Shiells & Hammer

Welcome to Shiells & Hammer, a law firm dedicated to providing compassionate, efficient, and ethical legal services in the fields of Estate Planning, Trusts Administration, and Probate. We believe that meeting with an attorney should not be a daunting experience. Instead, it should be a comfortable and informative process where you receive high-quality advice from attorneys who genuinely care about your well-being and the future of your loved ones.

At Shiells & Hammer, our attorneys are friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable. We take pride in earning your trust and confidence through every interaction. Our firm has offices in Roseville and Sacramento, allowing us to serve clients in Placer County, Sacramento County, the Bay Area, and throughout California.

Practice Areas

*Estate Planning*: An effective estate plan ensures that you have a say in your financial and medical future. Our attorneys work closely with clients to create individually tailored estate plans designed to minimize costs, conflict, and impact on loved ones. While most clients aim to avoid probate court proceedings, we understand that this is not always possible. In such cases, our team applies procedural knowledge and trial experience to achieve favorable outcomes for our clients.

*Successor Trustees and Trust Administration*: The loss of a friend or family member can be an emotionally challenging time. In addition to dealing with the emotional toll, there are numerous legal and financial issues that need to be addressed promptly. At Shiells & Hammer, we provide sensitive and knowledgeable support to help clients navigate the complexities of trust administration.

*Special Needs Planning*: Families with loved ones who have developmental delays, disabilities, or other special needs face unique challenges when planning their estates. Our attorneys strive to provide compassionate, understanding support to help these families make informed decisions about their loved ones' futures.

*Probate Court Proceedings*: While the primary goal of most proactive estate planning is to avoid probate court proceedings, sometimes probate is unavoidable. When this occurs, our team is here to guide clients through the process and protect their interests.

Our Attorneys

*Adam S. Shiells*: As a founding partner of Shiells & Hammer, Adam Shiells works closely with clients to craft individually tailored estate plans that minimize costs, conflict, and impact on loved ones. With extensive trial experience and procedural knowledge, Adam effectively represents clients in probate court proceedings.

*James R. Hammer*: James Hammer, a founding partner of Shiells & Hammer, practices Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Elder Law. His passion for estate planning began during law school, when he served as trustee for a close family friend's estate. Witnessing the power of a proper estate plan, James decided to help families navigate both the challenges of proactive contingency planning and the emotional and financial issues that arise following the death of a loved one.