Business Details
Your Trusted Estate Planning & Elder Law Partner in San Ramon
Santaella Legal Group, APC has dedicated its practice to helping families and elders in San Ramon and the greater Bay Area navigate complex legal matters. With over 30 years of experience as an attorney, Ivette M. Santaella combines her corporate background with personal experience in estate planning and elder law to provide tailored solutions. The firm specializes in trust administration, special needs trusts, Medi-Cal planning, and business formations, emphasizing proactive planning and client education. Their approach focuses on understanding each client's unique needs to create legally sound plans that protect assets and ensure future security.The team maintains active memberships in professional organizations like the Contra Costa County Bar Association Trust Section and WealthCounsel. Clients consistently praise the firm's compassionate guidance, technical expertise, and ability to simplify complex legal processes. The bilingual practice offers Spanish language support to accommodate diverse client needs.
Services
Estate Planning
Elder Law
Special Needs Trusts
Business Formations
Medi-Cal Planning
Trust Administration
Conservatorships
Guardianship Cases
Highlights and features
- We offer free initial phone consultations with no obligation
- Our lead attorney brings 30+ years of legal experience
- Bilingual English/Spanish legal services available
- Proactive planning approach prevents future legal complications
- Client-focused practice with personalized case management
Associations and certifications
- Avvo
- Academy of Special Needs Planners
What people say
Exceptional Attorney
Very knowledgeable
Compassionate guidance
Simplified complex processes
Superb ratings
Services
Estate Planning
We create customized estate plans that protect assets and ensure your wishes are honored. Our services include wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. With decades of experience, we help clients avoid probate and minimize family conflict through comprehensive planning tailored to individual circumstances.
Special Needs Trusts
Our firm specializes in establishing Special Needs Trusts that preserve government benefits while providing supplemental care funds. We help families navigate complex eligibility requirements and structure trusts to maximize long-term support options for loved ones with disabilities through legally sound documentation and ongoing guidance.
Medi-Cal Planning
We assist clients in qualifying for Medi-Cal benefits while protecting assets through strategic planning. Our attorneys help navigate California's complex healthcare programs, develop eligibility strategies, and implement legal structures that ensure access to necessary care services while maintaining financial security for families.
Business Formations
We guide entrepreneurs through selecting and establishing appropriate business entities. Our services cover LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, focusing on liability protection, tax optimization, and proper legal structure. We provide comprehensive formation services including document preparation, compliance guidance, and ongoing legal support.
Trust Administration
Our firm assists trustees in administering trusts according to legal requirements and decedent wishes. We provide guidance on asset distribution, tax compliance, and legal documentation while ensuring proper court procedures are followed. Our experience helps streamline the administration process and minimize potential conflicts among beneficiaries.
People
Ivette M. Santaella
Attorney
With over 30 years of legal experience, Ivette Santaella specializes in estate planning, elder law, and special needs trusts. She combines corporate expertise with personal experience managing family estates to provide compassionate legal solutions. Recognized as a Top Attorney by Avvo, she maintains active memberships in WealthCounsel and the Academy of Special Needs Planners.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I need?
Essential documents include wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Our attorneys help determine which combination best protects your assets and ensures your wishes are followed.
How can Medi-Cal planning help my family?
Our Medi-Cal planning services help qualify for benefits while protecting assets through legal strategies that ensure access to necessary long-term care services while maintaining financial security.
What business entity should I choose?
We help select appropriate structures like LLCs, corporations, or partnerships based on liability protection, tax considerations, and business goals during personalized consultations with our legal team.
How do special needs trusts work?
Special Needs Trusts preserve government benefits while providing supplemental funds. We structure these trusts to meet eligibility requirements while ensuring long-term care and financial support for loved ones with disabilities.
What happens during trust administration?
Trust administration involves distributing assets, handling tax matters, and following legal requirements. Our attorneys guide trustees through these processes while ensuring compliance with all legal obligations.
