Law Office of Susan A. Katzen - Newport Beach, CA

Comprehensive Estate Planning and Special Needs Advocacy in Newport Beach

Planning for the future of your family requires compassionate counsel, technical mastery, and personalized legal instruments that stand the test of time. Located at 1301 Dove Street in Newport Beach, California, the Law Office of Susan A. Katzen delivers thorough legal guidance designed to protect what matters most. Principal attorney Susan A. Katzen has practiced law in California since 1978, dedicating over four decades to helping individuals, couples, and families safeguard wealth and care for dependents with disabilities. Whether you need to hire an attorney to establish a special needs trust or find a lawyer to guide you through probate, this boutique firm crafts customized strategies that provide enduring peace of mind.

Protecting Vulnerable Families with Special Needs Trusts

Caring for a child or dependent adult with a disability presents unique considerations. A standard inheritance can inadvertently disqualify a vulnerable individual from essential government assistance programs such as Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The firm is widely recognized throughout Orange County for developing tailored special needs planning solutions that enrich the beneficiary's quality of life without disrupting public benefits.

• Special needs trusts: Designing first-party and third-party trusts that protect lawsuit proceeds, inheritances, or family gifts while maintaining benefits eligibility.
• Settlement planning: Assisting personal injury plaintiffs in structuring settlement proceeds to preserve needs-based government programs.
• Limited conservatorships: Guiding parents as children turn eighteen, establishing court conservatorships to maintain legal decision-making authority.

Living Trusts, Wills, and Estate Administration Services

Every family possesses distinct assets, relationships, and priorities requiring tailored estate documentation. The firm works closely with clients to build robust estate foundations that prevent disputes and minimize tax burdens.

• Estate planning lawyers: Drafting comprehensive estate plans, including revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and advance healthcare directives.
• Trusts lawyers and trust administration: Guiding successor trustees through post-death administration duties, beneficiary notices, and asset distribution under the California Probate Code.
• Wills lawyers: Formulating precise testamentary documents and naming trusted guardians for minor children.
• Power of attorney lawyers: Creating durable financial powers of attorney to ensure seamless asset management during incapacity.

Navigating California Probate and Conservatorships

When an individual passes away without a trust, or an aging adult becomes incapacitated, court intervention becomes necessary. The firm provides skilled guidance before the Orange County Superior Court to validate wills, marshal assets, resolve creditor claims, and establish general conservatorships for vulnerable seniors.

Why Families Choose the Law Office of Susan A. Katzen

Clients consistently praise the Law Office of Susan A. Katzen for providing attentive service where every client is treated with the care and dignity of family. Backed by recognition as a Law Firm 500 Honoree and active leadership in special needs advocacy, Attorney Susan A. Katzen combines deep legal acumen with genuine empathy. If you are looking to find an attorney in Newport Beach who will safeguard your family's future across generations, contact the office today to arrange a consultation.