Jennifer Martin of Jarratt Martin Law explains why estate planning is important for families. Her practice includes estate planning and estate planning litigation in Pleasanton, California.

2. Member Presentation
Jarratt Martin Law,
LLP
An estate law, bankruptcy law and
family mediation firm in Pleasanton
jarrattmartinlaw.com

3. Member Presentation
Who am I?

4. Member Presentation
Who Are JML?
• Amanda Jarratt, Partner
• Sara Raymond, Of Counsel
• Jodi Altizer, Paralegal

5. Member Presentation
My Practice
• Estate planning
– Creating comprehensive estate plans
– Revising existing estate plans
– Gifting property
• Estate litigation
– Probate (uncontested and contested)
– Beneficiary/heir challenges
– Trust administration
– Trust challenges
– Conservatorships

6. Member Presentation
Estate Planning
• Comprehensive estate plans
– Revocable trusts
– Irrevocable trusts – i.e. GRATs, Charitable Remainder
Trusts, others
• Revising existing estate plans
– Getting rid of the dreaded A/B trust
– After death of first spouse as well
• Gifting property
– Working with accountant and financial advisor to
structure
– Transferring real property

7. Member Presentation
Estate Litigation: Probate
• Uncontested
– Died without trust or assets left outside or no
beneficiary designated
– if you have only a will or have no plan in place
• Contested
– Defending executors accused of
misconduct/negligence

8. Member Presentation
Estate Litigation: Heir Challenges
• Help heirs resolve conflicts with executor:
– Problems with accountings, inventories
– Questions regarding proposed distribution
– Actions to force executor to act
– Actions to remove executor
• Help unnamed heirs challenge questionable
documents
– Claims of undue influence or fraud or mistake
– Reform wills

9. Member Presentation
Estate Litigation: Trust Administration
• Administering trust post-death (or sometimes
if incapacity of settlor)
– Help successor trustee give notice, manage
responsibilities, communicate with beneficiaries
– Facilitate sale of real property
– Facilitate distributions
– Facilitate winding up of trust
• But, important note: I am not the trustee

10. Member Presentation
Estate Litigation: Trust Challenges
• Help concerned beneficiaries challenge actions of
trustee
– Accounting and documentation
– Sale of trust property or management
– Action to force trustee to act
– Action to remove trustee
– Action to reform trust
• Defend trustees whose actions are challenged
• This may be in or out of court

11. Member Presentation
Estate Litigation: Conservatorships
• Help concerned family members establish
conservatorships of the person and/or estate
– Guide conservators in completing reporting
requirements
– Only if necessary, first we explore all alternatives
• Contested conservatorships
– Filing competing petitions
– Challenging actions of conservator

12. Member Presentation
Questions?
Estate Law:
Estate Planning
Probate
Trust Administration
Trust Litigation
Conservatorships

13. This was an East Bay Business Exchange (EBBE) member presentation.
To learn more about this member and EBBE, please visit:
https://eastbaybusinessexchange.com/