October 7, 2026
Rule Number One When Creating Your Advance Health Care Directive: Keep It Simple
Have You Updated Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy to Reflect Your Trust?
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Practice Areas · Trusts & Estates
Thoughtful Planning. Trusted Guidance.
Protect your legacy with experienced estate counsel.
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What We Do
Our Comprehensive Trust & Estate Services
SMT helps individuals and families across Northern California plan ahead, navigate transitions, and resolve complex estate matters with clarity and care. Whether you're preparing your first estate plan, managing a trust, or handling the probate of a loved one's estate, our attorneys provide steady support and personalized guidance every step of the way.
Estate Planning
Build a personalized plan that protects your wishes and avoids unnecessary court processes.
- Wills & Trusts
- Powers of Attorney
- Advance Healthcare Directives
- Property Transfers
Probate & Trust Administration
When a loved one passes, we help administrators and trustees carry out their duties with clarity and confidence.
- Legal notice & filings
- Inventory, appraisal, and distribution of assets
- Tax filings and accounting
- Family communication and conflict management
Conservatorships
Support for families who need to make legal, financial, or medical decisions on behalf of a loved one.
- General and limited conservatorships
- Special needs and developmental disability planning
- Incapacity and elder law considerations
Family Wealth Preservation
We help you structure your estate to protect your assets and avoid disputes now and for future generations.
- Inheritance planning
- Planning for blended families
- Protection from creditors, divorce, and litigation
Succession Planning
Secure the future of your family business or property.
- Ownership transfers
- Partnership succession
- Business continuity planning
Planned Charitable Giving
Incorporate your values into your estate.
- Charitable trusts
- Donor-advised funds
- Tax-efficient gift planning
Tax Planning
Preserve more of your estate with proactive, customized strategies.
- Estate and gift tax mitigation
- Real property tax considerations
- Strategic collaboration with CPAs and advisors
The SMT Difference
Why SMT
01
Responsive by Design
We guide clients at every step of the process. You'll never be left wondering.
02
Personalized, Plain-Language Guidance
We explain every step in clear, everyday language.
03
Local Roots, Deep Experience
Trusted by families, advisors, and courts throughout Sonoma County and the North Bay.
04
Comprehensive Support, One Legal Team
From estate planning to administration and beyond, we guide you through it all.
05
Tailored to Your Family
We account for complex dynamics from special needs planning to blended families and estranged relatives.
Your Attorneys
Meet Your Trusts & Estates Team
How We Help
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Facing Life Changes or Managing an Estate?
We've helped hundreds of families just like yours understand their options and build a plan that works.
- Planning for retirement or incapacity
- Managing a parent's estate
- Preparing for a home or business sale
- Making decisions after a loss
- Leaving a legacy of giving
SMT provides solutions that lead to:
Clear, Future-Focused Planning
Estate plans tailored to your goals, family structure, and long-term financial needs.
Guidance Through Difficult Transitions
Supportive, step-by-step assistance for probate, trust administration, and post-loss decisions.
Confident Management of Family Assets
Strategic advice for property sales, tax considerations, and multi-generational wealth.
A Legacy That Reflects Your Values
Thoughtful charitable giving, succession planning, and structures that protect loved ones.
From Our Attorneys
View all Trusts & Estates insights →
Read Our Latest Insights
September 4, 2026
Reconsidering the Advance Health Care Directive
MCLE Self-Study Article I. Synopsis The author of this article was a hospice social worker for many years…
Read MoreJuly 7, 2026
Your Kids Don’t Want to Inherit a Headache
No one likes to think about dying or about their family sorting through their belongings after they’re gone.…
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Talk to a Legal Team That Understands Family, Legacy, and Life's Transitions
SMT is here to guide you through the planning, protection, and preservation of what matters most with responsiveness, experience, and compassion.
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