custodian that names who will receive account assets after the owner’s death. This designation controls transfer and can override instructions found in a will unless the account is directed to a trust that is properly named and accepted by the custodian. It is essential to keep designations current and to coordinate them with trust language if a trust is intended to receive the assets. Clear beneficiary forms reduce administrative delays and help ensure assets pass as intended.
Required minimum distribution refers to the mandatory withdrawals that must be taken from certain retirement accounts once an account owner or beneficiary reaches a specified age under federal tax rules. When a trust is named as beneficiary, the trust provisions and beneficiary structure determine how RMDs are calculated and paid. Trusts must be drafted carefully to avoid accelerating taxable distributions unnecessarily and to preserve any available deferral or spread of distributions for beneficiaries, where permitted by law.
A designated beneficiary is an individual or qualified entity recognized for purposes of determining distribution options from retirement accounts after the account owner’s death. Trusts can qualify as designated beneficiaries in some circumstances if they meet specific requirements, which affects how distributions and tax deferral are treated. Whether a trust qualifies depends on factors like the identity of trust beneficiaries and the timing of distributions. Proper trust drafting and timing of designations remain essential to preserve preferred distribution options.
A pour-over will is a will that transfers any assets not already titled in trust at the time of the owner’s death into a previously established revocable living trust. For retirement accounts, a pour-over will may not control beneficiary designations on account paperwork, so direct coordination between beneficiary designations and the trust is necessary. The pour-over will provides a safety net for assets inadvertently left outside the trust while ensuring a single, unified trust administration for probate assets.
There are several approaches to handling retirement accounts in an estate plan, each with distinct implications. Direct beneficiary designations can be straightforward but may not provide control or protection for beneficiaries. Naming a retirement plan trust can allow for staged distributions, asset protection, and coordination with estate plan goals but requires precise drafting and administrative coordination. Another option is to leave accounts to a revocable living trust or to individual beneficiaries with provisions elsewhere. We help clients compare these options and select the approach that balances tax considerations, beneficiary needs, and administrative practicality.
Direct beneficiary designations on retirement accounts may be sufficient when the selected beneficiaries are mature, financially responsible adults who do not require oversight or staged distributions. In such circumstances, avoiding additional trust complexity can streamline transfer and reduce administrative costs. It is still important to confirm that beneficiary forms are current and consistent with broader estate planning documents and to understand any tax consequences that beneficiaries may face on withdrawal of retirement funds. Periodic review ensures designations reflect current intentions.
For smaller retirement account balances, the costs and administrative burden of establishing a retirement plan trust may outweigh the benefits. Directly naming beneficiaries or consolidating smaller accounts into already trusted planning vehicles can be more efficient. Careful evaluation considers the size of the account, the anticipated tax impact of distributions, and the needs of potential beneficiaries. If accounts are modest and beneficiaries are prepared to manage distributions, a limited approach may be the most practical and cost effective option.
A comprehensive retirement plan trust can provide ongoing protection and controlled distributions for minor children, beneficiaries with disabilities, or individuals who may not manage large sums effectively. Trust provisions can set schedules for distribution, require oversight by a trustee, and include safeguards to prevent dissipation of assets. These protections help maintain long-term financial stability for beneficiaries while enabling distributions that address living expenses, education, and medical needs without exposing funds to immediate depletion or mismanagement.
A comprehensive approach is often necessary in blended family situations, where multiple heirs, dependents with special needs, or creditor exposure are concerns. Trust provisions can allocate retirement plan assets to different family members under controlled terms, reduce potential conflicts, and manage tax timing for distributions. Trusts can also integrate with life insurance, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and other estate arrangements to support retirement assets while meeting broader estate planning objectives and protecting beneficiaries from unintended consequences.
A trust-centered approach to retirement plan assets can provide clarity, protection, and tailored distribution plans for beneficiaries. It allows creators to set conditions and timing for distributions, appoint trusted fiduciaries, and coordinate tax-sensitive treatment where allowed. By consolidating retirement accounts into a cohesive estate plan, clients may achieve greater privacy and continuity in administration, reduce the risk of disputes among heirs, and ensure that assets are used for intended purposes like education, long-term care, or gradually supporting a surviving spouse.
