Profile
Attorney James J. Phillips, founder of the firm Law Offices of James J. Phillips, has been a certified specialist in probate, estate planning and trust law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization since inception of the state certification program in 1990. His firm serves Pleasanton, California, and the surrounding communities.
Mr. Phillips focuses his practice on assisting clients plan their estates, prepare necessary estate planning documents from wills to living trusts, including powers of attorney, irrevocable trusts, gifting plans and gift tax returns. Likewise, he represents fiduciaries responsible for managing the financial or personal affairs of others such as executors, administrators, trustees, conservators, guardians, agents and attorneys-in-fact. This includes matters subject to probate court supervision and matters not subject to court review.
Mr. Phillips has authored several publications on the subject of living trusts, wills, estate planning, tax considerations and probate law. He has also served as Judge Pro Tem, Alameda County Superior Courts, and was appointed by Alameda County Probate Court as special master, guardian ad litem, and personal representative in contested trust, probate, conservatorship and guardian cases.
About James Phillips
Law School: University of California Hastings College of the Law
Admitted: 1980, California
Professional Webpage: pleasantonestateplanninglawyer.com/profile.html
Honors and Awards:
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Hastings College of Law, University of California (Juris Doctor, 1980; First Place, 1979 David E. Snodgrass Moot Court Competition--Best Written Brief
, Hastings College of Law, 1979
- Achieved the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, and included in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers annually since, 1995
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certified specialist in estate planning, probate, and trust law. Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in taxation.
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Appointed by Alameda County Probate Court as Special Master, Guardian Ad Litem, and Personal Representative in contested trust, probate, conservatorship, and guardian cases
- Judge Pro Tem, Alameda County Superior Courts
- Member, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
- Member, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Section and Taxation Section of the State Bar of California and of Tri-Valley Business and Estate Planning Council
- Former Director, Estate Planning Council of the East Bay
- Former Member, Executive Committee of the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section of the Alameda County Bar Associaction
- Member, Executive Committee, California State Bar's Association Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section, 1991-1992
- President, Eastern Alameda County Bar Association, 1990
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Founder and coach of Castro Valley Track Club
- Member of Pleasanton, Livermore, Castro Valley Cambers of Commerce and Hayward Rotary Club
- Director, Hayward Rotary Club Foundation and of Eden Area Foundation
- Director Emeritus, California State University Hayward Educational Foundation, Inc.
- Former Director, Castro Valley Arts Foundation
- Former director, Tri-Valley Community Foundation
- Founder and Coach of Castro Valley Track Club. www.cvtrackclub.com
Director of Eden Area Foundation and of Hayward Rotary Club Foundation.
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- "Federal Income Tax Differences between Living Trust Administration and Probate Administration," Tax Exchange, November, 1988
- "Taxes and Living Trusts," California Lawyer, February, 1989
- "Tax Considerations in Comparing Living Trusts and Wills," Drafting Wills and Related Estate Planning Documents, CEB and the State Bar Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section Program, April/May, 1990
- Author: "Tax Comparison of Living Trusts and Wills," Fundamentals of Estate Planning, CEB and the State Bar Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law Section Program, April, 1991
Educational Background:
- Castro Valley High School, 1972
- California at Davis, B.S. in Human Development, magna cum laude, 1976
- Golden Gate University School of Law Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation, 1988
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