WHAT WE DO
Attorney-Led Estate Planning and Legal Strategies for California Families
At Gipe Law, every service we offer is built around a single principle: your plan needs to actually work when your family needs it. That means documents that are properly drafted, assets that are correctly funded, and a strategy that accounts for how your financial life is structured today and how it will evolve over time.
We work with families throughout South Orange County and with clients across California on a virtual basis. Whether you are establishing a plan for the first time, updating one that has not been reviewed in years, or navigating a trust administration or probate matter, we bring the same level of attention and expertise to every engagement.
Our Services
Foundational Estate Planning
The starting point for every family. A complete foundational estate plan includes a revocable living trust, pour-over will, durable power of attorney, and advance health care directive, coordinated to work together as a single strategy. We design each plan around your specific family structure, asset profile, and long-term objectives, not a template.
Trust Administration
When a loved one passes, the successor trustee is responsible for administering the trust and carrying out its terms. This process involves legal obligations, creditor notifications, asset transfers, and tax considerations that can be difficult to navigate without guidance. We help trustees fulfill their responsibilities efficiently and correctly.
Probate
When an estate must pass through the Superior Court of California, we provide experienced representation throughout the process. We also handle Heggstad petitions and small estate affidavits for qualifying estates, which can significantly reduce the time and cost involved. If you are dealing with an estate in Orange County or elsewhere in California, we can help you understand your options.
Asset Protection
For families who have accumulated meaningful assets, rental properties, or business interests, thoughtful ownership structuring can provide significant legal insulation from potential lawsuits and creditor claims. California is one of the most litigious states in the country. Asset protection planning is how you prepare for that reality before a problem arises.
Private Client Services
For high-net-worth families with more complex planning needs, we offer coordinated legal and insurance strategies that address the full scope of your financial picture. This includes advanced trust structures, multi-generational planning, and tax-sensitive strategies designed around the current federal and California tax environment.
Where We Serve
Gipe Law is based in Mission Viejo and works primarily with families throughout South Orange County, including Mission Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, Lake Forest, Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Rancho Mission Viejo. We also serve clients throughout California on a virtual basis.
If you are in South Orange County and want to learn more about how we approach estate planning for this region specifically, visit our South Orange County estate planning page.
Estate Planning in South Orange County
Gipe Law also serves clients throughout California.