PROBATE AND TRUST ADMINISTRATION includes working with the decedent's successor fiduciaries in marshalling and valuing the assets of the trust or estate. Federal income, estate, generation-skipping, and California real property tax considerations significantly factor into both the valuation of a decedent's assets and the allocation of assets among the beneficiaries and sub-trusts present in the decedent's estate plan.
In most decedent administration cases, our focus involves the complexity of the federal estate tax return. We also have extensive experience in settling federal estate tax audits with the Internal Revenue Service, and we are often engaged to assist other attorneys and accounts in managing this audit process.
In addition to dealing with the myriad of tax issues, we work with the survivors to settle claims and transfer title to assets with unique efficiency. The firm strives to settle a decedent's matters without the expense, delay and publicity inherent in traditional estate administration.