A Financial Power of Attorney is a foundational estate planning document that lets you appoint someone to handle your financial affairs if you become unable to act. In Piru and Ventura County, it helps with bill payments, banking transactions, investment decisions, and interacting with government agencies. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman can assist you in creating a durable, clear, and legally sound document that reflects your wishes while minimizing future disputes. Our goal is to make the process straightforward so you and your loved ones have confidence in day-to-day financial oversight when you need it most.
Choosing the right language and powers in a Financial Power of Attorney matters because it determines how broadly your agent may act and under what circumstances. We help clients in Piru craft documents that balance flexibility with appropriate safeguards, addressing items like asset transfers, tax matters, retirement accounts, and property management. Beyond drafting, our services include reviewing existing directives and coordinating the Financial Power of Attorney with other estate planning documents such as trusts, wills, and health care directives. This integrated approach helps reduce gaps and conflicting instructions across your estate plan.
A properly drafted Financial Power of Attorney prevents delays in managing finances during incapacity and avoids court-appointed conservatorships that can be costly and public. It enables a trusted agent to pay bills, file taxes, manage investments, and maintain property on your behalf. This document also supports continuity: businesses and banks are more likely to cooperate when presented with a clear, durable Power of Attorney. For families in Piru, having a Financial Power of Attorney in place maintains financial stability and reduces stress during medical crises, transitions, or periods when travel or illness makes it difficult for you to attend to financial matters personally.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients with practical, personalized estate planning solutions tailored to individual circumstances. Located in California with a history of assisting clients across counties, our firm focuses on clear communication and thorough document preparation. We guide clients through decisions about powers granted, successor agents, and coordination with trusts and wills. Clients in Piru benefit from our accessible approach, where we explain legal options in plain language, review current documents, and recommend adjustments to reflect changing family dynamics, assets, or goals. Our priority is to build plans that work reliably when they are needed most.
A Financial Power of Attorney grants authority to an agent to manage financial tasks defined by the principal. The scope can be broad or narrowly tailored to specific accounts or transactions and may include authority over banking, real estate, investments, retirement accounts, and tax filings. In California, a durable version remains effective if you later become incapacitated, while a springing document becomes effective upon a specified event. Selecting the right form and language affects how institutions respond and how easily your agent can act, so attention to detail is important when creating or updating this document.
When creating a Financial Power of Attorney, important considerations include naming primary and successor agents, specifying powers retained or limited by the principal, and clarifying whether the agent may make gifts or transfer assets. It is also necessary to coordinate the Power of Attorney with other planning documents like trusts, pour-over wills, and retirement plan trusts to avoid conflicting instructions. Regular review ensures the document reflects current wishes and asset structures, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, relocation, or changes in financial circumstances.
A Financial Power of Attorney is a legal authorization that lets a person you trust act on your behalf for financial matters. That agent can interact with banks, pay bills, manage investments, sign contracts, and handle property transactions as delineated in the document. The Power of Attorney can be durable, meaning it continues if you become incapacitated, or limited to specific tasks or timeframes. Understanding the differences between durable, limited, and springing powers helps you choose an arrangement that supports your needs and safeguards your financial interests while enabling practical decision-making when you cannot act personally.
Drafting a Financial Power of Attorney involves identifying the principal, selecting one or more agents, defining the scope of authority, and including any limitations or special instructions. The process includes careful review of asset ownership, beneficiary designations, and how the Power of Attorney will interact with trusts and wills. Signing formalities must comply with California law, including notarization and witnessing where required. We guide clients through drafting, execution, and distribution of copies to relevant institutions, ensuring the agent has the documentation needed to act when the time comes.
A clear understanding of common terms related to Financial Power of Attorney helps clients make informed choices. Definitions for terms like principal, agent, durable, springing, fiduciary duties, and successor agent clarify roles and responsibilities. We provide plain-language explanations and examples so you can see how each provision plays out in practice. Knowing these terms reduces confusion when coordinating powers across different estate planning instruments and helps ensure your documents reflect your desired level of control and oversight.
