About

Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, and Guardianships

I am a California attorney serving individuals and families throughout Silicon Valley. My practice focuses on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and guardianships.

Many of my clients come to me because they want to avoid probate, create or update a revocable living trust, plan for minor children, administer a trust after the death of a loved one, address trust funding issues, review beneficiary designations, or plan for a family member with special needs.

Estate planning is about more than legal documents. It is about making sure the right people are in place to care for your children, ensuring your wishes are respected, and helping your family navigate life’s challenges with as little stress as possible.

Why I Focus on Estate Planning

I have focused my practice on estate planning, trust administration, and probate from the beginning of my legal career because the decisions families make today can affect their loved ones for decades.

I enjoy helping clients understand complex legal issues and create solutions that fit their families, assets, and goals. Whether I am helping a young family create their first estate plan, assisting a trustee after the death of a loved one, or guiding a family through probate, my goal is to make the process straightforward and understandable.

Lessons From Practice

Over the years, I’ve learned that most estate planning problems are not caused by complicated legal issues.

More often, they’re caused by simple mistakes: a trust that was never funded, an outdated beneficiary designation, a forgotten trustee, or an estate plan that was never updated as a family changed.

Many of these issues can be avoided with proper planning and periodic review.

Other families come to me because they are facing questions involving guardianship nominations for minor children, blended family planning, or planning for a loved one with special needs. These issues often require careful coordination and long-term thinking beyond basic estate planning documents.

I’ve written about some of the most common issues I see in my article, Estate Planning Mistakes I See Most Often in Silicon Valley.

Family Matters

Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my wife Erin and our children, Hana, Jack, and Sara.

As the parent of a child with special needs, I also have a personal appreciation for the importance of long-term planning, guardianship considerations, and special needs trusts.

Being a husband and father gives me a personal appreciation for many of the concerns my clients face. Questions about protecting children, providing for a surviving spouse, preserving family assets, and planning for the unexpected are not just legal issues—they are family issues.

Education and Professional Background

I am a member of the State Bar of California, the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar, and the Santa Clara County Bar Association.

I received my J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law and my B.A. from the University of California, Davis.

Practice Areas

My practice focuses on:

• Estate Planning

• Living Trusts

• Wills

• Probate

• Trust Administration

• Guardianships

California Estate Planning & Probate Guide

Many of the questions I receive from clients are addressed in my California Estate Planning & Probate Guide, including topics such as trusts, probate, trustee duties, guardianships, and estate planning for families.

I created the guide to provide clear, practical information about common estate planning and probate issues facing California families.

Contact

If you have questions about estate planning, probate, trust administration, or guardianships, contact the Law Office of Adam T. Evan at (408) 515-9005 to schedule a consultation.