The Law Offices of Gregory J. Lederman focuses exclusively on estate, trust, and probate matters. We assist a diverse array of clients, including individuals, business owners, professionals and other attorneys with a wide variety of issues, including:
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Estate Planning
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Special Needs Trusts
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Probate Administration and Litigation
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Conservatorships and Related Litigation
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Trust Administration and Litigation of Trust Disputes
The Law Offices of Gregory J. Lederman offers comprehensive, tax-sensitive estate planning specifically tailored to the needs and goals of our clients. We utilize advanced estate and tax planning strategies to maximize our clients’ tax savings while accomplishing their desires and objectives. Our areas of representation include:
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Wills: We prepare simple wills for clients, as well as pour-over wills, which are wills which are designed to work in unison with a living trust. We also prepare wills with guardianship provisions for our clients’ minor children.
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Revocable Living Trusts: We prepare living trusts and advise our clients on how to properly fund their trusts in other to avoid the necessity of a probate administration on the death of our client. Please see our
frequently asked questions page for further information regarding the advantages of a living trust.
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Financial Powers of Attorney: This document allows a client to designate a person or persons to manage their financial affairs in the event they become incapacitated.
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Advance Health Care Directives: This document allows a client to designate a person or persons to make medical decisions on their behalf in the event they are unable to express their wishes with regard to health care.
Gregory J. Lederman has particular expertise in the area of special needs trusts and planning for persons with special needs. Mr. Lederman frequently assists personal injury attorneys, medical malpractice attorneys and workers’ compensation attorneys with clients who have suffered serious injuries and are concerned that a settlement or verdict will jeopardize their ability to receive certain government benefits. The primary purpose of a special needs trust is to ensure continued government benefits for a disabled beneficiary. Usually these benefits have income limits, so if the person receives a sizeable verdict, settlement, or inheritance, they risk losing their benefits. Benefits with these limits include Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") and Medi-Cal.
Special Needs Trusts are a specialized area of planning, and the laws regarding this type of planning are ever evolving. It is important to consult with an attorney with extensive experience in this area of estate planning. Gregory J. Lederman is a recognized leader in this area of planning who has spoken on the subject for the Consumer Attorneys of California at the 26th Annual Convention.
Probate Administration and Litigation
Probate administration is the process where a court oversees the administration of a deceased person’s estate. Further information regarding probate administration may be found on the
frequently asked questions page of our website.
The Law Offices of Gregory J. Lederman represents clients in will and trust litigation, including contests, lawsuits concerning the interpretation of estate planning documents, trust termination proceedings, and trustee removal proceedings.
Conservatorships and Related Litigation
A conservatorship is a court-supervised process that occurs when a person (the conservatee) is incapacitated and unable to manage their own financial affairs, make medical decisions, or care for himself or herself. The court will consider all alternatives to imposing a conservatorship, make a determination as to whether a conservatorship is necessary, and in the event the court determines that a conservatorship is required, appoint a conservator. There are two types of conservatorships:
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Of the Person: This person arranges for the conservatee’s care and protection, decides where the conservatee will live and make decisions regarding the conservatee’s health care, food, clothing, housekeeping, transportation and recreation.
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Of the Estate: A conservator of the estate is in charge of handling the conservatee’s finances.
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A conservatorship is a complex process required the continued involvement of the court for the entire duration of the conservatorship. The conservator is a fiduciary and must understand the responsibilities, duties and the legalities that come with being a conservator. It is important to note that a conservatorship proceeding can often be avoided with proper advance estate planning.
The Law Offices of Gregory J. Lederman represents clients in establishing conservatorships and serves as counsel to the conservator throughout the existence of the conservatorship. We also represent clients in conservatorship related litigation, including the following types of matters:
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Contests to the appointment of a certain conservator
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Challenges to the need for establishing a conservatorship
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Challenges to a conservator’s accounting or allegations that the conservator is not managing the conservatee’s finances properly
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Allegations that the conservator has mismanaged or misappropriated funds from the conservatee
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Allegations that a conservator has breached a fiduciary duty to the conservatee
Trust Administration and Litigation of Trust Disputes
The Law Offices of Gregory J. Lederman has extensive experience in the area of estate and trust administration, including the settlement of complex estate matters, post-mortem income tax planning, and the use of disclaimers. We prepare gift and generation-skipping transfer tax returns, federal and state inheritance and estate tax returns, and IRS and state filings. We also handle tax controversies, including IRS and state estate, gift, inheritance and income tax controversies.
The firm represents clients in trust related litigation, including allegations involving the following:
Seek Experienced Legal Counsel
Estate, trust and probate matters require experienced legal representation. At the Law Offices of Gregory Lederman, we have the experience, knowledge and integrity to successfully resolve difficult and complex estate planning issues. If you need assistance with any estate, trust or probate matter, or if you are a personal injury, medical malpractice or workers’ compensation attorney with a client who may benefit from the establishment of a special needs trust,
contact the Law Offices of Gregory Lederman today.