The principal is the person who creates the Financial Power of Attorney and grants authority to another person to act on their financial behalf. The principal decides which powers to grant, whether the document is durable or limited, and who may serve as successor agents. Clear expression of the principal’s intentions is important to ensure banks, investment firms, and other institutions accept the agent’s authority. The principal may also include instructions, restrictions, or conditions that guide the agent’s actions and limit certain types of transactions when desired.
A durable Financial Power of Attorney remains effective even if the principal loses capacity, allowing the agent to continue managing finances without court involvement. This continuity avoids delays and often prevents the need for conservatorship proceedings. Durable documents are commonly recommended for comprehensive financial oversight and should be carefully drafted to specify whether they become effective immediately or upon a triggering event. Because durable powers grant ongoing authority, many principals include successor agents and detailed guidance to shape the agent’s decision-making.
The agent is the person appointed by the principal to act on their financial behalf. An agent has a duty to follow the principal’s instructions and to manage assets responsibly. The agent may perform tasks like paying bills, selling or managing property, accessing accounts, and filing taxes as allowed by the document. When naming an agent, principals often pick someone they trust, and may name successor agents to take over if the primary agent cannot serve. Clear instructions in the document help avoid disputes and ensure proper financial care.
A springing Financial Power of Attorney becomes effective only upon a specified event, commonly the principal’s incapacity. Because institutions may require proof of the triggering event, springing documents can sometimes lead to delays when immediate action is needed. The effectiveness of a springing form depends on how the triggering event is defined and documented. For many clients, clarifying conditions and ensuring practical proof of those conditions helps ensure the document functions as intended when the agent must step in.
Choosing between immediate, durable, or springing Financial Powers of Attorney requires weighing convenience against control. Immediate durable powers allow seamless transition without waiting for a triggering event, while springing powers limit agent authority until a defined condition occurs. Limited powers restrict actions to specific accounts or transactions. Coordination with trusts, wills, and beneficiary designations is essential to avoid conflicts. We review each option with clients, considering typical banking practices in Ventura County and the kinds of transactions the agent is likely to face, helping you select the approach that matches your needs and comfort level.
A limited Financial Power of Attorney is often sufficient for short-term or specific needs like handling a real estate closing while you are out of town, completing a single bank transaction, or allowing someone to manage a particular account during recovery from surgery. These limited documents grant narrowly defined authority and expire after the transaction or a set timeframe. They are useful when you want to avoid granting broad, ongoing powers while still ensuring practical continuity for discrete financial matters. Clear instructions and defined expiration help reduce misunderstandings between the agent and financial institutions.
Limited powers are appropriate when the principal wants to authorize someone to act only for a defined purpose, such as managing a single investment account, collecting insurance proceeds, or facilitating the sale of an asset. This targeted approach restricts the agent’s actions to what is necessary for that purpose, which can alleviate concerns about granting broad authority. We draft limited documents with precise language to ensure banks and other institutions understand the scope, reducing the chance of rejected transactions and offering peace of mind that authority is not broader than intended.
A Financial Power of Attorney should be coordinated with your overall estate plan to prevent conflicts with trusts, wills, beneficiary designations, and healthcare directives. For example, if you have a revocable living trust or retirement plan trust, the Power of Attorney should be drafted to work in harmony with those instruments. Comprehensive planning addresses asset ownership, transfer strategies, and successor designations so that the agent’s authority supports rather than undermines your broader wishes. This coordination reduces confusion and streamlines administration when documents are needed.
Complex financial arrangements such as business ownership, multiple real estate holdings, retirement accounts, and intricate investment portfolios benefit from comprehensive planning. When a Financial Power of Attorney is integrated into a full estate plan, agents receive clearer guidance for handling complex transactions, interacting with professionals, and preserving the principal’s overall financial strategy. Comprehensive planning anticipates potential disputes and includes contingencies for successor agents, trust funding, and tax-related tasks, making it easier for family members and fiduciaries to carry out the principal’s wishes.
A comprehensive approach to Financial Power of Attorney reduces legal uncertainty, preserves privacy, and streamlines decision-making during incapacity. When powers are tailored and coordinated with trusts and wills, institutions can rely on a consistent set of directions, and families face fewer disputes or delays. Comprehensive planning also includes naming successor agents and providing guidance to prevent misuse. The result is a more predictable process for managing finances, settling affairs, and protecting assets, which supports continuity in bill payments, tax compliance, and property management without court intervention.
