Top Estate Planning Lawyers Near Me in Oakland Area

Virginia is a partner in Wendel Rosen’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice on estate planning, trust administration, probate and elder law and mediating matters in her practice area. She has particular expertise in estate planning for LGBT families, as well as representation of individual and professional fiduciaries in the administration of living trusts, conservatorships of the person and estate and decedents’ estates.. A frequent author and speaker on estate planning related issues, including LGBT estate planning, powers of attorney, estate planning in the context of dissolutions, and end of life decisions, she has presented before a wide variety of legal, professional and private organizations.. She is a former Certified Family Law specialist and mediates matters in her areas of expertise and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estates Lawyers.

Verleana D. Green is the founder and senior partner of her estate planning and probate law firm located in her home town of Oakland, California. She focuses her practice on the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust litigation and contract review and negotiation.. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Ms. Green earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Ms. Green received her Maters of Law in Taxation (LLM) in 2014. She was certified as a contract advisor by the National Football League Players Association since 2009.. Before opening her own law firm, Ms. Green gained valuable legal and business experience in several different positions. She focused on securities litigation as an associate at a major international law firm headquartered in San Francisco and spent time in the mutual funds contracts department at Charles Schwab. She also worked in the general counsel's office of Robert Half International Inc., helping to negotiate and draft sophisticated employment agreements.. Ms. Green stays abreast of the latest developments in her fields of legal practice through her memberships in a variety of professional organizations, including the State Bar of California, the Alameda County and Charles Houston bar associations, the Black Women Lawyers Association of Northern California and the University of San Francisco School of Law American Inn of Court. She is also active in the Students Rising Above college scholarship program.

Sophia L. Johnson is an Associate at Roisman Henel + Adams LLP. Her practice includes estate planning and representation of trustees and executors in the administration of trusts and probate estates. She is a member of East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association.. Sophia graduated with a double honors degree in Law and Advanced Science from the University of Sydney, Australia. Following graduation, she completed additional finance and accounting classes through Deakin University.. Prior to joining RHA, Sophia worked for PwC LLP (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Sydney, Australia in the Tax and Legal division for five years. She focused on providing tax advice in the field of mergers and acquisitions. Sophia has volunteered with Ashby Village in Berkeley, Open Door Legal in Bayview, and with the Alameda County Bar Association VLSC Guardianship Clinic.

Most people think estate planning is simply passing wealth to your heirs tax-free.  But this makes estate planning sound as if it is for the super-wealthy when in fact it applies to everyone. Although planning for death and taxes are important, it is just one aspect estate planning.. When individuals create an estate plan their primary goals should be (1) protecting their assets; (2) ensuring their affairs (personal and financial) are efficiently managed upon their incapacity and death; (3) conflicts between beneficiaries are minimized; and (4) taxes are minimized.. As an estate planning attorney, I counsel clients on these issues. I advise them on the necessity and the method of creating a plan that will manage their financial and personal affairs in the most legally efficient way possible and I help them create a legacy for their beneficiaries.. Sometimes, however (no matter how thorough the estate plan), legal disputes arise over the disposition and administratoin of an individual's estate.  And when that happens, I represent beneficiaries and fiduciaries through all phases of litigation, including discovery through trial.  Such disputes include issues as to the validity and interpretation of a trust or will, and breach of fiduciary duty claims against an executor or trustee.

In our practice we advise clients on all aspects of estate planning, with a focus on practical planning and administration. Our work primarily consists of preparing estate plans (wills, trusts, and ancillary documents), administering trusts, and probating estates.We pride ourselves on providing practical and accessible counsel for Bay Area individuals and families. The clients we serve have a range of needs, from simple estate plans to more complex planning for larger estates, distinct family circumstances, and complicated distributions.. I am honored to have been selected by my peers as one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” for 2018, 2019, and 2020, a distinction held by only 2.5% of attorneys. I am also honored to be on the short list of trusted attorneys for many financial advisors, CPAs, and real estate agents throughout the Bay Area.. I am a Bay Area native and love living in Oakland. I take every opportunity to travel and explore the world, but love calling the Oakland Hills home. When I’m not working or traveling, you’re likely to find me exploring local restaurants with my wife Shayla, playing with my son Reuben, or lamenting the recent Cal football season.

