Business Details
Your Trusted Legal Partner for Asset Protection & Estate Planning
Founded by Attorney Joseph McHugh, our firm specializes in California asset protection and estate planning. With over 30 years of experience, we create customized legal solutions including trusts, LLCs, and special needs planning to safeguard assets and ensure clients' final wishes are honored. Our team provides comprehensive elder law services, medi-cal planning, and probate administration across California.We combine deep legal expertise with personalized service to protect families, businesses, and individuals from financial risks. Our proprietary trust structures offer privacy and tax advantages while navigating California's complex liability laws. We serve clients statewide through virtual consultations and document delivery, maintaining a strong reputation for resolving complex legal challenges.
Services
Asset Protection
Estate Planning
Elder Law
Probate Administration
Special Needs Trusts
Medi-Cal Planning
Land Trusts
Conservatorships
Highlights and features
- 30+ years of California-specific legal expertise in asset protection
- Personalized trust structures for privacy and tax advantages
- Comprehensive elder law and medi-cal planning services
- Virtual consultations available statewide
- Free initial 30-minute legal consultation
Services
Asset Protection
Our asset protection services create legal barriers to safeguard clients' wealth from lawsuits and creditors. We specialize in California-compliant trusts, LLC structures, and land trusts that maintain privacy while protecting real estate, investments, and business assets. Our strategies help high-risk professionals and property owners mitigate financial exposure through proven legal frameworks.
Estate Planning
We design comprehensive estate plans to ensure clients' wishes are legally binding. Our services include revocable living trusts, wills, power of attorney documents, and healthcare directives. We help families establish guardianship arrangements for minors and create pet trusts to protect animal companions, ensuring seamless asset transfer while minimizing tax liabilities.
Elder Law
Our elder law practice focuses on medi-cal qualification strategies and long-term care planning. We help families navigate nursing home cost challenges while protecting assets from estate recovery. Our services include creating special needs trusts for disabled beneficiaries and developing comprehensive care plans that balance medical requirements with financial security for seniors.
Probate Administration
We guide executors through California's complex probate process for estates valued over $184,500. Our services include court document preparation, asset distribution guidance, and conflict resolution between beneficiaries. We specialize in handling probate matters for out-of-state families while ensuring compliance with California's strict inheritance laws and procedural requirements.
Special Needs Trusts
We establish special needs trusts to protect government benefits for disabled individuals. Our trusts allow beneficiaries to receive inheritances or lawsuit settlements without losing SSI, section 8, or cal fresh eligibility. We specialize in rapid trust creation for clients facing imminent benefit loss due to unexpected financial changes.
People
Joseph McHugh
Founding Attorney
With over 30 years of California legal experience, Attorney McHugh specializes in asset protection and estate planning. He develops innovative trust structures to safeguard clients' wealth while maintaining compliance with state-specific regulations. His practice focuses on protecting high-net-worth individuals and families from financial risks.
Kathy McHugh
Triage Director
As Triage Director and legal partner, Kathy McHugh coordinates client consultations and case assessments. She brings extensive experience in evaluating complex asset protection scenarios and matching clients with appropriate legal strategies. Her role ensures efficient case management and client communication throughout the legal process.
Questions
What asset protection options exist for California property owners?
We offer land trusts that conceal ownership in public records, combined with LLC structures to protect real estate investments from potential lawsuits.
How can I protect inheritance for disabled beneficiaries?
Our special needs trusts preserve government benefits while allowing asset transfers that won't disqualify recipients from SSI or Medi-Cal programs.
Is probate always required after a loved one's passing?
Estates valued over $184,500 in California must go through probate court to legally transfer assets held in the deceased's name.
Can I qualify for Medi-Cal while protecting family assets?
Our elder law specialists create asset protection plans that help families qualify for long-term care benefits while safeguarding the family home.
What happens if someone dies without a will in California?
Intestate succession laws determine asset distribution based on family relationships, with specific formulas for spouses, children, and other relatives.
Do I need estate planning if I'm not wealthy?
Everyone should document medical directives and financial decision-makers, regardless of asset value, to ensure personal wishes are followed during incapacity.
