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BUSINESS, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT

• Estate Planning

  Estate planning essentially means an individual or couple determines in legally sound documents how they want their estate distributed upon their death. Parents also can nominate guardians for minor children in the event of their untimely death, nominate conservators for themselves should they no longer be competent to make their own decisions, and designate who can make decisions regarding their health care in the event they cannot do so themselves.
  
  Living trusts are used to avoid costly and lengthy probate and to a degree to reduce the amount of estate taxes paid.
  
  A normal estate planning "package" for a couple (married or domestic partners) includes the following documents:
  - Spousal Property Agreement
  - Living Trust
  - Pour-Over Will (for each)
  - Durable General Power of Attorney (for each)
  - Advance Health Care Directive (for each)
  - Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information (for each)
  - Grant deed transferring the home to the trust
  - Preliminary Change of Ownership form
  
  The cost of this estate planning package can vary from $1,200 to $1,900 depending on such things as children from different marriages, special distribution of trust estate assets, number of properties to transfer to the trust, etc.
  
  (See the article comparing the cost of the estate planning package and the same documents prepared using online services.)
  

• Trust Administration
• Conservatorships
• Probate/Trust Litigation

  Probate simply defined is when it is necessary for a judge to order how a deceased person's estate is to be distributed. Probate is necessary when a person with assets dies with a will, but no trust, or has no estate planning documents at all. Even though time consuming and often costly, with probate and attorney's fees set by law, it can either be somewhat effortless or quite contentious, depending on how the potential beneficiaries respond.
  
  Often times there are conflicting claims with respect to the distribution of an estate. Mr. Morrison represents either the estate or those who feel they have been unjustly left out as a beneficiary or left less than the deceased really intended. First efforts are made to mediate the conflicting claims of beneficiaries to reduce probate costs and the need for the judge to make decisions regarding the distribution of the estate. But if necessary, Mr. Morrison represents his clients in contested litigation.
  

• Real Estate/Landlord-Tenant

  Real estate leases
  Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Real Estate
  Trust deeds
  Easements
  Land-use permits
      County Department of Land-use Planning (DPLU)
      County Department of Public Works (DPW)
      Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
      U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
      California Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
  Landlord-tenant law (commercial and residential)
      Preparation and review of lease and rental agreements
      Lease and rental agreement disputes and litigation
  

• Zoning and Land-Use Planning
• Business Law

  For profit businesses
      Business creation (C & S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs)
      Contracts and other agreements
  Non-profit organizations
      Articles of incorporation
      By-laws
      Tax exempt status (state and federal)
  

• Family Law

  Divorce
  Separations
  Custody, visitation rights and support
  Palimony Claims
  Adoptions
  Name Changes
  Prenuptial Agreements
  Domestic Partnerships
  

• Immigration Law
• Elder Law
• Elder Abuse
• Personal Injury
• Contract Disputes
• Mediation and Conflict Resolution

  Many legal battles could have been avoided had the parties worked out their differences with the assistance of a mature and experienced mediator or facilitator. Not only is costly litigation avoided, but often relationships, especially family relationships, are saved. Mr. Morrison almost always suggests conflict resolution before formal legal action. In many cases he has pleasantly surprised clients who did not feel such an approach to resolving disputes could ever be successful.
  
  Legal issues where Mr. Morrison's mediation skills have been successful include distribution of estates, easement disputes, division of assets during divorce, visitation rights, and control of family partnerships.
  

• In-the-Home Services

  There are many today in their golden years who remain very alert but whose limited mobility makes it difficult to visit an attorney's office. And there are those who are temporarily housebound or in a care facility while recuperating from an accident or illness. Mr. Morrison frequently makes "house calls" to accommodate these clients. As a notary he also can notarize documents that he has prepared for his clients' signature.
  

PUBLIC AGENCY AND PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT

• Legislative drafting and advocacy
• LAFCO reorganizations
• Inter-agency negotiations
• Federal and state grant and loan applications and advocacy
• Board/Council and staff leadership training and goal setting
• Environmental permitting
• Land-use planning
• Pipeline easements and other right-of-way issues
• Organizing and facilitating public participation and oversight committees
• Labor negotiations
• Contract negotiations
• Mediation services

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