Another benefit is clarity for agents and institutions, which reduces friction when performing transactions and accessing accounts. By addressing potential contingencies upfront, comprehensive plans help minimize the risk that banks or government agencies will refuse to accept agent authority. Moreover, coordinated documents like pour-over wills and certification of trust help ensure assets are transferred according to the principal’s wishes after death. Overall, the comprehensive method focuses on practical implementation to maintain financial stability for the principal and their family during challenging times.
When a Financial Power of Attorney is part of a broader estate plan, it helps avoid court proceedings that could otherwise be necessary to appoint a conservator. Courts can be time-consuming and public, leading to expense and delay. A well-drafted durable power allows a trusted person to manage finances promptly and privately, keeping affairs in order. This continuity preserves value by ensuring bills are paid, assets are maintained, and obligations are met, which protects credit, avoids penalties, and reduces stress for family members during difficult periods.
Careful drafting and coordination with other documents increase the likelihood that banks, title companies, and government agencies will accept the agent’s authority without additional hurdles. Including required formalities, notarization, and clear language explaining the agent’s scope reduces the chance of requests for extra proof or refusal. This practical clarity enables timely transactions, protects assets from neglect, and ensures the agent can carry out necessary tasks such as paying taxes or selling property when circumstances require swift action.
Selecting an agent and naming successor agents provides continuity if the primary agent cannot serve. When making this decision, consider availability, proximity, familiarity with your finances, and willingness to carry out your instructions. Discuss responsibilities in advance and provide written guidance on financial priorities, preferences, and any limits you want imposed. Sharing a copy of the document with key institutions and ensuring the agent understands where to find account information and other essential records helps the transition proceed smoothly should action be required.
Once executed, keep the original Financial Power of Attorney in a safe location while providing certified copies or notarized copies to the agent and relevant institutions. Confirm that signatures meet California formalities and that notarization or witnesses are included when required. Inform banks and retirement plan administrators about the document in advance if possible so the agent can act quickly when needed. Maintaining clear records and an organized estate plan prevents delays and ensures institutions accept the agent’s authority without unnecessary roadblocks.
Consider a Financial Power of Attorney if you want to ensure continuity in financial affairs during illness, extended travel, or as you age. It provides a way to authorize someone to handle routine bill payments, manage investments, and deal with government agencies without requiring court intervention. Establishing this document also protects your family from administrative delays and helps avoid stress during emergencies. Early planning gives you time to select appropriate agents, include necessary limitations, and coordinate with other estate planning tools such as trusts and beneficiary designations.
You may also consider this service if you own a business, real estate, or have complex financial accounts that require active management. A Financial Power of Attorney enables a trusted agent to maintain operations, safeguard property, and preserve business continuity. It also helps prepare for situations where decisions must be made quickly, such as paying taxes or responding to legal notices. By establishing a clearly worded document in advance, you reduce the risk of mismanagement, missed deadlines, or the need for costly court processes to appoint a conservator.
People commonly need a Financial Power of Attorney after a serious medical event, during planned or unplanned travel abroad, when age-related decline makes daily financial tasks challenging, or when a principal prefers to delegate financial management. It is also used when transferring property into trusts, when selling real estate, or when settling tax matters that require timely action. Preparing this document early ensures that someone you trust can act efficiently to protect assets, pay bills, and handle legal or financial transactions on your behalf as necessary.
Loss of capacity due to illness or injury can make it impossible for you to manage finances. A durable Financial Power of Attorney allows an appointed agent to act immediately or upon a specified event to manage accounts, pay bills, and make property decisions. This avoids delays and keeps financial matters current while medical issues are addressed. Having a plan in place reduces stress for family members who would otherwise need to seek court authorization to handle necessary financial tasks, preserving both privacy and efficiency during a difficult time.
If you travel frequently for work or spend extended periods away, granting limited financial authority to a trusted person ensures bills are paid and accounts are monitored. A limited Financial Power of Attorney can be tailored for specific transactions or duration, providing peace of mind that routine financial duties are managed while you are absent. This approach avoids potential missed payments or neglected obligations and provides a clear legal basis for someone else to act on your behalf in practical matters that arise during your absence.
