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About Janet Brewer
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I am available to answer questions about probating estates, preparing wills and trusts, administering estates and trusts, forming family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, and establishing a wide variety of estate and gift tax-sensitive trusts (charitable trusts, children's trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, etc.).

I can also answer questions regarding the preparation of estate tax returns (Form 706) in taxable estates.

Please note: I am only able to practice law in the State of California. I cannot answer specific questions about other states' laws; I can only provide some "general" information that may or may not apply to your situation.

Experience
I have practiced California estate, gift-planning, and probate law exclusively since 1991. I am certified as a specialist in estate planning and probate law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization (there are less than 125 such specialists practicing in Santa Clara County and fewer than 7,000 practicing in California - out of over 170,000 lawyers statewide).

I have served as an Instructor in the CFP (certificate in financial planning) program at University of California – Santa Cruz, teaching the estate planning segment.

Organizations
Silicon Valley Bar Association
Wealth Counsel
Wealth Advisors' Forum

Education/Credentials
I received my law degree (J.D.) from University of Denver Law School in 1975. I was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1975 and to the California Bar in 1977 (NOTE: although I am a member of the Colorado Bar, I am on INACTIVE status there). I earned an M.B.A. in 1982, and I am currently studying for a Masters Degree in Taxation Law (LLM) at Golden Gate University Law School.
More at:
http://www.calprobate.com

Awards and Honors
2007 and 2008 - chosen as a "SuperLawyer" - one of the top 5% of Northern California lawyers practicing in the estate planning and probate area (www.superlawyers.com)

   

