Robert P. Bergman, Attorney at Law

Hi. I'm estate planning attorney and counselor at law Robert P. Bergman, or "Bob" to my family, friends, clients and business colleagues.   I am married to Jennifer A. Lotz, who is also my business partner in the firm.

I have been a resident of Santa Clara County since 1968, and I attended local schools and colleges. I teach people how to take maximum advantage of the tax and inheritance laws to quickly and inexpensively pass their estates on to their heirs after death. I also assist my clients with strategies to legally protect their hard-earned assets from frivolous lawsuits, and to protect the inheritance they are passing on to their heirs from creditors' claims, divorce, and bankruptcy.

My father, a former career Air Force officer and successful real estate broker, always told me that, "if you provide more service to your clients than they expect, you will never be out of business." I enjoy my profession and I derive great satisfaction knowing that I am helping my clients achieve their planning goals and dreams.

On the lighter side, I sing and act with several local performing arts companies, including the Lamplighters of San Francisco, the Stanford Savoyards, Lyric Theatre (Gilbert & Sullivan Society of San Jose), Mission City Opera, the West Valley Light Opera Association, the Sunnyvale Community Players and the Saratoga Drama Group. I am also an avid military historian and collector of war games and miniatures.

I have been practicing law since 1980, when I was admitted to the State Bar of California. My resume is below:

• A.A. De Anza College, Cupertino, California (magna cum laude)
• B.A. San Jose State University, San Jose, California (with Great Distinction)
• J.D. Santa Clara Law School, Santa Clara, California

Memberships and Court Admissions

• Member, State Bar of California, including the Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section
• Member, WealthCounsel, LLC, www.wealthcounsel.com, a national organization of estate planning attorneys
• Founding Member, Advisors Forum, www.advisors.com, a national organization of estate planning professionals
• Former Member, Academy of Special Needs Planners, www.specialneedsplanners.com
• Former Speaker, Foundation for Personal Financial Education and the Financial Knowledge Institute, 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are dedicated to providing financial, real estate, and estate planning workshops for the employees of companies and municipal, county, and state agencies
• Admitted to practice before all California courts, U.S. Tax Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California

• Former General Counsel, Century 21 LAD Realty (Santa Clara County)
• Former Real Estate Broker
• Former Securities Broker (Series 7 and 66 licenses)
• Licensed California life insurance agent (License #0B39548)
• Former Vice President and Business Development Officer,
  Comerica Bank Institutional Trust Department
• Former Financial Planner, MetLife Financial Services
• Notary Public, State of California

Legal Services Offered

• Customized drafting of comprehensive estate plans using living trusts, powers-of-attorney, advance health care directives, and pour-over wills
• Special planning for parents with minor children designed to keep them out of foster care and to provide for their needs both short term and long term (Children's Legacy Plan) 
• Special estate planning for retirement plan assets (IRA Inheritance Trust)
• Probate Administration (for estates where there was no Will,or only a Will)
• Trust Administration (for estates where a revocable living trust or other trust was involved )
• Special Needs Planning for special needs children