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Mary L. Symons
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Mary L. Symons
Law Offices of Mary L. Symons
1000 Fourth Street
Suite 875
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 256-5408 | Fax: (415) 459-3668
http://www.msymonslaw.com
Certified Specialist. Affordable Rates.
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
I work with you to meet your goals and to assist you in understanding the process of planning your estate. I also work with the successors (Executors/Trustees) to administer an estate following a death.
Sub-Categories
Taxes
- Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
- Power of Attorney
- Charitable Giving
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1990
Bar Number: 148060
Specialty Certifications
Certified Specialist - Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law - State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization
Other Court Admissions
All courts in California; United States - Northern District; US Tax Court
Association Memberships
Bar Association of San Francisco; Marin County Bar Association; American Bar Association; the Estate Planning Sections of each organization as well as the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association. I am also a member of (i) the Trusts and Estates and (ii) the Taxation sections of the State Bar of California.
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education classes in estate planning, probate and trust law and I always significantly exceed the required number of continuing legal education hours. In addition, although it doesn't qualify for continuing legal education credit, I also participate in several study groups where we discuss important current developments.
Example Cases
I assist clients in formulating and developing an estate plan to meet their goals. I work with them on an individual basis because every estate plan is different, it must meet the goals of the individual client. Following a death, I will work with the decedent's Executor or Trustee to administer the decedent's estate. I assist the family in dealing with the tasks that are often made more difficult as a result of their grief.
Education
Degree:
B.S.
School:
University of California, Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1986
Honors:
Graduated with Honors; Golden Key National Honor Society; Beta Alpha Psi (Business Honorary)
Focus and Accomplishments:
Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Finance.
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Hastings College of the Law
City:
San Francisco
State:
CA
Year:
1990
Honors:
Order of the Coif; Graduated Cum Laude; Thurston Honor Society; American Jurisprudence Award in my Estates and Powers class
Focus and Accomplishments:
Member - Hastings Law Journal (1988-1989); Associate Executive Editor - Hastings Law Journal (1989-1990)
Degree:
LL.M.
School:
New York University
City:
New York
State:
NY
Year:
1994
Honors:
Research Assistant - Guy B. Maxfield -- Assisted in editing a major treatise on estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax
Focus and Accomplishments:
Taxation
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
I provide advice regarding estate planning, probate and trust administration to my clients. I work with my estate planning clients to develop and implement a plan that is designed to meet their estate planning goals. After a death, I will work with clients to administer the estate of the decedent and to implement the decedent's estate plan (or administer the estate of a decedent who died intestate).
I established my firm in 1999 after specializing in estate planning at firms in San Francisco. I decided to open my own practice because I wanted to be able to work directly with clients.
Previous Employment Summary
I worked in the estate planning departments at several San Francisco law firms, both large and small, where I was able to see a variety of different approaches to accomplishing a task. This background has allowed me to better recommend possible approaches for my clients. Based on my contacts in the community, I have a vast network of individuals to whom I can turn in unusual situations. My experience as a pro bono research assistant in the Probate Department at the San Francisco Superior Court has given me insight into the internal workings of the Probate Court.
Activities and Awards
Judicial Extern for the Honorable Marcus M. Kaufman (Deceased), California Supreme Court (Summer 1989); Pro Bono Research Assistant for the Honorable Isabella Horton Grant (Retired) - San Francisco Superior Court - Probate Department (October 1991 to March 1992).
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I try to educate my clients on the reasons for the use of the various estate planning documents/techniques and I encourage them to ask questions as needed. I am happy to provide suggestions as to places they can obtain more information.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
While I will always review a client's existing estate planning documents, I have found that it is not cost effective for a client to have me review documents that the client has prepared without the assistance of counsel or using over-the-counter books or software. I am familiar with my forms, but in order to effectively review a document, I would have to review the draft document very carefully to see if it contained all of the relevant provisions. In addition, I would need to consider the effect of any unusual language used in drafting the document. I find that it is far less expensive to have me draft the documents rather than review documents drafted by the client and advise the client as to any necessary changes.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I don't think that estate planning is an area that lends itself to self representation except in the case of very simple estates. With respect to post death administration, I am happy to work with the client to allow the client to do as much as the client is comfortable doing.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I wanted to be able to help people. Because I am not adversarial by nature, I chose a field of law where I was able to assist clients in accomplishing their goals.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I feel that my undergraduate degree in business administration and my previous work experience as an estate planning attorney working with a number of other attorneys makes me a better lawyer. I have seen a number of different techniques that attorneys approach given matters and I adopt the technique that I feel is the most appropriate in a given situation. Both of my parents were economics majors; education was always important in our family, as was always doing your best at what ever you do.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I enjoy working directly with people and assisting them to meet their goals. I like the personal nature of the practice and that it tends to be far less adversarial than a litigation oriented practice.
What do you like best about your career?
I enjoy the nature of a tax and estate planning practice because it is like solving logic puzzles. I enjoy assisting clients develop a plan to provide for their beneficiaries following their death and helping them to achieve some peace of mind that their wishes will be carried out. In post death administrations, I assist people through what is often a difficult time following a death. It is my intention that by working with me that the tasks they face are, at least somewhat, easier to bear.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner so all of my clients deal directly with me.
What are your strengths and style?
I meet or talk with clients to determine their estate planning goals. I then prepare draft documents and an explanatory letter explaining the various provisions of the documents. I will arrange further meetings with the client as needed and then meet with the clients to execute their documents. I will assist them with the funding of the trust and remain available to them if they have any additional questions. In post death administrations, I assist the client in accomplishing the tasks that need to be completed to administer the decedent's estate to distribute the decedent's assets as provided in the decedent's estate planning documents (or as provided by law if the decedent dies intestate).
Personal Interests:
I enjoy cooking, especially the various Asian cuisines. I also enjoy reading, especially mysteries, and doing crafts, including quilting and embroidery.
Office Manager/Assistant
None
Fax
(415) 459-3668
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Evening and weekend hours can be arranged.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
None
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Generally, I perform estate planning and trust administration services on an hourly rate. After meeting with a client and gaining an understanding of their desired plan I am able to give an estimate of the cost of preparing the proposed plan. Fees in probate are based on the statutory schedule set forth in the California Probate Code. I often request that my clients pay the upfront out of pocket costs associated in opening a probate. However, any fees are not due until ordered by the Court, generally at the end of the probate proceeding.
Hourly Rates
$275
Free Initial Consultation?
While I do not offer a free consultation, if at the end of the initial meeting, a potential client decides not to hire me, I do not charge for my time spent at that meeting. If the client does hire me, then my time spent at the initial meeting is billed at my normal hourly rate.
Typical Retainer
No. I typically do not charge a retainer. I tend to bill for my services to date at the time I send the drafts and then bill for the balance after the documents have been signed.
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.
