About Us
Hales & George is a family-owned law practice serving thousands of clients since 1972. Our experienced attorneys specialize in estate planning, trust administration, probate, estate & gift tax, and business planning. Santa Clara estate planning planning.
Our Team
The success of our firm depends on the dedication of the people behind it. The Hales & George team is composed of highly trained and experienced professionals who deliver first-class service to our clients.
Our Team
The success of our firm depends on the dedication of the people behind it. The Hales & George team is composed of highly-trained and experienced professionals who strive to deliver first class service to our clients.
Our Practice
Hales & George Law Firm provides clients with high-quality Estate and Business Planning services. A typical estate plan consists of a Revocable Living Trust, Exhibit A, Pour-Over Will, Certificate of Trust, Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, Agreement as to the Status of Property, and Nomination of Guardian (if minor children). We also help clients with documents to transfer assets into their Trust, designate proper beneficiary designations on life insurance and qualified plans, obtain new basis on assets at time of death and avoid property tax reassessment.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Trust Administration
Hales & George attorneys have assisted thousands of named Trustees to simplify the trust administration process and represent and protect the Trustees during a difficult time. We are confident that we can reduce the complications of the trust administration process while avoiding probate, limiting or eliminating taxes, and ensuring the proper titling for assets distributed to the intended beneficiaries.
Estate Planning
Estate planning focuses on avoiding expensive legal procedures like probate and conservatorships while ensuring that your estate passes to the intended beneficiaries.
Probate
Probate is an expensive and time-consuming legal process required in California when an individual dies with a Will or with no estate plan (intestate). In Probate the court supervises a process to ensure that all debts, taxes, and expenses are paid before the deceased’s remaining assets are distributed to the proper beneficiaries.
Estate & Gift Tax
In order to preserve an estate for your children and beneficiaries, estate planning solutions exist which utilize a strategy of making lifetime gifts to reduce or eliminate federal estate tax. Our attorneys are able to provide strategies and techniques using annual gift tax exemptions, lifetime estate and gift tax exemptions, discounting and irrevocable trusts to reduce an estate for purposes of federal estate tax.
Hales & George attorneys continuously monitor changes in state and federal law and inform clients of new provisions that affect them.
Business Planning
Clients who have business interests have natural concerns as to whom will own and manage their business in the event of disability, death or retirement. As a family-owned business, Hales & George is well aware of the many challenges related to ensuring equitable and peaceful transfers of a business and its assets. We can offer strategies to ensure your businesses are sheltered, managed and ultimately distributed in accordance with your wishes.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Estate Planning
Estate planning focuses on avoiding expensive legal procedures like probate and conservatorships while ensuring that your estate passes to the intended beneficiaries.
Trust Administration
Hales & George attorneys have assisted thousands of trustees to simplify the trust administration process and represent and protect the trustees during a difficult time. We are confident we can reduce the complications of the trust administration process while avoiding probate, reducing or eliminating taxes, and ensuring the proper titling for assets distributed to the intended beneficiaries.
Probate
Probate is a legal procedure where estates are administered when the deceased dies with a will or with no estate plan (intestate). In probate the court supervises the legal process to ensure all debts, taxes, and expenses are paid before the deceased’s remaining assets are distributed to the proper beneficiaries.
Estate & Gift Tax
In order to preserve an estate for your children and beneficiaries, estate planning solutions exist which utilize a strategy of making lifetime gifts to reduce or eliminate federal estate tax. Our attorneys are able to provide strategies and techniques using annual gift tax exemptions, lifetime estate and gift tax exclusions, discounting, and irrevocable trusts to reduce an estate for purposes of federal estate tax.
Business Planning
Clients who have business interests have natural concerns as to who will own and manage their business in the event of disability, death or retirement. As a family-owned business, Hales & George is well aware of the many challenges related to ensuring equitable and peaceful transfers of a business and its assets. We can offer strategies to ensure your businesses are sheltered, managed, and ultimately distributed in accordance with your wishes.
Schedule Appointment
