Alice J. MacAllister:
A Financial Attorney for San Jose
In the area of Probate, Trust And Estate Administration, I represent fiduciaries and trustees, always careful to manage their affairs in a way that keeps them fully protected. Liability questions always come up, and I know how to set them at ease and avoid costly problems, obtaining court orders where necessary to provide that protection or taking advantage of non-court procedures when available. After working as an attorney in this practice area for 24 years, I have gained the knowledge and ability to manage the most difficult situations. Just a few aspects often involved in these cases are:
▪ Probate Administration: To learn more about the specifics of probate, in which a court is involved in administering an estate, be sure to visit my What You Need To Know About Probate page.
▪ Estate Tax Return Filing: I consider estate tax returns legal documents and unlike most attorneys, I prepare the returns myself for my clients’ taxable estates. In this way I can be sure that the return reflects the actual planning. I also make sure the family’s accountant is included in all decisions regarding allocation of trust assets and deductions so that the accountant can prepare and file accurate income tax returns.
▪ Trust Administration: I represent individual and corporate trustees where the beneficiary is disabled. My many years of practice in elder law have taught me extensively about the concerns of the aging and disabled and how a trust should be managed for their benefit. Sometimes, it takes a delicate sensitivity to family issues to be able to protect the elder or disabled and bring the various family members to a place of non-conflict if not harmony. I also represent surviving spouse trustees to administer and divide the trust on the death of the first spouse spouse, and successor trustees following the death of either the second spouse or the single individual.
Many horror stories claim that probate, trust and estate administration matters can drag on for years. But if you have a good lawyer in your corner, this need not be the case. It takes an encyclopedic knowledge of many very detailed rules to avoid a tedious probate administration. I have studied these rules so extensively that I have taught classes on advanced probate and trust administration to attorneys and accountants.
Proper estate planning and probate administration demands impeccable organization, and making sure that tasks are carefully calendared and that everything flows right on schedule. For example, trust administration involves a strict schedule of marshaling assets, identifying the heirs and beneficiaries, making sure they get proper notice of inventory of assets and proper appraisals, and doing whatever is necessary with those assets. If the sale of real property is required to accomplish the estate administration, then I can conduct that transaction as well. This kind of flexibility in services has made a success out of my Santa Clara County California Trust Administration Law Firm.
I offer my services to more than just Santa Clara County and San Jose. My office used to be in Cupertino and I still have many clients there, as well as clients in San Mateo County, Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale, and Los Gatos. Contact me immediately and benefit from my experience, affordable rates, and personal touch.
Alice J. MacAllister, Attorney at Law
Third Floor
1700 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 293-9223
Fax: (408) 971-4320
