legal services
The Law Office of Dorothy G. Thompson offers the following legal services. Please call 831-346-3124 to schedule an appointment or email us at info@thompsontrustlaw.com.
Probate - If you have lost a family member who did not have a Will, or who had a Will but no Trust, we can help you navigate the court supervised administration of the estate. In some cases judicial supervision is not required and we will be able to help you administer the estate without involving the court.
Trust Administration - We provide legal guidance and support through the process of administering a Trust. We will review your particular situation to ascertain the appropriate amount of aid that you might require and advise you accordingly. You may find that you need trust administration assistance in the following situations:
At someone’s passing, whether you are the trustee, a beneficiary, or both.
If you are appointed as trustee of a revocable trust for someone who is still alive.
If you are trustee of an irrevocable trust.
Estate Planning - Anyone with assets should have an estate plan which identifies how belongings are going to be distributed upon death. Planning should also contemplate how assets will be managed during lifetime if one is unable to care for one’s own finances or personal care. An estate plan might be as simple as holding bank accounts and real property in a particular form of title, or it may incorporate a more complex collection of documents which could include a Trust, entity formation, Powers of Attorney, a Will, and/or various trust transfer instruments such as deeds. We always consider our clients’ particular personal and financial circumstances and recommend a plan that is suited to their unique concerns, wishes, and goals.
Review of Existing Estate Planning Documents - It is a good idea to regularly review your existing estate plan. It is especially important whenever your circumstances change significantly, or when new laws are passed that may impact your planning. Contact us to request a review of your existing plan, which will include a read-through and a meeting to discuss changes you may wish to make or that are recommended by the attorney. We also review documents and provide advice to those who have been named in someone else’s estate planning documents, such as a Durable Power of Attorney, Will, Trust, or Advance Health Care Directive.
Divorce Planning - If you are considering a legal separation or are in the process of a divorce, the estate plan you already have may be affected in ways you do not anticipate. We can advise you and draft estate planning documents to protect your wishes regarding distribution of your property should you die prior to the completion of the process.
Trust Accounting - If you are an acting trustee, California Law dictates that you have a duty to provide certain information to beneficiaries. Many beneficiaries are primarily interested in the finances of the Trust, but do not necessarily wish to review a complicated court-formatted accounting for a Trust that is not supervised by the court. We can advise you on whether a non-court-formatted accounting is appropriate in your particular situation and, if so, provide a complete accounting in a simplified and more user-friendly format.
Conservatorship - If a loved one has lost the ability to manage his or her own personal and / or financial matters, a conservatorship may be necessary to protect that person’s interests. Conservatorship is a court supervised process which places someone in the position of managing an incapacitated person’s personal and / or financial matters. We can help you to determine whether a conservatorship is necessary and guide you through the process, or advise you regarding employing less burdensome alternatives.
Business Entities - Small business owners may be in a position to gain tax and/or legal advantages by forming a California business entity such as an LLC or corporation. If you are considering forming such an entity, or if you need to dissolve one at the end of a business life cycle, we can provide advice and assistance in completing the process. We can also assist with formation or dissolution of California non-profit corporations.
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