Business Details
22 Years
experience
Estate Planning & Trust Attorneys in San Diego
Established in 2004, Kelsch Law Group specializes in estate planning, trust administration, and probate law. Our practice focuses on creating tailored solutions for asset protection, wills, and living trusts, ensuring clients maintain control over their financial legacy. With over two decades of legal experience, including corporate counsel and trial attorney roles, we combine technical expertise with personalized service.Our team prioritizes client education, guiding families through complex legal processes while emphasizing privacy and tax efficiency. We serve clients across California, offering mobile notary services and comprehensive legal packages that include healthcare directives and power of attorney documents.
Services
Living Trusts
Wills
Probate
Trust Administration
Power of Attorney
Healthcare Directives
Asset Protection
Mobile Notary
Estate Tax Planning
Guardianship
Details
- Year established: 2004
Highlights and features
- 20+ years of legal experience including corporate counsel and trial work
- Specialized expertise in complex estate planning and trust administration
- Comprehensive service packages covering all aspects of asset protection
- Mobile notary services for client convenience
- Proven track record in California trust and probate law
Associations and certifications
- State Bar of California
Services
Living Trusts
Living trusts help avoid probate while maintaining control over asset distribution. Our attorneys create customized revocable and irrevocable trusts tailored to complex family situations and financial needs. Clients benefit from streamlined estate transitions and tax-efficient solutions for properties across multiple states.
Probate
We guide executors through California's probate process for estates exceeding $150,000. Our services include asset valuation, debt settlement, and court documentation. We help clients navigate will validation, property transfers, and tax filings while minimizing family conflicts during estate administration.
Asset Protection
Our firm implements strategies like Qualified Personal Residence Trusts and Family Limited Partnerships to safeguard assets. These tools protect against creditor claims while optimizing estate tax benefits. We specialize in creating layered protection plans for business owners and real estate investors across California.
Trust Administration
We assist successor trustees with post-death trust administration requirements. Services include asset inventory, tax identification number applications, property transfers, and beneficiary notifications. Our guidance ensures compliance with California's 60-day notice requirements and annual accounting obligations for irrevocable trusts.
Healthcare Directives
Our advance healthcare directives establish decision-making authority for medical treatment and end-of-life care. We ensure HIPAA compliance and document organ donation preferences while maintaining validity across state lines. Clients receive comprehensive guidance on appointing healthcare agents and conservators.
People
Kristan Kelsch
Attorney & Founder
Kristan Kelsch founded Kelsch Law Group in 2004 after serving as corporate counsel for a multi-million dollar corporation. With a Juris Doctor from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, she has practiced in probate, criminal defense, and estate planning. Her 20+ years of trial experience and securities licensing inform her comprehensive approach to asset protection.
Questions
What's the difference between a will and a living trust?
Living trusts avoid probate, maintain privacy, and function during incapacity. Wills require court validation and become public records, but both documents specify asset distribution preferences.
How much does a living trust cost in California?
Our living trusts range from $1,895 to $3,500 per person depending on complexity, including property transfers and tax planning considerations for estates exceeding $100,000.
Can I create a trust without an attorney?
While possible, DIY trusts risk invalidation. Our attorneys ensure proper execution, asset titling, and compliance with California's specific requirements for trust validity and tax optimization.
What happens if I don't fund my trust?
Unfunded trusts don't avoid probate. We help clients properly transfer real estate, bank accounts, and investment assets into trust ownership to ensure seamless post-death administration.
How does asset protection work with trusts?
Tools like Qualified Personal Residence Trusts and Family Limited Partnerships create legal separation between owners and assets. These structures protect against creditor claims while maintaining usage rights for designated beneficiaries.
What's included in a complete estate plan?
Our comprehensive packages include living trusts, pour-over wills, durable powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and guardianship nominations, ensuring all aspects of asset management and personal care planning.
