Gadi Zohar, Esq.

Practicing exclusively Trusts & Estates law. In most cases, Estate plans are offered at a flat fee. Serving Palo Alto and surrounding communities.

This lawyer is licensed to practice in California and has no record of discipline from the California bar association.*

Firm Overview

~ Estate Planning: wills, trusts, advance health care directives, durable powers of attorney, special needs trusts, same-sex couples estate planning (same fees as opposite-sex couples)

~ Trust Administration: representing trustees in administering a trust

~ Probate: including decedents' estates, spousal property petitions, and other probate court matters

~ Beneficiary Representation: representing beneficiaries' rights and interests through the trust administration or probate administration process

Example cases

I tailor my estate plans to clients' needs. For example, for some clients I include incentives in trust instruments for beneficiaries to complete college. For other clients I include language indicating spiritual beliefs and preferences in advance health care directives. I have created special needs trusts. I have successfully petitioned the probate court to modify a trust. I successfully represented a client in a probate battle involving who would become the administrator of a particular estate. I have represented several beneficiaries of trusts who were not being treated properly by trustees. I am currently involved in a hotly contested probate matter involving a handwritten will.

Main Office

Main
2600 El Camino Real
Suite 506
Palo Alto CA 94306

Phone

(650) 493-9200

Fax

(650) 830-0757

Websites

Fees

Free Initial Consultation?

Yes — 1 hour initial consultation is free for estate planning clients.

Services Offered For Fixed Fees?

For a typical couple's estate plan, my flat fee is $2,150 and the same plan for an individual will run about $1,850. Rates may vary depending on the particulars of your estate planning needs.

For Probates, the fees are set by law as a percentage of the gross value of the estate.

Hourly Rates

$250

Office Information

Office Hours

Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. However, I am often available after hours.

Office Manager

Emergency After Hours

Languages Spoken

I speak conversational Hebrew.

Is your firm willing to help a client with one discrete part of a case, without taking on the whole case?

Yes.

What are your policies about dividing work within the firm to make the process most cost-effective for the client?

I am a solo practitioner. The efficiency of a solo practitioner is that I never need to learn anything about a case in order to come up to speed.

How frequently does your firm use mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law to resolve cases?

N/A

Does your firm provide pro bono legal services or otherwise participate in your community?

I have provided low fee services for those with limited means.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

Although I do not offer psychotherapy or psychological counseling, my background as a therapist offer a unique perspective to the services I provide. I practiced psychotherapy with a client-centered approach and I bring that to my law practice. That means that I really listen to each client and allow the client's needs and values to guide my services. I never try to fit the client into a mold that is convenient for me.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I appreciate it when clients educate themselves on legal issues and I am happy to help in that regard. As a client-centered practitioner, I follow the client's goals and values. Thus, for clients who want a lot of information about the law, I am happy to oblige. Likewise, for clients who prefer that I take care of matters and offer them a basic explanation, I can accommodate those desires.

Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I would consider this on a case-by-case basis. However, generally speaking, it is likely to cost as much or more for me to review an estate plan as it would cost for me to draft one from scratch.

Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

No.

Gad Zohar

After several years practicing psychotherapy as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I changed career to law.* Four days before I took the LSAT, my daughter was born. During my third year of law school, my son was born. The career change was not easy but it was worth it, because I truly love what I do. My training and skills as a therapist give me a unique ability in implementing a client-centered approach to my trust and estate practice.

Prior to practicing law at a top trusts and estates law firm in San Jose, I was an intern to the Honorable Mary Anne Grilli at the Santa Clara County Probate Court. After a stint at the law firm, I opened my own practice in Palo Alto. I enjoy the personalized service I can provide as a solo practitioner and I feel strongly that my clients are better served as a result.

*Note: I do not offer psychotherapy or psychological counseling.