Owning a business, multiple properties, or complicated investment portfolios often requires ongoing attention that a single person may struggle to provide if they become incapacitated. Naming an agent with a Financial Power of Attorney enables continued management of operations, tax matters, and property maintenance without interruption. A comprehensive approach ensures the agent has authority to engage professionals, manage payroll or contracts, and handle legal and financial obligations necessary to preserve value and maintain continuity for the business or assets.
Residents of Piru and Ventura County can turn to our firm for guidance on drafting, reviewing, and updating Financial Powers of Attorney. We assist with the practical steps of execution, coordinate with trustees and beneficiaries, and provide readable documents that financial institutions can accept. Our approach emphasizes communication and accessibility, ensuring you understand the powers you grant, who can serve as agents, and how the document coordinates with other estate planning instruments. Call the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman at 408-528-2827 to discuss your options and begin the process.
Our firm provides attentive service focused on practical solutions for financial authority and estate planning. We take time to learn about your financial landscape, family dynamics, and goals so that documents reflect your wishes and work with existing estate plans such as trusts and pour-over wills. We help avoid common pitfalls in drafting that can lead to institutional hesitation, and we guide you through execution requirements to maximize acceptance by banks and agencies. The result is a reliable set of documents tailored to your needs.
We also assist clients in coordinating a Financial Power of Attorney with related documents such as revocable living trusts, certification of trust, Pour-Over Wills, HIPAA authorizations, and guardianship nominations. This coordination reduces conflicts and clarifies the roles different documents play in an overall plan. Our process includes reviewing existing paperwork, suggesting updates when necessary, and preparing copies and instructions for agents and institutions to ensure continuity when action is needed.
Finally, we prioritize responsive communication so clients know what to expect and how to proceed. Whether you are drafting a new Financial Power of Attorney, updating an older document, or coordinating with a trust or retirement plan trust, we provide practical guidance and clear documents. Our goal is to make the legal process accessible and to provide tools that protect your financial interests while minimizing burdens on your family during transitions.
Our process begins with a thorough intake to understand your assets, family situation, and goals for financial decision-making. We review existing estate planning documents, identify potential conflicts, and recommend language that balances authority with protections. Drafting includes specifying powers, naming successor agents, and clarifying gift or transfer authority if needed. We handle signing logistics, ensure proper notarization or witnessing, and provide guidance on distributing copies to trusted institutions. Follow-up consultations ensure the document functions as intended and remains up to date over time.
The initial consultation focuses on gathering details about your financial accounts, property, and existing estate plan. We discuss who you trust to serve as agent and whether you prefer durable, immediate, or springing authority. Reviewing current wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations reveals potential areas that require coordination. This assessment allows us to recommend the most effective structure for your Financial Power of Attorney and any complementary documents you may need to achieve your objectives while minimizing administrative hurdles for the agent.
We collect information about bank accounts, investment holdings, real estate, business interests, and retirement accounts to ensure the Financial Power of Attorney covers relevant matters. Understanding family relationships, potential successor agents, and any special considerations—such as tax planning or support for a dependent with needs—enables tailoring of authority and protective language. This comprehensive intake reduces surprises later and helps ensure that the document empowers the agent to manage affairs effectively when required.
During the review we check for existing trusts, pour-over wills, advanced healthcare directives, and beneficiary forms that may affect decision-making. We address inconsistent provisions and suggest revisions to align the Financial Power of Attorney with the overall plan. This step often includes advising on whether certain assets should be retitled or whether additional documents such as a Certification of Trust or HIPAA authorization are needed to facilitate institutional acceptance and to ensure seamless administration.
Once the initial review is complete, we draft the Financial Power of Attorney reflecting your choices about agent authority, limitations, and successor arrangements. We include clear instructions where appropriate and language that anticipates common institutional requirements. After drafting, we review the document with you in detail, answer questions about agent responsibilities and practical effects, and recommend adjustments to ensure the document fits your intent and provides workable authority for the agent.
Drafting focuses on clarity and practical functionality so banks and other institutions readily accept the agent’s authority. We include definitions of covered powers, specify whether the document is durable, and set any guardrails you prefer. Clear examples and careful phrasing reduce ambiguity and minimize the risk of institutional challenges. The goal is to produce a document that empowers a trusted person to act effectively while protecting the principal’s intentions and financial security.
