Estate Planning and Probate in Santa Clara County, CA

Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. helps Santa Clara County residents plan for their families and navigate estate and trust administration. Consultations can begin remotely; the firm’s office is in Novato.

Coordinate complex assets with a plan your family can administer

A household with a home, investment accounts and business interests benefits from a planning conversation that looks at the assets together. For Santa Clara County families, prepare a list of ownership interests and the institutions involved before deciding how the documents should work. Note any co-owner, transfer restriction or beneficiary designation. The legal review should address the actual assets rather than assuming that a general trust provision resolves every issue.

When you are handling an estate or trust

The Santa Clara Superior Court’s probate-trusts resource explains the relationship among settlors, trustees and beneficiaries. A successor trustee must work from the governing document and applicable law. If you are taking over a trust, keep a record of the documents received, bills paid and questions still open. That record gives the attorney a practical basis for discussing authority, notices and the next administrative steps.

Questions to bring to a consultation

• Which assets have transfer restrictions?
• Can my chosen successor obtain the records they need?
• What work remains before a distribution is appropriate?

Choose the service that fits your situation

Estate planning covers preparing and coordinating your documents. Trust administration addresses carrying out an existing trust. Probate administration concerns court-supervised estates. The first discussion can help identify which service is appropriate.

Official local resource

Santa Clara County Superior Court probate resources provide current procedural information. Requirements depend on the particular matter; verify the instructions for your case before filing.