ESTATE PLANNING

Howard S. Klein

Donna L. Shapiro

OUR PRACTICE AREAS

We practice in all areas of estate planning, including preparation of:

• living trusts
• insurance trusts
• special needs trusts
• wills
• powers of attorney
• advance health care directives
• trust transfer deeds

We have particular expertise in the area of estate planning/family law crossover issues. We help our clients navigate the difficult transitional period of marital dissolution, effectively dealing with issues of:

• planning timing issues: prior to, during, and after divorce
• dealing with restraining orders
• transmutation of property
• undue influence

The head of our department, Howard Klein, is a noted California estate planning lawyer and is a Certified Specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization).

The planning process includes meeting personally with clients in order to learn their needs, desires and objectives and to determine which type of plan will most appropriately accomplish those objectives in a cost-effective manner with the least possible taxes and expenses.

Howard S. Klein has practiced estate planning law for more than 40 years. The State Bar of California designated him as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate in 1993, and he is also the immediate past-chair of the Advance Committee of Estate Planning and Probate. Mr. Klein has also written several legal articles and appeared on the TV shows The Insider and Starting Over, and he has given numerous Continuing Legal Education lectures and participated in panels. Los Angeles Magazine has named him a Super Lawyer for four consecutive years, from 2005 to 2008, and he holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Klein and fellow attorney Donna Shapiro, who focuses her practice solely on estate planning, are warm, honest, and compassionate people who enjoy working with people and know how to put clients at their ease. In addition to their strong knowledge of estate-planning principles, they know how to relate to clients and understand their issues. They bring to the table a combined 50 years’ experience and service that is friendly and sincere, reasonably priced, and as painless as possible. Mr. Klein and Ms. Shapiro help their clients determine what they want to accomplish, who they would like to receive their assets and who they wish to administer the process.

FMBK’s estate planning department concentrates on assisting clients in defining their objectives and then accomplishing all those objectives. Our goal is to enable clients to direct their assets to the people they want to receive them, with the least possible erosion or attrition due to taxes, probate administration expenses, or other costs. We benefit clients in terms of achieving their goals and the gratification of their having accomplished something worthwhile.

If you have substantial assets, personal responsibilities, or charitable objectives, you need to plan your will and estate. Please contact one of our estate planning lawyers so they may guide you through this complex area of law and life.