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Your Trusted Estate Planning & Probate Law Firm in Larkspur, CA
The Law Office Of Matthew W Harris has dedicated its practice to protecting families and preserving legacies through comprehensive legal solutions in estate planning, conservatorship, probate, and elder law. With over five years of specialized training under Super Lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area, our firm combines deep expertise with personalized service to address complex legal needs. We prioritize client education, ensuring individuals understand their options for safeguarding assets, planning for incapacity, and navigating post-death estate administration.Our practice extends across Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Sonoma counties, offering house calls for clients with mobility challenges. Backed by memberships in the California State Bar, American Bar Association, and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, we maintain rigorous professional standards while delivering compassionate, client-centered representation.
Services
Estate Planning
Wills
Trusts
Conservatorship
Probate
Elder Law
Special Needs Trusts
Mediation
House Calls
Trust Administration
Highlights and features
- We offer personalized estate plans tailored to individual family needs
- Our attorney received specialized training with Super Lawyers in estate planning
- We provide house calls for clients with mobility limitations
- We focus exclusively on estate planning, probate, and elder law matters
- We maintain active memberships in elder law and estate planning professional organizations
What people say
Personalized guidance
Seamless process
Compassionate approach
Accessible legal language
Family-centered focus
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning service creates comprehensive legal frameworks to protect your assets and family. We specialize in wills, revocable living trusts, advance health care directives, and durable powers of attorney tailored to individual circumstances. Our approach ensures seamless asset transfer while minimizing probate requirements and preserving family harmony through clear, legally sound documentation.
Conservatorship
We establish conservatorships for adults requiring assistance with personal care or financial matters. Our practice handles both general conservatorships for incapacitated individuals and limited conservatorships for those with developmental disabilities. We guide families through court proceedings while protecting clients' rights and ensuring appropriate care arrangements through legally mandated fiduciary frameworks.
Probate
Our probate services assist executors and beneficiaries with estate administration following a loved one's death. We manage will validation, asset inventory, debt settlement, and property distribution according to California law. Our expertise streamlines complex probate processes while maintaining compliance with state and federal requirements for efficient estate resolution.
Elder Law
We address legal needs specific to older adults through comprehensive elder law services. Our practice covers long-term care planning, Medi-Cal eligibility, guardianship, and protection against financial or physical elder abuse. We combine legal expertise with compassionate advocacy to preserve dignity and ensure appropriate care for vulnerable seniors.
Special Needs Trusts
We create specialized trusts that protect government benefits for disabled beneficiaries. Our practice includes first-party trusts funded by legal settlements and third-party trusts established by family members. These instruments ensure continued eligibility for Supplemental Security Income and Medi-Cal while providing supplemental financial resources for enhanced quality of life.
People
Matthew W. Harris
Estate Planning Attorney
Matthew W. Harris, Esq., LL.M specializes in estate planning, conservatorship, and elder law. He earned his Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy University School of Law and a Master of Laws in Estate Planning from Golden Gate University. With over five years training under Super Lawyers, he brings specialized expertise to Marin County families.
Questions
What estate planning documents should every adult have?
Every adult should have a will, durable power of attorney, and advance health care directive. Depending on circumstances, revocable living trusts may also be appropriate for asset protection and probate avoidance.
How does a conservatorship differ from power of attorney?
A conservatorship requires court involvement and oversight, while power of attorney operates privately. Conservatorships are established when someone lacks capacity to grant power of attorney, with court supervision ensuring proper decision-making.
What are the costs associated with probate?
California probate fees follow statutory guidelines based on estate value, starting at 4% for the first $100,000. Additional costs include court fees, appraisal expenses, and potential extraordinary service charges for complex cases.
How can elder abuse be legally addressed?
Elder abuse cases may require emergency protective orders, financial accountings, or legal guardianship. We help victims obtain restraining orders and pursue legal remedies while coordinating with Adult Protective Services and law enforcement.
What distinguishes special needs trusts from regular trusts?
Special needs trusts preserve government benefits eligibility by structuring distributions for supplemental needs rather than basic support. They require specific legal language to maintain compliance with Medi-Cal and SSI program requirements.
How can probate be avoided?
Properly funded revocable living trusts remain the most effective probate avoidance tool. Other strategies include joint property ownership, payable-on-death accounts, and strategic beneficiary designations across financial assets.
