Estate Planning Attorney in Sonoma
Wills, Trusts & Tax-Informed Estate Plans for Sonoma County Residents
At Gullotta Law Group, we’ve helped Sonoma families protect what they’ve built since 2009. Attorney Eric S. Gullotta holds a law degree from Empire College, a master’s degree in taxation, and a CPA license, bringing a level of financial analysis to estate planning that many law-only firms can’t match. Whether you need a revocable living trust, a durable power of attorney, an advance healthcare directive, or a full estate tax strategy, we build plans around your situation. Services are priced on a fixed-fee basis, and we offer complimentary consultations to get you started.
Gullotta Law Group has been voted Best Attorneys in Sonoma Valley through the People’s Choice Awards for 10 consecutive years. That recognition reflects what our clients experience: direct access to Attorney Gullotta, clear pricing, and plans that account for both legal and tax considerations from the start.
Ready to put a plan in place? Call us at (707) 379-7590 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
Why Estate Planning Can’t Wait
Many people assume estate planning is only for the wealthy. It isn’t. Nearly every adult, at every income level, has something to protect: a home, a retirement account, minor children, a business, a healthcare preference. Yet fewer than half of all Americans have even a basic will. Without a plan, California’s intestate succession laws and the probate court determine what happens to your assets and who raises your children.
Delaying doesn’t avoid the problem. It transfers the decisions to a court, a stranger appointed as administrator, or family members left to sort it out under stress. A comprehensive estate plan gives you control over those outcomes while you still can.
The concrete benefits of having an estate plan include:
Stories That Speak
Trusted by Our Community, Proven Through Results
-
Very responsive from initial contact to completion of work. Kept me informed of the process and what to expect. Informative, professional and thorough service from the entire staff. Great experience.- Diane R.
-
I had a fantastic experience working with The Gullotta Law Group. From start to finish, Eric and his entire team were kind, professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly thorough. They took the time to understand my goals, explain my options in plain languag- Michelle K.
-
Eric made the process of establishing an estate plan painless. He and his staff were insightful, thorough and easy to work with. Eric also went out of his way to answer all our questions and made sure that everything was exactly how I wanted it. I would
- Aaron C.
Common Estate Planning Mistakes
People who put together estate plans without professional guidance often make errors that can’t be undone after death. These aren’t just technical oversights. They create real financial and legal problems for the families left behind.
Some of the most common problems we see include:
- Misusing jointly held property. Jointly titling all marital assets is sometimes called a “poor man’s will” because it allows property to pass to a surviving spouse without probate. But it can trigger unintended tax consequences, and it removes the original owner’s control over where the property ultimately goes. The surviving spouse can leave it to anyone they choose, regardless of your original wishes.
- Inadequate or improperly structured life insurance. Common errors include carrying too little coverage, failing to name a backup beneficiary, and leaving proceeds directly to minor children rather than placing them in a trust. For families with a disabled beneficiary, a special needs trust may be necessary to preserve eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid or SSI while still providing financial support.
- Choosing an executor based on family dynamics rather than capability. An executor carries real administrative responsibilities: managing assets, notifying creditors, filing tax returns, and distributing property under court supervision. Choosing the oldest child or the person you feel obligated to name, rather than the most capable person, can create serious problems for the estate.
- Relying on online will templates. A downloaded form may be technically executable under California law, but these documents routinely produce errors that become permanent after death. One ambiguous phrase, one missing signature witness, one overlooked asset can unravel the entire plan, with no opportunity to correct it once the need arises.
A comprehensive California estate plan typically includes, at minimum, a will or trust, a durable power of attorney for finances, an advance healthcare directive, and a HIPAA authorization. An online template doesn’t prompt you to consider all of these, and it can’t tell you which structure fits your circumstances.
Rooted in Community, Driven by Integrity
Our Commitment to You
-
Committed to Giving BackAs active and involved members of the Sonoma community, we are dedicated to making a positive impact, both professionally and personally, for the people we serve.
-
Always Available for ClientsWe believe in making ourselves accessible to clients when they need us most. We are committed to providing responsive support throughout the entire probate process.
-
Deep Roots in the CommunityBorn and raised in Sonoma, we are deeply familiar with the local community and its values, allowing us to provide a personalized, compassionate approach to every case.
-
Expertise in Complex CasesWe have the knowledge and experience to handle even the most complex probate and estate matters, providing expert solutions tailored to your unique situation.
Demonstrated Results in Estate & Trust Matters
Estate planning isn’t only about documents. When disputes arise or a trustee fails in their duties, families need an attorney who can act decisively. The results below reflect real cases handled by our firm. They are not guarantees of what future clients will recover, but they do show our willingness to pursue complex litigation when client interests require it.
- 2022: $1,000,000 trust theft settlement. Over two years, we pursued a case in which a trustee brother stole funds from his own sibling’s trust. We recovered the full amount of the loss, double damages, all legal costs and fees, and interest calculated from the date of death.
- 2021: Recovery of concealed trust funds. A trustee withheld a gift from a trust that rightfully belonged to his own brother as beneficiary. We recovered the concealed funds promptly and restored them to the rightful beneficiary.
- 2016: Defense of a trustee against coordinated challenges. Over two years, we defended a trustee against multiple petitions filed by different attorneys on behalf of an omitted beneficiary. We prevailed on every challenged action and successfully surcharged the legal fees back to the challenging party.
These cases reflect Gullotta Law Group’s commitment to protecting clients’ interests fully, from the estate plan itself to the enforcement of its terms when they’re contested.