Estate Planning
Everyone needs an estate plan, and at Steidlmayer Law, we take pride in guiding you through the estate planning process. Putting your wishes down in writing may seem intimidating, and we help make this experience as straightforward as possible. We advise clients based on their unique family dynamic, financial portfolio and real estate holdings. Based on this assessment, we draft Wills, Trusts, Advance Health Care Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, and other related documents for a complete estate plan.
Trust Administration
We guide trustees and beneficiaries through the California trust administration process. Among the many benefits of a living trust is the potential avoidance of court proceedings that are open to the public. Because of this, however, trustees have very important fiduciary duties that are exercised without judiciary oversight. We have experience helping trustees understand their fiduciary duties and why those responsibilities are critical. In addition, we help trustees navigate the various required trust duties, including working through legal notices, creditors’ claims, best practices in trustee communication, accountings, court petitions and other documents required to wrap up trust administration.
Probate
We help executors, administrators, and beneficiaries navigate the California probate process with clarity and confidence. Probate is the court-supervised procedure for administering a decedent’s estate when there is no trust in place, or when assets remain outside of a trust. While probate ensures oversight, it can also involve delays, public filings, and procedural complexity. We guide our clients through every stage—from petitioning the court, notifying heirs and creditors, to marshaling assets, resolving debts, preparing inventories and accountings, and obtaining final distribution orders. Whether you're facing a simple or complex estate, we provide reliable legal support to streamline the process and protect your responsibilities and rights.