Trust provisions can also address succession planning for ownership and management of retirement assets if beneficiaries lack financial sophistication or have special needs. Effective coordination with beneficiary designations and account custodians helps preserve any allowed deferral opportunities and avoids inadvertent acceleration of taxable distributions. A comprehensive plan can be reviewed and updated as laws and personal circumstances change, providing long-term stability and adaptability for retirement assets and other estate components like pour-over wills and healthcare directives.
One of the primary benefits of a retirement plan trust is control over when and how beneficiaries receive distributions. Trust terms can specify staggered payments, income-only distributions, or specific milestone-based transfers to match long-term financial goals. This control reduces the risk that beneficiaries will quickly spend a large inheritance and helps ensure that funds are used for intended purposes like ongoing support, educational costs, or medical care. Thoughtful drafting allows flexibility while maintaining safeguards that align with the account owner’s wishes.
A retirement plan trust can be designed to fit seamlessly into a broader estate plan including revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. This alignment ensures that retirement assets support long-term intentions such as providing for a surviving spouse, caring for minor children, or supporting a family member with disabilities. Coordinated planning reduces conflicts between beneficiary designations and testamentary documents and facilitates administration that reflects the account owner’s priorities while adhering to applicable rules and tax considerations.
Keeping beneficiary designations current is one of the most important steps in preserving the intended destination of retirement plan assets. Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, or deaths can change the appropriate beneficiary choices. Regular review ensures beneficiary forms match the trust and will documents you have in place, and helps avoid unintended beneficiaries or conflicts between accounts and estate planning documents. Coordinate updates with plan custodians and confirm acceptance if a trust is named as beneficiary.
Retirement accounts carry tax consequences for beneficiaries that can vary depending on how and when distributions are taken. When a trust is the beneficiary, its terms influence the tax treatment of distributions and required minimum distributions. Evaluate whether a trust should receive the account directly or whether direct beneficiary designations are preferable. Engaging in planning that considers both tax timing and the needs of beneficiaries can preserve value and reduce unintended tax burdens over time.
A retirement plan trust may be appropriate when you want to control distributions, protect vulnerable beneficiaries, or ensure retirement assets are used according to specific guidelines. It can also help integrate retirement accounts into a larger estate plan, address blended family concerns, and reduce the potential for disputes. Because retirement accounts have their own beneficiary rules and tax consequences, relying solely on testamentary documents can create unintended outcomes. A retirement plan trust provides a mechanism to align account transfers with your broader planning goals while addressing legal and tax considerations in California.
Another reason to consider a retirement plan trust is to provide ongoing management for beneficiaries who may not be prepared to receive a lump sum. Trusts can be structured to provide periodic payments, preserve assets for long term needs, or support a surviving spouse while maintaining certain tax deferral options. Comprehensive planning also clarifies successor ownership and trustee duties, facilitating smoother administration after the account owner’s death. Regular review and coordination with custodians and financial advisors helps keep the plan effective over time.
Retirement plan trusts are commonly used in situations involving minor beneficiaries, beneficiaries with special needs, blended families, creditor exposure, or concerns about beneficiary financial management. They are also relevant when an account owner wants to control timing of distributions or protect assets for future generations. In each circumstance, trust provisions should be tailored to the goals of the account owner and the needs of beneficiaries, with attention to tax and administrative requirements. Reviewing these circumstances helps determine if a trust is the appropriate vehicle.
When beneficiaries are minors or dependents who cannot legally manage large sums, a retirement plan trust provides a framework for responsible distribution and oversight. The trust can appoint fiduciaries to manage funds for education, health care, and maintenance until beneficiaries reach specified ages or milestones. This structure prevents immediate lump sum distributions that could be harmful and ensures funds are preserved and used in ways the account owner intended. It also offers continuity and peace of mind for parents or guardians planning for their children.
In blended family situations where spouses, stepchildren, and biological children have competing inheritance expectations, a retirement plan trust can help allocate retirement assets in a balanced and fair manner. Trust provisions can provide for a surviving spouse while preserving capital for children from a prior relationship, or allocate assets according to specific family needs. Carefully drafted trust terms reduce ambiguity and the likelihood of disputes, and help ensure distributions reflect the account owner’s intent across multiple beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries who receive public benefits, have special needs, or face potential creditor claims may benefit from a trust structure that shields retirement distributions while still providing for care and living expenses. A trust can be written to preserve eligibility for government benefits and to protect assets from creditors where allowed by law. These provisions require careful drafting to ensure compatibility with benefits rules and to provide flexible, long term support for beneficiaries who need protection and professional management of inherited retirement assets.
