Business Details
Trusted Trust, Estate & Probate Attorneys in the Bay Area
Berger Nicholson was founded by Ingrid Berger and Peggy Nicholson, two French-born attorneys who relocated to the Bay Area over two decades ago. After meeting in law school, they combined their extensive expertise in estate planning, tax planning, and estate administration to establish a firm dedicated to helping clients manage, preserve, and transfer wealth. With over 15 years of experience each, they specialize in creating tailored legal solutions that address the unique needs of individuals and families. Their approach emphasizes clarity, compassion, and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring clients navigate complex legal processes with confidence. The firm prioritizes transparency by providing a clear procedural outline at the start of representation, allowing clients to understand each step of their journey.Services are delivered through in-person or virtual consultations, accommodating modern lifestyles while maintaining personalized service. Ingrid and Peggys commitment to excellence is reflected in their advanced legal education, including specialized LLM degrees in Taxation and U.S. Legal Studies. Their practice extends across multiple Bay Area offices, serving communities in San Francisco, Pleasanton, and Walnut Creek. By blending technical expertise with a client-centered philosophy, Berger Nicholson aims to provide peace of mind through comprehensive estate planning, trust administration, and probate guidance.
Services
Estate Planning
Trust Administration
Probate
Tax Planning
Wealth Transfer
Highlights and features
- We offer over 30 combined years of specialized experience in estate planning and probate.
- Our attorneys provide personalized guidance tailored to your unique family and financial situation.
- We offer flexible virtual and in-person consultations to accommodate your schedule.
- Our transparent process outlines clear steps from initial consultation to final asset distribution.
- We combine advanced legal education with compassionate client service for comprehensive solutions.
Associations and certifications
- Super Lawyers
Services
Estate Planning
Estate planning ensures your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes. We create customized revocable trusts, wills, and healthcare directives to protect your legacy. Our process includes follow-up consultations to implement and update plans as life circumstances change.
Trust Administration
We guide trustees through fiduciary responsibilities, including beneficiary notifications, asset inventory, and distribution. Our expertise in Heggstad petitions helps streamline trust administration, ensuring compliance with legal requirements while minimizing conflicts among heirs.
Probate
Probate assistance covers court-supervised asset transfer processes. We support executors from probate initiation to final distribution, handling legal filings, creditor claims, and beneficiary communications to simplify complex estate settlements.
Tax Planning
Our tax planning strategies minimize estate and gift tax liabilities through advanced legal structures. We integrate tax-efficient solutions into estate plans, leveraging our attorneys' LLM in Taxation expertise to optimize wealth preservation for future generations.
Wealth Transfer
We design comprehensive wealth transfer strategies combining trusts, charitable giving, and family gifting techniques. Our approach ensures smooth intergenerational asset transitions while addressing unique family dynamics and business succession needs.
People
Ingrid Berger
Partner
Ingrid Berger specializes in estate planning with 15+ years of experience. She holds LLM degrees in Taxation and U.S. Legal Studies from Golden Gate University. Admitted in California and New York, she graduated first in class in France before practicing law in the Bay Area.
Peggy Nicholson
Partner
Peggy Nicholson focuses on trust administration and probate. She earned dual LLM degrees in Taxation and U.S. Legal Studies from Golden Gate University. With French legal education and an MBA, she brings cross-cultural expertise to estate matters for Bay Area families.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I need?
A complete estate plan typically includes a revocable trust, will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive. We'll help determine additional documents based on your specific assets and family situation.
How does trust administration work?
Trust administration involves managing and distributing trust assets after the creator's death. We guide trustees through inventorying assets, notifying beneficiaries, and fulfilling distribution requirements while maintaining legal compliance.
Can I handle probate without an attorney?
While possible, probate involves complex legal procedures. Our expertise ensures proper court filings, creditor management, and asset distribution, reducing risks of errors or disputes during emotionally challenging times.
Do you offer virtual consultations?
Yes, we provide video meetings and phone consultations to accommodate client preferences and schedules, ensuring accessible legal guidance regardless of location within the Bay Area.
How are your legal fees structured?
We offer transparent pricing for estate planning packages and hourly rates for probate/trust administration. Specific costs depend on case complexity, which we'll discuss during your initial consultation.