I have over 20 years experience fearlessly defending clients against criminal charges, including everything from DUIs to murder!

I am an attorney practicing exclusively in the area of trust and estate law. I prepare estate plans from the simple will to the complete family complex trust package. I advise and assist trustees in administering trusts. I advise beneficiaries of trusts as well.  When an estate requires a probate administration, I guide and represent the executor or administrator through the entire process. I am experienced in litigating will and trust contests, trustee challenges, and other probate litigation issues.  I will also consider conservatorship matters.. I practice primarily in Contra Costa and Alameda counties but I am capable of providing service throughout the northern California Bay area. Home and hospital visits are available with fully mobile draft, print, notary and copy capability for clients needing urgent planning and administration services. I run a low overhead office so that I can provide prompt and compassionate legal services at very competitive hourly and flat fee rates.

Davidson Estate Law is a Bay Area family owned and operated estate planning practice specializing in trusts, wills, trust administration, and probate. “A family serving families with expertise, compassion, and integrity since 1975.”. Eric and his father Steven are the firm’s estate planning attorneys, while Joelle (Steve’s wife of over 45 years), is the voice of the firm and handles client services. This arrangement works extremely well, creating a cohesive office environment allowing us to give our clients unparalleled personalized representation and communication that is often missing in larger firms.. Our main office is in Oakland City Center, with branch offices in Berkeley, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, San Jose, and San Mateo.

Carolyn E. Henel is a partner at Roisman Henel + Adams LLP.  She represents individuals in estate planning, probate and trust administration, family business planning and charitable giving.  In addition, she advises trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in the administration of decedents’ estates, preparation of estate tax returns, and the administration of revocable and irrevocable trusts.. Carolyn is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.  She serves on the Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Corporation (VLSC) Board of Directors.. Carolyn has been selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers list every year since 2004 and to the Northern California Super Lawyers Top 50 Women Lawyers list in 2007, 2010, and 2011.  She was named one of “The Top 100 Attorneys in the United States” attending to affluent families by Worth Magazinein 2006 and 2007.  Carolyn has held an “AV” preeminent ranking from Martindale-Hubbell for over 15 years.. Carolyn is a contributing author to CEB and speaks to professional groups on topics relating to trusts and estates.. Professional Memberships:. State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section. EastBay Trusts & Estates Lawyers. Alameda County Bar Association. Education & Professional Background:. Roisman Henel + Adams LLP, Partner, May 2002 to present. Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May PC, Associate, October 1996 to May 2002. University of VirginiaSchool of Law, J.D., 1996. YaleUniversity, B.A., 1992

Brooke Wilson is an associate at Roisman Henel LLP. Brooke concentrates her practice in the fields of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and federal estate and gift taxation.  She advises clients on all aspects of estate planning, including guiding clients with family-owned businesses on succession planning, assisting with philanthropic goals, and preparing plans for traditional, non-traditional and blended families.. Brooke was selected by her peers and the publishers of Super Lawyers Magazine and San Francisco Magazine as one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” for 2015.. Brooke is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. She is a member of the Trusts & Estates and Tax Sections of the State Bar of California, the East Bay Estate Planning Council, and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF), an LGBT bar association.  She previously served on the Legislative Committee of the Probate & Trust Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.  She holds an LL.M. in Taxation from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she was the recipient of the Faculty Award in Taxation for her graduating class.. Brooke lives in Alameda and serves on the board of directors for the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society.. Professional Background:. Roisman Henel LLP, Associate, 2013 to present. Sideman & Bancroft LLP, Associate, 2012 – 2013. Schiff Hardin, LLP, Associate, 2010 – 2012. Heckscher Teillon Terrill & Sager, P.C., Associate, 2007 – 2009. Professional Memberships:. State Bar of California:    Taxation Section, member    Trusts and Estates Section, member. EastBay Estate Planning Council. East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers—Vice Chair of the Estate Planning & Administration Committee. EastBay Tax Club. Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF). Admissions:. Brooke is admitted to practice in California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Education:. TempleUniversity, BeasleySchool of Law:    LL.M. in Taxation 2008 (Faculty Award in Taxation)    J.D. 2006. University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 2000. Speaking Engagements:. CEB Conference:  How to Administer a Revocable Trust, 2015. East Bay Tax Club:  Portability—Worth All The Fuss? 2013. Bell Investments Advisors Women’s Roundtable:  Giving with a Plan, 2013