You are here:  Experts > Money > Wills/Estate Planning > Trusts & Estates Law

SubjectDate AskedExpert

husband's death/debt1/7/2009Janet Brewer
  Q: My husband just passed away Dec.12th in Los Angeles, California. He left no will. My question is do ...
  A: I am sorry about your husband's death. In order to answer your question I would need to know if the ...
My father died and my step mom has the trust1/6/2009Janet Brewer
  Q: My father died in Ca and lived in Ca. My step mom has decided that she now wants nothing to do with ...
  A: Technically, the lawyer does not have to tell you that the trust is now irrevocable - but he does ...
My father died and my step mom has the trust1/6/2009Janet Brewer
  Q: My father died in Ca and lived in Ca. My step mom has decided that she now wants nothing to do with ...
  A: I'm sorry about your father's death. Without seeing a copy of the trust, I cannot tell you what you ...
should I sign?1/2/2009Richard Fritzler
  Q: My great grandmother died and left me a quarter of her estate (under 500,000). Her sister is ...
  A: All of that may be true. It will be costly to pursue. So, beyond principle, will you actually pursue ...
death/no will1/1/2009Richard Fritzler
  Q: my mother past a couple a week ago and she has a house and some credit card in her name my sister ...
  A: Pay off the debts. You mothers estate, must be settled, debts must be paid, that is first before ...
Trusts and asset protection12/30/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My mother is considering putting her assets in a trust. She has a 401K and a brokerage account ...
  A: "If she forms a living trust with herself as trustee would her assets be protected from civil ...
my mother died in 200412/29/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My mother died in Feb of 2004. She had no will my husband and i were put on a "Quick claim deed" on ...
  A: I'm sorry about your mother's death. I'm not sure that I understand your question. Whose name is ...
California Law regarding Executors12/28/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: Is there any way that an executor can be held personally liabvle for any debts of an estate? As an ...
  A: No, the executor cannot be held liable for the debt in California. In fact, the executor is ...
NJ State Inheritance Tax12/28/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: I am executor of my aunt's estate and filed the proper papers for NJ inheritance tax. I am waiting ...
  A: If all the procedures are followed the estate is free and clear. If there was mismanagement, if the ...
No will - Probate12/23/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My co-worker's mother in law passed away with no will and her husband was executor of her estate. ...
  A: A will does NOT affect probate. A will is only a list of suggestions to the probate court. The ...
moms death, no will12/23/2008Alexander J. Hay
  Q: my mom died two days ago, has no will, and no one is appointed executor of her estate. I am the ...
  A: This will depend upon where you live, but you will need to file documents with the Probate Court. ...
Timing and Will Probate12/23/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My Mom passed away last week. She left very nice accounts in several banks and credit unions. I ...
  A: I am very sorry about your mother's death. You don't say what state your mother lived in or in what ...
Estate Account12/23/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My sister died 11/24/2008. She had no husband or children and I am the next of kin. I have ...
  A: I am very sorry about your sister's death. You should not need to set up an estate account if your ...
Executor Fees12/22/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My wife's father recently passed away. My wife is the executor. There is no real property. All of ...
  A: If there is no probate, your wife won't be entitled to statutory executor fees - those fees are ...
division of equity12/22/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My mother had a living trust that stated equal division of assets to 4 children. In 2004, she took ...
  A: If I understand your question correctly, your mother owned your brother's house and he wants it as ...
estate12/20/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: Can I borrow a small amount from the estate and return it upon the life policy payment being ...
  A: The executor has no right to spend, give away, or loan any of the estate assets. If you are the ...
Help Inherited Estate12/19/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My great uncle passed away 7/08, his niece is the executor of his estate, she sold the house in NJ ...
  A: Ummm, 3 clients; 3 times the fees. You can just say no. You are right, you don't need him to ...
Joint Bank Account Status12/18/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: Ms. Brewer, I thank you in advance for your answer, as I have enjoyed reading all of your expert ...
  A: I cannot answer your questions without knowing the state your father lived in; the treatment of ...
executor fees12/17/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: I was named executor of my mother's estate. Now that she has died, I am doing a number of tasks to ...
  A: If you are the executor, you should have an attorney. If so, I'm surprised s/he did not explain the ...
not fair12/17/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My question to you Richard is i am the son of a wonderful mother, that after 16 months of brain ...
  A: The word Addendum actually means "added at the end". it does not replace a document, it is an ...
Disclosure12/17/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My mother died in the state of Georgia. I am co-executor of my mothers estate with one of my ...
  A: I am not admitted to practice in Georgia, so I don't know the rules there. In California you would ...
irrevocable trust12/16/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: I am a trustee of a now irrevocable trust that I have been told by an estate attorney will have to ...
  A: You would submit a "Petition to Modify Irrevocable Trust". There isn't really a form - what you do ...
Distrubution of Trust Funds12/9/2008Anthony S. Park
  Q: A dear friend of mine is executor of a family trust. As executor she sold a large number of stocks ...
  A: Spencer, The answer depends on the terms of the trust agreement. However, in many cases it is ...
trustee and beneficiary responsibilities12/4/2008Anthony S. Park
  Q: My mom passed away about 7.5 years ago; my brother and I were the only beneficiaries...he was the ...
  A: It sounds like it never went through the courts. If your mom had a trust instead of a will, then ...
trustee and beneficiary responsibilities12/4/2008Anthony S. Park
  Q: My mom passed away about 7.5 years ago; my brother and I were the only beneficiaries...he was the ...
  A: EFK, I cannot answer any of your questions without access to a copy of the will or trust. If you ...
trust inheritance and rollover rules12/3/2008Anthony S. Park
  Q: Can an inherited trust of securities be rolled over into an IRA or current tax deferred account in ...
  A: van, I don't believe there's anyway to roll over the stocks into a tax-deferred account. Keep in ...
Life insurance benefit disclaimers12/1/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: I have read everything on this site regarding the benefit disclaimers. I understand the procedure. ...
  A: The key to your question is in this statement "she wasn't able to disclaim the benefits of the ...
Successor Trustees12/1/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: If I have a living trust with my wife and I as trustees, and our adult child as successor trustee, ...
  A: You're right. Having to use a lawyer to "settle" the trust does take away some of the cost savings. ...
Successor Trustees12/1/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: If I have a living trust with my wife and I as trustees, and our adult child as successor trustee, ...
  A: You don't say in which state you live, so I'll provide a general answer using California law. In ...
Regarding my Grandmother's will11/30/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My grandma passed in the beginning of October after my aunt moved her from her home here in ...
  A: Since your grandmother was living in Nevada at the time of her death but up until then she had been ...
Death & Debts Owed.11/27/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My parents still have a mortgage as well as other debt. Who will be responsible for their debt upon ...
  A: You don't provide a lot of background information, so my answer is fairly general. The short ...
A trust, a house and taxes11/26/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My two siblings and I inherited our mother's house which we sold in Jan. 08. We each received half ...
  A: I prepare estate tax returns, not income tax returns, so this is not my area of expertise. But I ...
Time frame11/25/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My father and I lived together as I took care of him for the last 4 months of his life. He died in ...
  A: I'm sorry about your father's death. I'll handle the easiest question first - the POA. If all of ...
Trusts and Medicare11/25/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My mother has early dementia and lives on her own. She has approximately 70K in a money moarket and ...
  A: It was called a medicaid trust. It was an attempt to do exactly what you are asking. It was ...
Will and Trust11/23/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My grandfather left a "TRUST" and in his trust he wrote: At the death of Settlor, Settlor’s son VB ...
  A: This is where the black meets the white and may be grey. Based upon the short portion of the trust ...
Does A Living Trust Cause Loss of Step-up?11/22/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: My wife and I have a living trust. We are the trustees. After the second of us dies, our adult child ...
  A: The trust does NOT jeopardize that, since the trust is just the conduit for the transfer. The ...
Mom11/22/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My mother is very sick, and she wants to put my name on her home so that it will go directly to me ...
  A: I'm not sure I understand your follow up question. Are you saying that your mother owns "Lot 1" and ...
Mom11/21/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: My mother is very sick, and she wants to put my name on her home so that it will go directly to me ...
  A: You don't indicate which state your mother lives in, so I'll assume it's California. In most ...
Alternatives for Removal of Trustee11/21/2008Janet Brewer
  Q: In February 18, 2006, my mother, as Settlor, passed away leaving a revocable Trust. With seven ...
  A: You do not say what state the trust was formed under or the state in which the trustees live, so I ...
vacation property11/20/2008Richard Fritzler
  Q: I own a vacation property in Murphy North Carolina. I am a personal guarantor on a business loan in ...
  A: Feel free to "look into" a trust for this purpose, but I believe if you are complete in your due ...

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Questions by
Active Experts:
Kris PadenDr. Joseph de BeauchampJanet Brewer
Anthony S. ParkRichard FritzlerAlexander J. Hay
   

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