Business Details
16 Years
experience
Estate Planning and Probate Legal Services in Los Angeles
Willow A McJilton Aplc provides professional legal representation and advice on estate planning matters to individuals and families in the Los Angeles, South Bay, and San Francisco Bay areas. Founded in 2010, our firm builds upon decades of combined experience from our lead professionals, including Willow A. McJilton, a Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law. We specialize in addressing the unique challenges faced by non-traditional couples and their families, offering tailored solutions that navigate conflicts between federal and California law. Our services include general estate planning, advanced tax strategies, trust administration, and probate guidance.With a focus on reducing client burdens, we ensure estate plans avoid probate delays, communicate wishes clearly, and maximize tax efficiency. Our team combines academic expertise through teaching roles at California State University and UCLA Extension, while maintaining active leadership positions in legal professional organizations. We prioritize personalized service, ensuring clients fully understand their estate plans while adhering to the highest professional standards.
Services
Estate Planning
Trust Administration
Probate Services
Advanced Tax Planning
Non-Traditional Family Planning
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We offer over 20 years of combined experience in estate planning and probate law
- Our lead attorney is a certified legal specialist in trust and probate law
- We provide tailored solutions for non-traditional couples and complex family structures
- Our team maintains active teaching roles in estate planning education programs
- We combine academic expertise with practical legal implementation for optimal outcomes
Associations and certifications
- California Board of Legal Specialization
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create comprehensive legal frameworks to manage your assets and wishes. We develop customized wills, revocable trusts, and healthcare directives that avoid probate delays while ensuring clear communication of your intentions. Our approach combines tax efficiency with family-centered solutions for individuals and non-traditional couples.
Trust Administration
We guide trustees through post-death estate management, handling asset valuation, tax filings, and distribution processes. Our expertise ensures compliance with legal requirements while maintaining the decedent's intentions. We provide practical solutions for trust implementation and ongoing administration challenges.
Probate Services
Our probate services assist personal representatives in navigating California's legal requirements for estate settlement. We handle contested and uncontested probate matters with clear guidance on asset distribution, creditor claims, and court compliance while minimizing family conflicts.
Advanced Tax Planning
We implement sophisticated strategies to reduce estate tax liabilities through irrevocable trusts, charitable planning, and business succession frameworks. Our solutions maximize tax advantages for heirs while facilitating lifetime gifting strategies that align with long-term financial objectives.
Non-Traditional Family Planning
We specialize in creating estate plans for non-traditional relationships, addressing unique challenges in domestic partnerships and unrecognized long-term couples. Our solutions ensure legal protections for same-sex couples and blended families through customized trust structures and documentation.
People
Willow A. McJilton
Attorney
Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning with 20+ years' experience. Graduated from UCLA Law in 2003, taught at CSU Northridge and UCLA Extension. Founded Willow A McJilton Aplc in 2010 after working at Century City estate planning firms.
Adam L. Streltzer
Of Counsel
Lead probate attorney with expertise in trust litigation and fiduciary matters. Admitted to all California courts and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Member of Los Angeles Probate Volunteer Panel and Commercial Law League of America.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I need?
Essential documents include wills, revocable trusts, financial powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. We help determine which combination best meets your specific family and financial situation.
How does estate planning differ for non-traditional couples?
We address unique challenges with federal/state law conflicts for domestic partners and unmarried couples, creating customized solutions to ensure asset protection and decision-making rights for your partner.
What happens if I don't have an estate plan?
Without planning, your assets will be distributed according to state law, potentially causing family conflicts and unnecessary tax burdens. We help avoid these complications through proactive planning.
How can I reduce estate taxes?
We implement advanced strategies like irrevocable trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and business succession plans to minimize tax liabilities while maximizing inheritance value for your beneficiaries.
What's involved in trust administration?
We guide trustees through asset inventory, valuation, tax filings, and distribution processes while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and the grantor's intentions.
Do I need a lawyer for probate?
While not required, legal guidance ensures proper court compliance, creditor management, and smooth asset distribution. We simplify complex probate processes for personal representatives.
