Estate Planning and Trust Administration

Comprehensive Estate Planning for California Property Owners

Effective estate planning starts with understanding the assets at stake and the family or business relationships involved. We prepare wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and advanced planning instruments tailored to each client’s real estate holdings and financial goals.

Our attorneys coordinate with tax professionals and accountants to reduce estate and gift tax exposure through valuation discounts, gifting strategies, and generation-skipping transfers. For clients who own commercial properties, we make certain that operating agreements, leases, and loan covenants align seamlessly with estate planning documents eliminating the disconnects that often cause future disputes.

Trust Administration for Commercial Real Estate Assets

Administering a trust that includes real estate requires both legal precision and practical management. We represent trustees in managing income-producing properties, collecting rents, and distributing proceeds in full compliance with California trust law.

Our attorneys assist with lender notifications, tenant communication, and title transfers to ensure the trust operates smoothly and transparently. By bridging fiduciary duties with property operations, we help trustees preserve value while fulfilling their legal obligations to beneficiaries.

Probate Avoidance and Dispute Prevention

Probate can delay asset transfers, increase costs, and invite challenges. We help clients avoid probate entirely by establishing properly funded trusts and transfer mechanisms that move property directly to heirs or beneficiaries.

We also anticipate areas of potential disagreement drafting provisions that clearly define management succession, beneficiary rights, and dispute resolution procedures. This proactive approach minimizes uncertainty and keeps family and business relationships intact during transitions.

Institutional Standards in Estate Planning

Our estate planning work meets the expectations of institutional lenders, investors, and courts. We ensure that trusts and estate documents are enforceable under California law while maintaining compatibility with financing, title, and ownership structures.

Because many of our clients hold significant commercial real estate assets, we structure plans that account for loan covenants, partnership interests, and multi-entity holdings. The result is an estate plan that functions in both the legal and financial realities of California property ownership.

Experience You Can Trust

The Process of Estate Planning and Trust Administration

Each engagement begins with a full assessment of the client’s assets, business entities, and family or investor relationships. From there, we develop an estate plan or trust structure that balances tax efficiency, legal compliance, and long-term management needs.

Our attorneys then coordinate with lenders, accountants, and title professionals to align every document, ensuring that ownership transfers, trust funding, and property operations proceed without disruption. The process concludes with clear guidance for implementation and administration, giving clients confidence that their intentions will be honored.

Legal expertise in California estate and trust law

Our attorneys bring decades of experience in California estate planning, probate, and trust administration. We understand how commercial property holdings, loan obligations, and partnership interests interact with estate and tax law.

We prepare documents that stand up to legal scrutiny while remaining practical for day-to-day management. Whether structuring a family trust for a real estate portfolio or administering an estate with multiple income-producing properties, we provide clarity and control through every step.

Guiding property owners and families through transitions

Estate planning and trust administration are not one-time events—they evolve as assets grow and circumstances change. We guide clients through every phase, from drafting and funding trusts to handling property transfers, title corrections, and beneficiary distributions.

Our attorneys also counsel trustees and beneficiaries through the administrative process, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and minimizing conflict. This hands-on approach gives families and property owners peace of mind that their legacies are protected and their intentions carried out.

How estate planning counsel works in practice

For property owners, we create estate plans that protect real estate assets, reduce taxes, and maintain financing relationships. For trustees and beneficiaries, we provide the legal structure and practical support necessary to administer complex portfolios effectively.

Our process includes:

• Estate planning and document preparation – drafting wills, trusts, and advanced planning instruments tailored to commercial real estate.
• Trust administration and management – guiding trustees through rent collection, property oversight, and distributions.
• Probate avoidance – structuring transfers to bypass court involvement and reduce administrative costs.
• Tax and lender coordination – integrating entity and financing structures into the estate plan for smooth implementation.

Because we combine estate planning knowledge with commercial real estate expertise, our clients receive comprehensive legal solutions that protect assets, maintain compliance, and ensure a lasting legacy.

Serving clients across Southern California

From our office in Costa Mesa, Buckner, Robinson & Mirkovich represents property owners, investors, and families across Orange County, Los Angeles, and throughout California. Our estate planning attorneys help clients protect and transfer real estate assets with care, precision, and foresight, ensuring that every plan reflects both legal strength and personal intent.

Common Questions