Justin M. Kennedy
Top rated estate planning & probate attorney in Campbell, California
Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, Attorneys at Law
Practice Areas: Estate planning & probate
Licensed in California since: 2010
Education: University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2019 - 2022 Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, Attorneys at Law
3425 S Bascom AvenueSuite 240
Campbell, CA 95008 Phone: 408-356-9200 Email: Justin M. Kennedy Visit website
Details
I am an estate planning and elder care attorney. I regularly present free seminars to the public on living trust estate planning, special needs planning, and Medi-Cal planning. It is my privilege that my clients open up to me, sharing their goals for after their passing and their concerns about their loved ones. I work with my clients to design and implement a comprehensive estate plan to address their concerns and accomplish their goals. I find it incredibly rewarding to help our clients through the estate planning process. I am proud to be at a law firm that values our clients’ peace of mind – if our clients have questions about their estate plan or the law – we do not charge to answer their questions whether through email, a phone call, or an in-office consultation. My law firm also presents exclusive free seminars to our clients throughout the year on funding a trust, when to update your trust, trust administration, and we also developed a Trustee and Power of Attorney School that we present on a regular basis to our clients and their Trustees, Agents and loved ones. It is my goal to educate the public and our clients about the importance of estate planning in the hopes that every family will create a plan for incapacity and death and will properly fund and maintain their estate plan as their lives change.
First Admitted: 2010, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.attorneyoffice.com/attorney-and-staff-profiles/j...
Bachelor of Arts in Policitcal Science, Bachelor of Arts in History, Uniiversity of California, San Diego
, 2005
I am an estate planning attorney, and we do not practice litigation and therefore, we do no thave verdicts or settlements.Â
, 2018
- My clients range in financial and marital status. I have prepared estate plans for unmarried individuals with no children and with children, married couples with no children and children, same-sex couples who are both married or domestic partners. My typical client is a homeowner with wealth from $500,000-$10,000,000, and for these clients I prepare comprehensive estate plans that include a Revocable Living Trust, Pour-Over Will, Property Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Care Power of Attorney, and I also prepare and record Trust Transfer Deeds for these clients to assure that their California residence is funded properly into their trust. I also prepare simple estate plans for younger adults or seniors who do not own a home but need to have the protection offered by a Will, Property Power of Attorney, and Advanced Health Care Power of Attorney. I charge a flat fee for all living trust estate plans and do not charge clients for telephone calls, emails or consultations., 2021
- Academy Fellow Education and Experience Requirements, Fellow, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys 2019 to present, 2022
Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Federal Estate and Gift Tax
, Witkin Award for Academic Excellence, University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2009Member
, Roger J. Traynor Honor Society, University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2009Dean's Honor List
, Dean's Honor List, University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2009Dean's Honor List
, Dean's Honor List, University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2007
- This video discusses Revenue Procedure 2022-32 and how the period for a surviving spouse to elect portability has been increased to five (5) years from the date of death of their deceased spouse., Five Years to Elect Portability, 2022
- This video discusses the gift tax exemption. Since 2018 Federal law has allowed you to make gifts of $15,000 per person per year without having to file a gift tax return. In 2022 the gift tax exemption amount will be increasing to $16,000 per person per year., Annual Gift Tax Exemption 2022, 2021
- This video discusses Important Asset Thresholds to keep in mind for 2022, including the 2022 Federal Estate and Gift Tax Exclusion, the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion, and important Medi-Cal CSRA and MMMNA figures., 2022 Important Asset Thresholds , 2022
- This video discusses the 2022 updated California Probate Thresholds., California Probate Thresholds, 2022
- This video addresses the federal priority statutes and how they can create personal tax liability for a Trustee., Trustee Tax Liability, 2022
- This video addresses the July 2022 Medi-Cal Asset Limits., July 2022 Medi-Cal Asset Limits, 2022
I created this presentation to help consumers understand the importance of funding assets into a living trust, what assets not to fund into a living trust, and to explain funding and the purpose of funding assets into a living trust.
