The firm’s probate and trust litigation practice is headed by partner Amy Howse. Probate and trust litigation nearly always involves family disputes. The strain on those family relationships in addition to the stress of litigation can make things especially difficult.

Amy is particularly skilled at managing litigation in this sensitive area while doing everything possible to preserve family relationships. Several clients who have said at the outset of litigation that they would never speak to their opposing family members again have ended up achieving a good result in litigation and have been surprised to find themselves resuming their relationships with family members after the fact. It doesn’t always happen, but the fact that it happens even sometimes is a testament to how taking a carefully balanced approach can achieve a good litigation result and lead to a repaired family, making it a win-win for everyone.

The firm typically handles cases before the courts in Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County, and we are readily familiar with the procedures required to shepherd cases through the court system. In addition, with more and more of the California courts moving to online filing and court appearances, we can often handle cases in other counties if needed.

If you are involved in a dispute involving a will or trust or any issue regarding probate, please contact us.

Bill Cates and Amy Howse are both well versed in handling the administration of probate estates and trusts. They have extensive experience in this area, having represented estates and trusts of all sizes and with varying degrees of complexity.

Their experience with tax, business, and real estate enables them to foresee potential issues before they arise, so they can take action accordingly. They also have a keen understanding of how family relationships and psychology can impact matters, and can guide their clients to better results by anticipating those issues and adjusting their approach. That foresight has helped prevent several instances where matters would likely have gone to litigation if the matter had been handled differently.

The firm typically handles cases before the courts in Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County, and we are readily familiar with the procedures required to shepherd cases through the court system. In addition, with more and more of the California courts moving to online filing and court appearances, we can often handle cases in other counties if needed.

Both Bill Cates and Amy Howse handle the firm’s estate planning practice. Their background in tax, business, and estate planning inform their approach and enable them to tackle even the most complicated issues efficiently.

Bill has more than thirty years’ experience in estate planning. Clients appreciate Bill’s comprehensive approach and his attention to detail. On several occasions, Bill has reviewed estate plans prepared by others and discovered flaws in the drafting of the documents or important steps that were missed and which threaten to derail the intended estate plan. By identifying those issues and correcting them early, Bill has protected his clients’ assets from probate and given his clients the peace of mind of knowing that their plan accurately reflects their wishes.

Bill also uses his corporate law experience in conjunction with his estate planning experience to assist families in multi-generational business administration and estate planning. If you have a family business that you would like to pass down to your children and/or grandchildren, Bill can help you take the necessary steps to make that transition as smooth as possible while minimizing estate and gift taxes.

Amy has more than fifteen years’ experience in estate planning. Like Bill, she has extensive experience in family businesses and generational wealth transfers. She also has a strong background in real estate and tax issues, and enjoys coming up with creative solutions to minimize the tax impact of property transfers.

Additionally, her experience in probate and trust litigation helps her see in advance which drafting choices might be more likely to lead to future litigation, so that those errors can be avoided from the start.

If you would like to prepare your estate plan, or if you need assistance in probate matters, please contact us.

The firm’s corporate law and business practice is headed by partner Bill Cates.  Bill has extensive experience in every aspect of corporate law, from formation to dissolution and everything in between.  He has assisted clients in creating and maintaining a number of business entities, including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and limited partnerships (LPs).

Bill also assists corporations in issues related to administration and management, including employment issues, contract drafting and negotiation, and tax planning.  Many of Bill’s clients come back to him year after year for assistance with their corporate maintenance documents (e.g., minutes of shareholders’ meetings and meetings of the board of directors), to help ensure that their corporations retain their limited liability status.

Bill uses his corporate law experience in conjunction with his estate planning experience to assist families in multi-generational business administration and estate planning.  If you have a family business that you would like to pass down to your children and/or grandchildren, Bill can help you take the necessary steps to make that transition while minimizing estate and gift taxes.

If you need assistance in corporate law matters, please contact us.