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James Hastings
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James Hastings
Law Offices of James Hastings
851 Irwin Street
Suite 206
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 459-6635 | Fax: (415) 459-6756
Accredited Estate Planner, NAEPC
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
I work with you and your spouse or your partner to develop an estate plan that will care for you, your family, and your beneficiaries. Also, I help your family grow through the troubled times following the death of the person you love.
Sub-Categories
Insurance
- Annuities
- Life Insurance
- Audit Defense
- Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
- Income Taxes
- IRS Disputes
- IRS Filing & Compliance
- Negotiating IRS Payments & Settlements
- Payroll Taxes
- Power of Attorney
- Property Taxes
- Sales Taxes & Use Taxes
- Tax Evasion Defense
- Tax Planning
- Charitable Giving
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
- Guardianship
- Power of Attorney
- Special Needs Trust
- Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust
Bar Admissions
CA, Jan 1978
Bar Number: 79066
Specialty Certifications
Accredited Estate Planner, National Association of Estate Planners
Other Court Admissions
California, Nevada, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.
Association Memberships
California State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Marin County Bar Association
Continuing Education
Each year I participate in over 30 hours of continuing education classes concerning estate planning, probate, trust administration, and elder law.
Example Cases
While families and individuals with significant assets or advanced years should benefit from a living trust estate plan, the estates many younger singles and families have can be efficiently and inexpensively handled with will estate plans. (Both a living trust and will estate plan include appropriate powers of attorney; advance health care directives; anatomical gift declarations; instructions on burial, cremations and funeral or memorial services; property agreements; deeds and other title documents; and, changes to beneficiary designations).
Education
Degree:
J.D.
School:
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
City:
Sacramento
State:
CA
Year:
1977
Honors:
Associate Editor, Pacific Law Journal
Degree:
B.S.
School:
United States Air Force Academy
City:
Colorado Springs
State:
CO
Year:
1968
Honors:
Dean's List
Focus and Accomplishments:
Major: International Affairs
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California, Nevada, Colorado, District of Columbia
Firm Focus and History
My staff and I strive to be of "full service" to our clients, giving them the comfort of knowing their estate plan is complete and appropriate for them.
Previous Employment Summary
Until recently I was concurrently employed as a pilot, first with the United States Air Force Reserve (retired Lieutenant Colonel) and then with United Airlines (retired Captain).
Activities and Awards
I speak about the aspects of estate planning to the Tamalpais Community Adult School, Council 34 of the Air Line Pilots Association, and various service organizations.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I give speeches and seminars about estate planning to assist future clients in understanding how estate planning works and the various choices and decisions they can make. I also educate my clients and address their specific issues in the course of our private consultations.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am pleased to review any documents my clients may have.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
In my practice, coaching is possible in probate. In trust administration, coaching is possible in situations when the estate is not of significant value. Unfortunately, once significant value is involved, complex IRS and Franchise Tax Board laws and court rules can be challenging to navigate.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
Growing up in Illinois, I sought to emulate Honest Abe Lincoln, a lawyer of some repute.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
When one is raised as a doctor's son, you learn to care for your clients, and that is our intention.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
This area of legal practice allows me to develop very friendly and positive relations with my clients.
What do you like best about your career?
I love helping my clients solve their issues with regard to who will help them with their estates and how they will distribute their bounty.
Tell us about your law firm:
My office has the best staff in the state: Anne runs the show, works on probates and trust administrations, and helps with the estate plans; Erin prepares all the estate plans for signature and follows up with all details after you sign; Joanne is our specialist for accountings and the nitty-gritty details of probates and trust administrations; James Ryan (another J.R.), a Certified Public Accountant, handles related income taxes and other complex estate tax issues for our clients when appropriate.
What are your strengths and style?
I will listen to you, hear you and suggest new ideas and approaches.
Because clients come to me with the courage to talk about estate planning or the death of a loved one, I offer them the respect either situation deserves.
Personal Interests:
Several nights a week you will find me and our office mascot, my dog Bella, jogging in some scenic part of our county. Other nights you can find me at the movies or on special occasions, at the San Francisco Symphony.
Office Manager/Assistant
Anne
Fax
(415) 459-6756
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Earlier or later times available as the client requests.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
French (marginal)
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
The fee for estate plans is a fixed fee that usually ranges from $750 to $3,000, but can be more. The exact fee is determined by whether the plan is for one or two people and the complexity of the work. Once agreed upon, the fee is paid in two installments, the final being at the signing of the documents.
Hourly Rates
Attorney, $300 per hour; assistant, up to $125 per hour.
Free Initial Consultation?
The fee for all initial consultations is $125, but the fee is waived if a fixed fee for services is agreed upon.
Typical Retainer
Retainers are requested only in trust administrations of significant value.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
