Practice areas: Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in California since: 2010
Education: Santa Clara University School of Law
Languages spoken: English, Hebrew
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025 Details
At the helm of his eponymous law firm, Gadi Zohar, Esq., in Palo Alto, California, Gadi Zohar navigates the intricate waters of probate and estate planning with a wealth of experience. His practice is dedicated entirely to estate planning, trust administration and probate law, offering practical guidance and tailored solutions to suit the distinct needs of each client.
With a unique vantage point gained from both interning with the probate court and representing executors and estate administrators, Mr. Zohar brings a comprehensive understanding of the probate process. Adding another layer to his practice, his qualifications as a licensed marriage and family therapist prove invaluable in addressing familial dynamics that often surface during probate. While he strives to steer clear of litigation, he is well-versed in handling contested probate scenarios.
Mr. Zohar champions the idea that meticulously crafted legal documents are crucial in preventing disputes during estate administration and probate. To him, meticulously crafted implies not just legal robustness but also the facilitation of a seamless estate administration process. His background in family therapy influences his approach to estate planning, ensuring that family relationships are considered.
For instance, Mr. Zohar has assisted clients in establishing trusts for adult children facing challenges, such as addiction, while being mindful of the implications for siblings. He has also played a pivotal role in preventing potential litigation among surviving siblings by fostering sensitive communication between trustees and beneficiaries.
Mr. Zohar’s well-rounded academic journey began with a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Florida in 1994, followed by an M.A. in integral counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 1998. He later earned his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and gained his legal practice license in California in 2010. A respected presence in the legal arena, he actively participates in the Palo Alto Area Bar Association and the San Mateo County Bar Association. Additionally, he is fluent in Hebrew, combining another dimension to his ability to connect with clients.
Practice areas
Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Wills
- 100% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 2010, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.gadizohar.com/attorney/zohar-gadi-esq/
- Member of the San Mateo County Bar Association, 2011 to Present
- California, 2010
- Member of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association, 2013 to Present
- High net worth estate planning client (estate value $20M+), strategic planning for passing on of client's legacy. Revising and advising on estate planning documents in order to achieve client's goals., 2020
- Went to court to modify trust created by non-lawyer, with many problems for the intended beneficiary and trustee., 2019
- Planning for client with adult child who struggles with pill addiction. Created trust structure that helped adult child with care while not giving the child money outright., 2018
- Trust administration of estate with multiple beneficiaries, including a charity which was denied a PPP loan during the COVID crisis - I was able to get $500,000 for the charity from the trust in order to keep the charity afloat., 2020
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. (No longer offering psychotherapy or professional psychological counseling), 2002
- Assisted family with unusual low value account that needed court intervention in order to distribute the remainder to beneficiaries. , 2021
- Representing family pro bono where decedent died with blocked account and multiple complications are keeping the money from the family. Also representing the family regarding Medi-Cal claims., 2020
- Represented estate pro bono where decedent died with $60,000 and a $300,000 medical bill. I talked the hospital down to $30,000, leaving $30,000 for the family., 2014
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Conflict of Laws
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Federal Courts and Jurisdiction
- California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, M.A., Major: Integral Counseling Psychology- 1998
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, B.S., Major: Psychology - 1994
- Private practice psychotherapists–which includes physicians, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists–or their estates can be held liable for failing to properly plan for death or incapacity. This article examines the primary concerns of the (1) immediate referral of existing patients to clinicians for continued care, and (2) proper maintenance and destruction of clinical records. This article further provides suggestions for attorneys dealing with the planning or administration of a psychotherapist’s estate., Author, When a Psychotherapist Dies or becomes Incompetent, Time is of the Essence and Patient Privacy is Paramount, California Trusts & Estates Quarterly, Volume 21, Issue 1, 2015
- Habitual Residence: An Alternative to the Common Law Concept of Domicile? , Whittier Journal of Child & Family Advocacy, Vol. 9, p. 169, 2010
- Got Premium? Costanza v. Commissioner and the Tax Treatment of Intrafamily SCINs Canceled by Death, California Trusts & Estates Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2009
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025