Serving Portola Hills and the surrounding Orange County communities, the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers practical guidance on retirement plan trusts and how they fit within a complete estate plan. We assist with drafting trust provisions, reviewing beneficiary designations, coordinating with custodians, and updating documents to reflect life changes. Our approach is responsive and client focused, with attention to administrative coordination and legal compliance to help ensure retirement assets are transferred and managed according to your objectives after you are gone.
Clients choose our firm for thoughtful planning, clear communication, and practical drafting that aligns retirement plan trusts with broader estate objectives. We focus on understanding family dynamics, beneficiary needs, and tax implications to design trust language that serves each client’s intentions. The process includes reviewing existing estate documents and beneficiary forms to avoid conflicts and ensure the trust is recognized by plan custodians. Our goal is to provide durable planning solutions that are straightforward to implement and maintain.
We take a collaborative approach, working with financial advisors and account custodians as needed to confirm beneficiary acceptance and to facilitate smooth asset transfers. This coordination helps prevent administrative delays and supports the efficient administration of retirement accounts after the account owner’s death. Our practice emphasizes regular plan reviews to account for life changes and legal updates, ensuring retirement plan trusts continue to meet client goals over time and remain aligned with California rules and federal distribution requirements.
From initial consultation through document drafting and beneficiary coordination, we provide clear guidance on options and likely outcomes so clients can make informed choices. We explain the practical differences between direct beneficiary designations, pour-over wills, revocable living trusts, and retirement plan trusts, then draft tailored provisions to reduce dispute risks and support intended distributions. Our approach aims to deliver durable, workable plans that address family needs while respecting tax and administrative realities.
Our process begins with a detailed review of your existing estate documents, retirement account beneficiary designations, and family circumstances to identify goals and any potential conflicts. We then recommend options and draft trust provisions that reflect your priorities for distribution timing, beneficiary protections, and tax-aware handling. After drafting, we coordinate with account custodians to ensure the trust is accepted and the beneficiary designations are properly filed. We follow up with periodic reviews to adjust for changes in law or family circumstances.
The first step is an initial meeting to gather information about retirement accounts, beneficiaries, family dynamics, and broader estate planning goals. We review existing wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to identify alignment or inconsistencies. This review allows us to recommend whether a retirement plan trust is appropriate and what trust provisions are necessary to achieve the desired distribution and tax outcomes. Clear communication during this phase sets expectations and timelines.
We ask clients to compile account statements, custody agreements, and beneficiary forms for all retirement accounts. This information helps us evaluate distribution options, required minimum distribution timing, and any custodian requirements for recognizing a trust as beneficiary. Accurate documentation is essential to draft trust language that will be honored by custodians and to ensure the trust qualifies for favorable tax treatment where appropriate. Gathering these materials early speeds the drafting and implementation process.
Understanding the financial readiness, ages, and needs of beneficiaries is central to designing effective trust provisions. We discuss whether beneficiaries require staged distributions, income-only access, or protections related to special needs or creditor exposure. This assessment guides decisions about trustees, distribution triggers, and other trust safeguards. A clear plan for beneficiary support helps shape the trust structure so it delivers intended protections and benefits over time.
After confirming goals and gathering documentation, we draft trust provisions tailored to retirement accounts and coordinate with custodians to ensure beneficiary designations name the trust correctly. This step often involves refining language to meet custodian requirements and aligning trust terms with federal distribution rules. Proper coordination prevents delays and ensures that the retirement account will transfer and be administered in a way consistent with the account owner’s intentions and applicable rules.
Drafting focuses on clear instructions for trustees regarding distribution timing, tax handling, and interaction with other estate documents. The provisions also name fiduciaries and clarify trustee powers so administration is efficient. Attention to detail is important to preserve any deferral options for beneficiaries and to avoid unintended acceleration of taxable events. We aim for language that is both precise for custodians and flexible enough to adapt to future circumstances within the scope of the trust.
