Estate planning attorney in Los Gatos.

Yes. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman is based at 3535 Ross Avenue in the Cambrian Park neighborhood of San Jose, roughly a 15 minute drive north of Los Gatos on Highway 17. Bob has drafted estate plans and handled trust administration, Heggstad petitions, and trust modification petitions for Los Gatos families for decades, including the high-value real-estate and tech-equity issues common in town.

Trust petitions for Los Gatos residents are filed in the Probate Division of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, located at the Downtown Superior Courthouse, 191 North First Street, San Jose, California 95113. Bob files Heggstad petitions and trust modification petitions at this courthouse on behalf of Los Gatos families.

Los Gatos has some of the highest median home values in California, which makes Prop 19 a planning concern for almost every long-time homeowner. A child who inherits a Los Gatos home only keeps the parent’s low Prop 13 tax basis if the child uses the home as a primary residence within one year, and only the first $1 million of value above the parent’s assessed value is excluded. With Los Gatos median values often well over $2 million, the difference between a Prop 13 carry-over and a full reassessment can be tens of thousands a year in property taxes. Bob runs the Prop 19 numbers for every Los Gatos client whose plan involves real property.

Most Los Gatos estate plans are signed within three to six weeks of the initial Plan Design Meeting. The schedule has four steps: the Plan Design Meeting itself, drafting and a draft review meeting, the signing appointment, and funding the trust by retitling assets. The Ross Avenue office is a short drive up Highway 17 from Old Town Los Gatos, so in-person meetings are easy for Los Gatos clients.

A typical Los Gatos estate plan from the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman includes a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, durable powers of attorney, and an advance health care directive. Final fees depend on complexity: high-value real estate, business interests, equity compensation, and multi-generational planning each add work. Bob gives you a written fee estimate at the initial Plan Design Meeting, which is always complimentary.

Yes. Many Los Gatos clients meet with Bob by Zoom for the Plan Design Meeting and the draft review, then come north to the Ross Avenue office for the signing appointment because California law requires witnesses or notarization. Mobile notary services are available for clients with mobility constraints or who travel often.

Yes. Bob has filed Heggstad petitions under California Probate Code Section 850 and trust modification petitions under Sections 15403, 15404, 15409, and the California Decanting Act for Los Gatos families for decades. Petitions for Los Gatos residents are typically filed at the Santa Clara County Superior Court in downtown San Jose.