Estate Planning

Atack & Penrose LLP assists clients throughout Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties in a wide range of estate planning matters, from simple wills to complex estate planning techniques, such as Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs).  Our services include:

• Wills
• Revocable Living Trusts
• Durable Financial Powers of Attorney
• Advance Health Care Directives
• Complex Estate Tax Planning Techniques
• Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs)
• Generation Skipping Transfer (GST) Trusts
• Dynasty Trusts
• Discretionary Trusts
• Special Needs Trusts
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs)
• Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)
• Grantor Retained Unitrusts (GRUTs)
• Charitable Giving and Charitable Trusts
• Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)
• Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs)
• Private Foundations
• Gifts to Public Charities and Community Foundations

Simple to Complex Estate Planning, Trust Administration

Atack & Penrose provides legal advice to help individuals and families make informed decisions about the future, including which estate planning options will best suit their goals and help them minimize tax liability.  We consider all possible tax implications, including income, gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes.  Our attorneys have extensive experience preparing estate planning documents, and routinely handle the probate of estates and the non-probate post-mortem administration of living trusts.

Business Succession Planning

Sometimes estate planning includes making arrangements for the future of a family and their closely-held business.  When a family member is planning to retire or sell his or her stake in the business, Atack & Penrose can assist with an exploration of business succession planning options.  To learn more about how we can provide assistance in this area, visit the business succession planning page.

Charitable Giving and Charitable Trusts

Funding a charitable trust or private foundation can help you achieve your charitable goals while minimizing capital gains tax consequences you might otherwise face in a given tax year, such as from the sale of a low-basis asset.  The experienced estate planning attorneys at Atack & Penrose can explain the way these devices work and whether they may be advantageous for you.

Specialized Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Advice

Founding partner Steven D. Penrose is the lead estate planning attorney at Atack & Penrose.  A Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, Mr. Penrose focuses his practice primarily in estate planning, probate, and business planning matters.  Mr. Penrose is also a skilled litigator with significant expertise in probate court matters, including estate, trust, and conservatorship disputes.  For more information, visit the estate and probate litigation page.