Once trust language is drafted, we work with clients to submit beneficiary designation forms to account custodians and confirm their acceptance of the trust as beneficiary. This step may require custodian-specific forms or supplemental documentation, such as a certification of trust, to avoid transmitting the full trust document. Confirming acceptance helps ensure the intended transfer will proceed smoothly at the account owner’s death and minimizes future administrative complications for trustees and beneficiaries.
Final steps include executing trust documents, updating beneficiary designations, and ensuring any necessary funding steps are completed. Although retirement accounts often transfer by beneficiary designation, a pour-over will and other documents should be aligned to capture assets that may not be titled correctly. Periodic reviews are scheduled to update the plan for changes in family circumstances, account types, or legal developments. Ongoing review helps maintain the effectiveness and alignment of the retirement plan trust with overall estate goals.
Execution involves signing trust documents according to legal formalities and filing beneficiary designation forms with custodians. Where custodians allow, a certification of trust may be submitted in place of the full trust document to confirm trustee authority and trust terms relevant to beneficiary recognition. Ensuring that all paperwork is properly completed and accepted minimizes the risk of administrative obstacles and helps trustees administer retirement account distributions according to the trust terms when the time arrives.
After implementation, periodic reviews are important to confirm the plan still reflects the client’s wishes and to address changes such as new beneficiaries, account consolidations, or updates in law. Reviews allow for adjustments to trust provisions, beneficiary forms, and coordination with other estate planning documents. Regular maintenance ensures the retirement plan trust remains an effective tool for managing retirement accounts in line with changing family circumstances and financial considerations.
A retirement plan trust is a trust established to receive distributions from retirement accounts after the account owner dies. It can be standalone or part of a revocable living trust framework and is used to control distribution timing, provide for vulnerable beneficiaries, and coordinate tax handling. The trust must be drafted carefully to ensure that plan custodians will recognize it as the intended beneficiary and to preserve any allowable distribution options for beneficiaries under federal rules. Consider a retirement plan trust when you have beneficiaries who need oversight, when you want staged distributions, when creditor protection is a concern, or when you need to reconcile complex family dynamics. The decision depends on the size and type of retirement accounts, the ages and needs of beneficiaries, and tax considerations. A review of beneficiary forms and account custodian requirements helps determine whether a trust is the right tool for your situation.
When a trust is the beneficiary of a retirement account, tax and distribution outcomes depend on how the trust is drafted and who the ultimate beneficiaries are. Trust terms determine whether distributions must be made immediately, over a set period, or in a manner that preserves tax deferral for eligible beneficiaries. If the trust qualifies under specific rules, beneficiaries may be able to stretch distributions over their lifetimes, subject to current tax rules. Improperly structured trusts can inadvertently accelerate taxable distributions, increasing tax liability. To avoid unintended tax consequences, trust language should align with retirement account rules and trustee administration powers should be specified. Coordination with custodians and tax advisors helps ensure distributions are handled efficiently and in a tax-conscious manner. Regular reviews keep the plan aligned with changes in law and family circumstances so tax impacts are managed responsibly.
A trust can qualify as a designated beneficiary for retirement accounts if it meets certain requirements that allow the retirement plan to treat the trust as a single designated beneficiary for distribution purposes. Key requirements typically include identifying ascertainable beneficiaries and meeting timing rules so that the trust beneficiaries are identifiable by a required date. Trusts that fail to meet these criteria may be treated differently for distribution purposes, potentially shortening distribution periods and affecting tax deferral benefits. Proper drafting and timely designation are critical to qualifying a trust as a designated beneficiary. The trust should include provisions that clearly state who the beneficiaries are and how distributions should be allocated. Consulting with counsel and coordinating with custodians ensures the trust meets the necessary conditions and that beneficiary forms are filed correctly to preserve desired distribution options.
Required minimum distributions are mandated withdrawals from certain retirement accounts based on regulatory age rules and beneficiary status. When a trust is named as beneficiary, the manner in which RMDs are calculated and paid depends on whether the trust qualifies as a designated beneficiary and on the ages and status of the trust beneficiaries. If a trust does not qualify properly, the distribution period may be shorter, which can accelerate taxable income for beneficiaries. To preserve favorable RMD treatment, trust provisions should be drafted to satisfy plan and tax rules and to allow trustees to administer distributions in a tax-aware manner. Coordination with account custodians and ongoing administration guidelines for trustees help ensure RMDs are handled in ways that align with beneficiary needs and tax considerations.