After the initial draft, we meet with you to explain each provision, discuss potential consequences of certain authorities, and refine language to reflect your preferences. This collaborative review gives you the opportunity to ask questions, change agent designations, or add limitations. We make practical recommendations and implement revisions until you are satisfied that the document aligns with your objectives and will serve the needs of both you and your appointed agent under real-world conditions.
The final step ensures correct execution, including notarization and witness requirements where necessary, and distribution of copies to the agent and relevant institutions. We provide guidance on safe storage of the original document and recommend which entities should receive copies. Additionally, we can prepare related documents such as HIPAA authorizations or certifications of trust so agents have the necessary paperwork to interact with banks, title companies, and government agencies when acting on your behalf.
Proper execution often requires notarization and, in some cases, witnesses to ensure compliance with California rules and to maximize acceptance by institutions. We coordinate the signing process to prevent technical defects that could delay acceptance of the agent’s authority. Providing the agent with notarized or otherwise certified copies helps them act promptly when needed and reduces the chance that banks or other entities will request additional proof before permitting transactions.
After execution, we advise on distributing copies to financial institutions, advisors, and any successor agents, and on where to store the original. We recommend periodic review and updates after major life or financial changes. Keeping records current reduces friction if the agent must step in and helps ensure the document continues to reflect the principal’s intentions. We remain available for follow-up questions and for updates when circumstances change.
A durable Financial Power of Attorney remains effective if the principal becomes incapacitated, allowing the appointed agent to continue managing financial affairs without court intervention. This continuity is helpful for ongoing tasks like paying bills and maintaining investments when the principal cannot act. A springing Financial Power of Attorney becomes effective only upon the occurrence of a specified condition, commonly the principal’s incapacity, which may require additional proof for institutions before the agent can act. Because proving the triggering event can introduce delays, it is important to define triggering conditions clearly. When deciding between durable and springing forms, consider practical needs for immediate action versus a desire to limit agent authority until incapacity occurs. Many principals prefer durable forms for seamless administration, while others select springing language when they want tighter control. Reviewing how banks and agencies in Ventura County handle each type can inform your choice and help ensure the document functions as intended in real situations.
Choosing an agent involves considering trustworthiness, availability, and familiarity with your finances and values. Many people select a spouse, adult child, or close friend who understands their priorities and can respond quickly to financial matters. It is also wise to name successor agents in case the primary agent cannot serve. Discussing expectations, responsibilities, and compensation in advance helps ensure the agent is prepared and willing to act when needed. Practical considerations include geographic proximity, ability to interact with local banks and service providers, and a willingness to coordinate with professionals such as accountants and trustees. It can be helpful to choose someone with organizational skills and a temperament for handling administrative tasks during stressful periods. Clear written guidance in the document about limits and preferences reduces uncertainty for the agent and financial institutions alike.
Yes, a Financial Power of Attorney can be tailored to limit authority to specific tasks, accounts, or timeframes. Limited powers are useful for short-term needs like closing a sale, handling a single investment account, or managing affairs during a planned absence. Clear and precise language defining the scope and duration of authority helps financial institutions understand the agent’s permissible actions and reduces the chance of rejection or delay when the agent attempts to act. When considering limitations, think about the transactions the agent may need to complete and whether broader authority is necessary to handle related tasks that may arise. Drafting language that anticipates practical needs while imposing sensible boundaries helps balance control and convenience. We recommend discussing specific scenarios you want covered so the document accomplishes your intentions without creating unnecessary obstacles.
Banks and institutions evaluate Financial Powers of Attorney based on formality, clarity of language, and compliance with state requirements. Proper notarization and inclusion of required signatures make acceptance more likely. Many institutions have internal policies and may request certified copies or additional verification; having complete and properly executed documents reduces friction and expedites acceptance. Preparing a Certification of Trust or other supporting documents when relevant can further smooth interactions with financial institutions. If an institution raises concerns, the agent can often provide additional proof of authority or request guidance from the issuing attorney. Anticipating institutional requirements, providing clear instructions in the document, and distributing copies in advance helps the agent act effectively when needed. We assist clients in preparing documents that conform to local practices to maximize acceptance.
