Legal Information Notice
This page provides general information about Bay Legal PC's services for San Francisco Bay Area area clients. It is not legal advice and does not apply to every situation. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance on your specific matter. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship.
California Tax Law Services for San Francisco Bay Area Clients
Bay Legal PC serves clients throughout California — including the Bay Area area — with estate planning, trust administration, probate, IRS tax resolution, and real estate tax planning. Attorney Jayson Elliott is licensed by the California State Bar (Bar No. 332479) and serves clients in all 58 California counties.
The San Francisco Bay Area's real estate values among the highest in the nation — with many homes exceeding $2–4 million — make estate tax, Prop 19, and stepped-up basis planning particularly critical for Bay Area families.
Key Practice Areas for Bay Area Clients
- Prop 19 planning for high-value homes
- Federal estate tax exposure for Bay Area property owners
- IRS resolution for tech professionals and business owners
- Trust and probate administration for complex Bay Area estates
- 1031 exchange planning for investment property portfolios
Estate Planning for Bay Area Families
California's expensive probate process — with statutory fees calculated on gross property values — makes proper estate planning especially valuable for Bay Area homeowners. A revocable living trust avoids probate entirely, keeping asset transfers private, fast, and far less expensive than court administration.
For families with real estate in Bay Area worth more than the federal estate tax exemption threshold, trust-based estate tax planning can also significantly reduce or eliminate federal estate tax exposure.
Key estate planning services for Bay Area clients include: revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, durable powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and advanced strategies including bypass trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and irrevocable life insurance trusts.
Probate and Trust Administration
When a Bay Area family member dies with assets subject to California probate, the process typically takes 12–24 months and costs a significant percentage of the gross estate in statutory fees. Bay Legal PC guides Bay Area families through probate administration and successor trustee duties — managing assets, addressing creditor claims, and distributing property to beneficiaries efficiently.
IRS Tax Resolution for Bay Area Taxpayers
Bay Legal PC represents Bay Area area taxpayers in IRS audits, appeals, Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, and penalty abatement proceedings. Attorney-client privilege protects sensitive communications — a significant advantage over working with a CPA or enrolled agent alone for complex IRS matters.
Proposition 19 Planning
California Proposition 19 (effective February 2021) significantly restricted property tax exclusions for inherited property. Bay Area families with appreciated real estate face important planning decisions about how to structure transfers to minimize Prop 19 reassessment while preserving the stepped-up basis benefit at death.
Bay Legal PC helps Bay Area families analyze the Prop 19 implications of their estate plans and develops strategies to balance property tax, capital gains tax, and estate planning goals. See our complete Prop 19 guide for more information.
Serving Bay Area Clients
Bay Legal PC is headquartered in Palo Alto at 667 Lytton Ave Suite 3 — centrally located for clients throughout the Bay Area. Phone, video, and in-person consultations available. All consultations are free and confidential. Call (650) 668-8000, email [email protected], or schedule online at baylegal.com.