, Funding a Living Trust, 2016Explaining Transfer on Death Deeds as they pertain to California Law
, Transfer on Death Deeds, 2015
- This book explores the shortcomings of traditional estate planning and specifically identifies the benefits that a Comprehensive Living Trust Estate Plan provides to modern families. Some of the key topics that are addressed include: A will is not always the best choice The benefits of a living trust Essential estate planning documents Avoiding the pitfalls of probate Conservatorship prevention Planning for blended families Protecting your beneficiaries’ inheritance Medi-Cal planning and planning for long term care Reducing taxes Planning for special needs loved ones IRA inheritance planning, Author, Yes, You Need an Estate Plan! Your Guide to Wills, Living Trusts and Creating a Comprehensive Living Trust Estate Plan in California, 2022
- Approximately 20-25 times each year, I present a free living trust seminar to members of the public to educate them on the importance of estate planning, 2017-2022, Presenter and Author, Living Trust Seminar, 2022
- Will your family know what to do upon your death or incapacity? Do they know which of your estate planning documents they will need to use and when to use them? Join us with your adult children, Successor Trustees, Executors and Power of Attorney Agents at this unique class. Attendees will learn what to do after someone dies or is incapacitated, and the role that various people and estate planning documents play in the process. We will also cover tips and recommendations on what you can do now to prepare for the future.  Being prepared to implement an estate plan is just as important as creating an estate plan., Author and Presenter, Trustee and Power of Attorney School, 2016-2022, 2022
- Attend this workshop to learn: Why many loved ones with special needs lose their eligibility for government assistance after receiving a well-intended inheritance Why it is not necessary to disinherit your loved one with special needs just to preserve eligibility for government assistance Why it is not always the best idea to rely on the siblings or other relatives of a loved one with special needs to provide for the care of your loved one after you are gone What a Special Needs Trust is and how it works If you need a Stand-Alone Special Needs Trust What is In-Kind Support and Maintenance and why should I be concerned about it? Why it may not be the best idea for a friend or relative to serve as the trustee of a Special Needs Trust, Author and Presenter, Special Needs Workshop, 2019
- Attend this FREE workshop and learn: How NOT to become impoverished by Nursing Home Costs now averaging over $100,000/year! Already in a Nursing Home? We can help! The real look-back gifting rules are not what you think! Preserve Medi-Cal eligibility and avoid loss of your family home! How proper planning can Protect Your Assets! Why traditional Living Trusts won’t help with Nursing Home Costs! The difference between immediate need and long term planning. Presented 2017-present., Author and Presenter, Medi-Cal Planning Workshop: Learn How To Protect Your Assets from Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs, 2022
- If you own a home…or you have assets worth at least $100,000…you owe it to yourself – and your family – to get the facts on proper estate planning. If you think you’re protected with a simple Will…think again…A Will goes through probate, which means your family may not be able to take possession of your estate for many months, or even years! Proper estate planning avoids the pitfalls of probate and ensures that your estate actually gets to those individuals or charities you wish. A living trust can eliminate the costs and time involved in a probate and will protect your estate if you become incapacitated by avoiding a conservatorship. This means your estate will be managed as you see fit, not as a court-appointed conservator sees fit. To find out more about the benefits of proper estate planning, attend this free Living Trust Seminar , Author and Presenter, Living Trust Seminar, 2019
I developed this program for our clients and their loved ones/trustees/agents to help educate them on the various roles of trustees, agents and executors in an estate plan, what to do if a trustor becomes incapacitated, and to explain the various pieces of an effective estate plan and how each document works.
, Author and Presenter, Trustee and Power of Attorney School, 2017-
I developed this free workhop for the benefit of our living trust clients and their loved ones to discuss the importance of funding assets into a living trust, what assets should not be funded into a living trust, and how to fund assets that shoudl be funded into a living trust.
, Author and Presenter, Funding a Trust, 2015 -
In 2014, I developed a workshop to present to our living trust clients and their loved ones on the importance of funding their living trusts and how to fund various assets into the trust. I presented this workshop twice in 2014.
, Author and Presenter, Funding Your Trust Workshop, 2014 - I offer this free workshop to the general public approximately once per month to help educate them on Medi-Cal Planning issues, Author and Presenter, Medi-Cal Planning Workshop: Learn How To Protect Your Assets from Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs, 2018
- California Notary Public, 2008-2024, 2022
- Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, 2016-present, 2022
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2015-2022, 2022
- Member, Board of Governors, Document Language Committee - American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, 2022
- Member, California State Bar, 2010-2022, 2022
- Member, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, 2012-2021, 2021
- Member, Silicon Valley Bar Association, 2021
- Certified Legal Specialist in in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, 2016-present, 2022
- Walk to End Alzheimer's Team Captain, 2022
Office location for Justin M. Kennedy
3425 S Bascom Avenue
Suite 240
Campbell, CA 95008
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2019 - 2022
Certificates and credentials
Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law