A Financial Power of Attorney and a revocable living trust can complement each other. The Power of Attorney allows an agent to manage assets that remain in your name, while a trust controls assets that have been retitled to the trust. Coordinating these documents prevents gaps where assets fall outside the trust or where agent authority conflicts with trustee responsibilities. For assets intended to be in the trust, funding the trust and updating account ownership avoids the need for the agent to take certain actions on behalf of the principal. When planning, it is helpful to review which assets are titled in your individual name, which have beneficiary designations, and which are owned by the trust. This review informs whether the Financial Power of Attorney should contain specific instructions about interacting with trust assets or cooperating with trustees. Proper alignment reduces the likelihood of disputes after incapacity or death and streamlines administration for all parties involved.
Yes, a principal can revoke or amend a Financial Power of Attorney at any time while they retain capacity. Revocation should be documented in writing, the principal should notify the agent and relevant institutions, and copies of the revocation should be delivered to anyone holding the prior document. If the principal loses capacity, revocation usually becomes more complicated and may require court proceedings. Regular review and clear written revocations help ensure institutions and agents rely on the current document. To effect a change, we assist clients in drafting updated Powers of Attorney and in preparing written revocations of older versions. We also advise on communicating changes to banks, trustees, and other parties that may have relied on an earlier document. Maintaining a record of execution and revocation dates reduces uncertainty for agents and institutions.
If an agent must act, they should gather the original Financial Power of Attorney or certified copies, obtain identification, and contact relevant banks, financial advisors, or government agencies to notify them of the principal’s situation. The agent may need to present notarized documents, account information, and any supporting forms such as HIPAA authorizations if medical records or proof of incapacity are required. Keeping organized records of transactions made on the principal’s behalf is important for transparency and for fulfilling any fiduciary duties outlined in the document. Agents should also seek professional advice when handling complex tax matters, business interests, or real estate transactions. Consulting with accountants or attorneys ensures actions are taken in accordance with legal and fiduciary obligations. Clear documentation of decisions and communications helps protect both the principal’s interests and the agent’s position in case questions arise later.
Having a trust does not necessarily eliminate the need for a Financial Power of Attorney. While a trust controls assets that have been retitled to it, many assets remain outside trusts and require an agent to manage them if the principal becomes incapacitated. A Power of Attorney covers those individually titled accounts and provides authority to perform administrative tasks that may not fall within the trustee’s responsibilities. It also assists with tasks like signing documents to fund a trust or manage tax obligations prior to trust administration. Coordinating documents ensures the agent and trustees understand which assets they manage and how to act in harmony. We recommend reviewing asset titles and beneficiary designations to determine where a Power of Attorney is needed and how it should be drafted to complement your trust and broader estate plan, avoiding gaps in authority and unnecessary complications.
Safeguards against misuse by an agent include clear limits in the document, naming successor agents, requiring accounting or record-keeping, and specifying conditions under which gifts or transfers are allowed. Choosing agents you trust and providing written instructions helps reduce the risk of improper actions. Banks and institutions often require periodic account statements and may flag unusual transactions for review, which creates additional oversight. Legal remedies are available if an agent acts improperly, but prevention through careful selection and clear drafting is the best approach. Including language that requires the agent to act in the principal’s best interests and keeping trusted family members or advisers informed provides informal checks on agent conduct. Regular reviews and updates, along with professional oversight for complex matters, further reduce the risk of misuse. If concerns arise, legal avenues exist to remove or replace an agent and to pursue restitution where warranted.
Review your Financial Power of Attorney periodically and after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, birth of children, relocation, large asset acquisitions, or changes in health. These events may affect who you want to name as agent, the authority you wish to grant, or how the document coordinates with other estate planning instruments. Regular reviews ensure the document continues to reflect your intentions and the practical realities of your financial affairs. We typically recommend revisiting your documents every few years or whenever significant changes occur. During a review we confirm that agents remain willing and able to serve, update successor designations, and ensure compatibility with current account structures and beneficiary designations. Proactive updates prevent surprises and maintain continuity for your financial management plan.
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