Wills, Trusts & Probate

The estate planning attorneys at Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, P.C. have substantial experience in providing the full breadth of estate planning, conservatorship and guardianship, elder law and trust and estate litigation services for clients in Napa, Solano, and Contra Costa counties, and throughout Northern California. 

Estate Planning and Estate Administration

Our attorneys carefully consider the needs and goals of our clients in preparing every estate plan, and provide comprehensive, tax-sensitive estate planning documents individually tailored to the unique needs and objectives of each client.  We prepare:

  • Wills
  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Durable Powers of Attorney
  • Advance Health Care Directives
  • Community Property Agreements
  • Generation-Skipping Trusts
  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
  • Qualified Personal Residence Trusts ("QPRTS")
  • Special Needs Trusts
  • Charitable Trusts

We also provide a wealth of ancillary legal services attendant to estate planning and probate matters, including:

  • An analysis of various probate avoidance techniques
  • Ensuring property is properly titled and trusts are appropriately funded
  • Careful coordination of beneficiary designations for life insurance, retirement benefit accounts, and other assets
  • Providing a plan for the possibility of subsequent incapacity or disability

Our areas of representation also include business succession planning and charitable planning.  Our attorneys also have extensive experience in probate administration and trust administration, including the administration of large, complex estates involving federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax issues.

Conservatorships & Guardianships

In the event a person becomes incapacitated and does not have estate planning documents in place designating who will manage their financial affairs or make decisions regarding their care, we can assist in obtaining the appointment of a conservator of the person and/or the estate and can advise conservators of their fiduciary duties and obligations.  We also assist clients in guardianship proceedings.

Elder Law

Our attorneys have significant experience in the area of elder law.  In addition to preparing estate planning documents which provide a plan in the event of future incapacity, we also focus on planning involving Medi-Cal.  Medi-Cal planning includes planning for eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits, income planning to reduce or eliminate the monthly "share of cost" to be paid by the Medi-Cal beneficiary, and asset protection planning to reduce or eliminate the recovery of the amount of benefits paid out from the beneficiary's estate.  We also represent clients who have suffered elder abuse, including victims of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Trust & Estate Litigation

We represent trustees, executors, administrators, conservators, beneficiaries and other parties in all manner of trust and estate disputes, including but not limited to:

  • Challenges to the validity or construction of a will, trust, or other estate planning document
  • Allegations of fraud, coercion, undue influence, or elder abuse
  • Allegations of a breach of fiduciary duty
  • Disputes concerning property rights
  • Creditors' claims
  • Trust or estate accounting issues
  • Intra-family conflicts

Seek Experienced Legal Counsel

Trust and estate matters require counsel with specialized knowledge.  Carol A. Sobczak is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law with over 20 years of experience in trust and estate law.  For trusted advice and experienced legal representation, contact Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, P.C.