Estate Planning, Trust, & Probate Administration

Estate Planning, Trust, & Probate Administration

Our attorneys represent trustees and executors in the administration of trusts and estates, including:

• Full probate of decedent’s estate, and summary probate where available
• Disputes regarding the probate of wills, interpretation of wills and trusts
• Obtaining access to trust and probate estate assets
• Proper administration of trusts, including sub-trust funding, estate tax returns, court and informal accountings
• Implementation of qualified domestic trusts (QDOT) for non-U. S. citizen surviving spouses
• Administration of other types of irrevocable trusts, such as life insurance trusts and charitable trusts
• Post death tax planning, including technical matters regarding the assessment and allocation of taxes
• Allocation and distribution of assets with regard to tax implications, including tax disputes
• Fiduciary accountings
• Assisting and advising regarding environmental cleanup of properties in trusts or probate estates
• Leasing or sale of real property in trust
• Disputes regarding trust assets, terms or liabilities

For more information, please contact Brian L. Shetler at brian.shetler@berliner.com.

Merced and Modesto: please contact Kevin Kelley, kevin.kelley@berliner.com.

Download our Estate Planning 101: The Importance of Developing an Estate Plan.

"Estate Planning 101" summarizes several estate planning concepts and provides background information to help prepare you inyour discussion with your attorney regarding trust or estate administration.

Download our Estate Planning Fact Finder.

Download our Post-Mortem Information Sheet.

The "Estate Planning Fact Finder" and "Post-Mortem Information Sheet" above are made available solely to facilitate the gathering of information. No attorney-client relationship is established by your merely downloading either of the generic blank forms from Berliner Cohen LLP’s website. Berliner Cohen LLP requires a written and signed engagement letter from our clients. Please schedule an appointment if you are interested in asking Berliner Cohen LLP to consider providing you with such an engagement agreement.