Anne Bruner Nash is of Counsel to the firm of Roisman Henel + Adams LLP.  She is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law.  Each year since 2005, Anne has been selected by her peers and the publishers of Law & Politics and San Francisco Magazine as one of Northern California’s “Super Lawyers.”. Anne’s practice focuses on estate planning, estate and gift taxation, and probate and trust administration, including administration of special needs trusts.  She enjoys working with a wide variety of clients, and has experience planning for and administering all kinds of estates.. Anne is a fifth-generation native of the Bay Area and fourth-generation lawyer.  She previously worked with her father in a law practice begun in San Leandro in 1915 by her great-grandfather, J. A. Bruner.  Her grandfather, Judge “Watt” Bruner and her father, Lee Bruner, practiced in San Leandro for many years.  Many of her clients have been represented by two or more generations of Bruners, and Anne enjoys advising multiple generations of families.. Anne is a contributing author to several CEB publications and speaks to professional groups on a number of topics relating to trusts and estates.. Professional Memberships:. State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section. EastBay Trusts & Estates Lawyers. Estate Planning Council of the EastBay. EastBay Tax Club. Education:. University of California at Berkeley, BoaltHallSchool of Law, J.D., 1987.. Stanford University, B.A., with Distinction, 1984, Phi Beta Kappa.

Alex has a B.S. in Finance from San Diego State University and a J.D. from John F. Kennedy School of Law.  Prior to working with Horton, West & Bowman, Alex was a solo practitioner with his firm Bowman Law Offices for three years, and worked at Trutner Law Offices in Livermore for five years. Alex enjoys helping his clients establish a new business, creating diverse estate plans, and helping his client's through a difficult time after they have lost a loved one through trust or probate administrations.

Agnieszka K. Adams is a partner at Roisman Henel + Adams LLP.  Agnieszka is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law.. Agnieszka has been selected by her peers and the publishers of Law & Politics and San Francisco Magazine as one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” from 2012 through 2017.  She is a vice-chair of the Estate Planning Section of the East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers and a member of the Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Barristers Club Section of the San Francisco Bar Association.  She is a co-author of Chapter 11 in CEB’s new guide on Real Property and Taxation.. Agnieszka attended University of Southampton in the United Kingdom where she earned a Bachelor of Laws degree.  Agnieszka continued her legal education at University of California Hastings College of the Law.  She graduated cum laude with a concentration in Taxation and a distinction for Pro Bono.. Agnieszka lives in San Francisco with her husband and son.. Education & Professional Background:. Roisman Henel + Adams LLP, January 2011 to present. University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., cum laude, 2009. University of Southampton, LLB, 2006. LeeUniversity, B.A., summa cum laude, 2004. Speaking Engagements:. CEB Estate Planning Intensive Course, 2017. NBI Probate Bootcamp Training Seminar: Probate Problem Areas, 2016 and 2017. California Association of Winegrape Growers:  Estate and Succession Planning for Families, 2015. San Francisco Bar Association:  Alternatives to Probate and Initial Probate Filings, 2015. PFAC 20th Annual Conference:  Starting Probate and Trust Administration After Death of Client, 2015. EBTEL Probate Bootcamp:  Alternatives to Probate and Initial Probate Filings, 2014. Bell Investments Advisors Women’s Roundtable:  Giving with a Plan, 2013