A pour-over will transfers assets to a revocable trust upon death but does not by itself control beneficiary designations for retirement accounts. Retirement accounts typically transfer according to beneficiary forms on file with the custodian, which can override testamentary directions. Naming a trust directly as beneficiary ensures the retirement account is received by the trust under terms you choose, while a pour-over will serves as a backstop for assets that are not otherwise titled correctly at death. Choosing between a pour-over will and a direct trust designation depends on your goals and the specifics of your accounts. If you want precise post-death control and protections for beneficiaries, naming a trust as beneficiary may be preferable. If accounts are simple and beneficiaries are trusted adults, direct designations without a trust may be adequate. Either way, coordination and periodic review are essential to ensure documents and designations are consistent.
Beneficiary designations and trust provisions should be reviewed whenever there are significant life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or changes in beneficiary circumstances. It is also wise to review these documents periodically, at minimum every few years or when tax laws change, to ensure the plan continues to reflect your intentions. Regular reviews prevent conflicts between estate documents and beneficiary forms and reduce the likelihood of unintended outcomes at the time of transfer. During reviews, confirm that account custodians have the correct beneficiary forms on file and that any trust provisions remain effective and compliant with current rules. Updating trust language, successor trustees, and beneficiary designations as circumstances evolve keeps the retirement plan trust aligned with your goals and provides clarity and continuity for beneficiaries and fiduciaries.
Trustee powers for retirement account trusts should include authority to receive account distributions, allocate income and principal, make discretionary distributions for beneficiary support, and handle tax elections and filings. Trustees should also have the ability to interact with account custodians, obtain necessary documentation, and engage professionals such as accountants when appropriate. Clear trustee responsibilities and limitation clauses help ensure that trustees can administer the trust efficiently and in accordance with the trust creator’s intentions. Choosing trustees who can manage financial and administrative duties responsibly is important, and successor trustee provisions provide continuity. The trust should specify fiduciary standards, distribution criteria, and processes for resolving disputes or addressing unforeseen circumstances. Well-defined trustee powers and duties reduce ambiguity and assist in the practical administration of retirement accounts after the owner’s death.
A properly drafted trust can preserve eligibility for government benefit programs and protect assets from creditors in certain situations, depending on applicable law and the structure of the trust. For beneficiaries who receive public benefits or who face potential creditor claims, trust provisions can limit direct ownership while allowing for necessary distributions to meet living needs and medical expenses. Careful drafting is necessary to avoid inadvertently disqualifying beneficiaries from means-tested programs or exposing trust assets to claims. Coordination with benefits advisors and attorneys familiar with trust drafting for special circumstances is important. The trust must be aligned with rules for public benefits and creditor protections while still delivering flexible support to beneficiaries. Regular reviews and updates ensure the trust continues to serve intended protective functions as laws and beneficiary situations change.
Naming a trust as beneficiary can add administrative steps for trustees, such as proving the trust, coordinating with custodians, and managing distributions according to trust terms. While there may be additional paperwork or custodian requirements, these steps are typically manageable and worthwhile when the trust’s protections and distribution controls align with the account owner’s goals. Clear trust language and prior coordination with account custodians reduce surprises and streamline the administration process for trustees and beneficiaries. Trust-based administration can also reduce disputes by providing explicit guidance to trustees and beneficiaries. Proper planning, documentation, and communication prior to death help trustees handle their responsibilities efficiently and minimize delays. While there is procedural work involved, the clarity and protections a trust provides often outweigh administrative complexities in many family situations.
To begin setting up a retirement plan trust, gather information about your retirement accounts, current beneficiary designations, and relevant estate planning documents. Schedule an initial consultation to discuss your goals, family circumstances, and concerns about distributions, taxes, or beneficiary protections. This initial assessment guides whether a retirement plan trust is appropriate and what trust provisions are necessary to achieve your objectives. After the initial meeting, the next steps typically include drafting trust provisions, coordinating beneficiary designations with account custodians, and executing the trust documents. We also recommend scheduling periodic reviews to keep the plan current. This process ensures retirement accounts are integrated with your overall estate plan and managed according to your intentions after death.
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