Estate Planning & Probate

The trust and estate attorneys at Turner, Reynolds, Greco & O'Hara, A Law Corporation, assist individuals and families in Irvine and throughout Southern California with all of their estate planning, trust and probate administration, and trust and probate litigation needs.  Two of the firm's partners, Thomas A. Greco and Kevin O'Hara, hold advanced law degrees in taxation, and have an in-depth understanding of the income, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax consequences of various estate planning strategies. 

Estate Planning

The firm's estate planning attorneys carefully consider the needs and goals of the client in preparing every estate plan, and provide comprehensive, tax-sensitive estate planning documents individually tailored to each client.  The firm prepares the full range of estate planning documents, including:

• Wills
• Revocable Living Trusts
• Durable Powers of Attorney
• Advance Medical Directives
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
• Bypass Trusts
• Dynasty Trusts
• Charitable Trusts
• Family Limited Partnerships

The firm's estate planning and business law attorneys have significant experience in the area of business succession planning, and can formulate tax-saving strategies for the sale or transfer of a closely-held business.

Revising an Estate Plan

Although developing an estate plan as early as possible in life is the prudent course, there are many times throughout life when an estate plan should be reviewed and updated.  Any significant change in one's personal or financial status should trigger a review of the estate plan, including marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, moving to another state, starting a new business or a change in business ownership, acquiring substantial new assets, or the death or incapacity of a beneficiary or person named as a fiduciary.

For estates that are potentially subject to transfer taxes, it is advisable to periodically review the estate plan to ensure it minimizes transfer tax consequences, particularly in view of the return of federal estate taxes in 2011.

Probate Administration

Probate refers to the process where a court oversees the administration of a deceased person's estate, to ensure that any final debts and expenses of the decedent are paid, including any taxes owed.  The remaining assets of the estate are distributed to the beneficiaries named in the decedent's will, or if the decedent died without a will, in accordance with California's intestate succession laws.

The firm's attorneys have extensive experience in probate administration, including probate estates involving significant assets, multiple interests in real estate, and business interests.

Probate, Trust and Estate Litigation

In the event a dispute arises during the course of an administration of an estate, the firm's attorneys are experienced litigators with the knowledge and advocacy skills to successfully represent our clients' interests.  The firm represents clients in all types of trust and estate disputes, including:

• Challenges regarding the validity of a will, including allegations of lack of testamentary capacity, fraud, coercion, undue influence, or improper execution
• Representation of executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries
• Claims by beneficiaries
• Will and trust contests
• Family disputes
• Claims of breach of fiduciary duty
• Disputes over estate management
• Disputes over accountings

Capable and Effective Representation

The attorneys at Turner, Reynolds, Greco & O'Hara have decades of experience in estate planning, probate administration and related litigation, and provide capable and effective representation to clients in Orange County and statewide.Contact Kevin O'Hara at Turner, Reynolds, Greco & O'Hara to schedule a consultation regarding your estate planning or probate needs.