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Barry L. Adams

Barry L. Adams

Law Office of Adams & Rafferty, P.C.
  • Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law
  • California
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Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A
Biography

I am a State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate law. I have over 30 years of experience as a trusts and estates attorney. I advise clients regarding estate planning, estate/trust administration and litigation. I have offices in Northern and Southern California and can assist you regardless of your location. I can help you with setting up your estate plan, resolving a family dispute regarding a trust or estate and with administration issues after a loved one passes away. Listen to my podcasts at www.adamsandrafferty.com to find out more information about these issues.
I can also help you with heirship issues especially those involving genealogy and family history issues. Please feel free to contact me from this page.

Education
University of the Pacific
J.D. (1986) | Law
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University of the Pacific Logo
Whitworth College
B.A. (1983) | Journalism
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Honors: Cum Laude
Activities: Editor of University Newspaper, Captain of tennis team, 4 year varsity letter for tennis, Academic All-American in tennis; Class graduation speaker
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Professional Experience
Principal Attorney
Law Office of Adams & Rafferty, P.C.
- Current
Practice which consists of all aspects of estate and trust matters. Including estate planning, estate and trust administration, and estate and trust litigation.
Founder and Clinical Professor
Community Elder Law Clinic, Empire Law School
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Founder of non-profit elder law clinic providing free legal advice to seniors. Recipient of Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Award 2003.
Owner
Law Office of Barry L. Adams
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Associate
Anderson, Zeigler, Disharoon & Gray
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Associate
Rutan & Tucker
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Speaking Engagements
Nuts & Bolts of Trust Administration on Death, Continuing Education for Lawyers, Santa Rosa, California
Sonoma County Bar Association, Trusts and Estate Section
An introductory class on trust administration for lawyers providing detailed information, forms and checklists
Probate Nuts & Bolts, Continuing Education for Lawyers, Santa Rosa, California
Sonoma County Bar Association, Trusts and Estate Section
An introductory class on probate administration for lawyers providing detailed information, forms and checklists
Certifications
Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law
State Bar of California
Awards
Excellence in Education, Teaching Award
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
Awarded for teaching Elder Law Clinic at Empire Law School
Pro Bono Award
Sonoma County Bar Association
Pro bono award for service to seniors through Empire Law School Elder Law Clinic
Professional Associations
Orange County Bar Association, Trust and Estate Section
Member
- Current
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Sonoma County Bar Association, Trusts and Estate Section
Steering Committee Member
- Current
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California State Bar  # 125474
Member
- Current
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Empire Law School
Founder and Professor Elder Law Clinic
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Activities: Founder of highly successful Empire Law School Elder Law Clinic. Providing free legal advice for seniors in Sonoma County.
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    Initial one-half hour free consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Contingent Fees
    Possible contingent fee arrangement in trust or will contests
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Probate
Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Elder Law
Additional Practice Areas
  • Estate and Trust Litigation
  • Trust Administration
Legal Answers
Q. I am 75, my estranged daughter is 35. I have read that an UGMA can be ended if I pay IRS 10%
A: When you set up the UGMA account, you made a completed gift to the minor recipient. You cannot now revoke that gift. Therefore, it is not a tax issue - it is a legal issue.
Q. My mother, a California resident, passed away recently and I’m unsure whether her estate is a small estate.
A: You are lodging the will with the Court - not filing for probate. Remember you have to wait 40 days before filing 13100 Small Estate Affidavit with the banks and the collective amounts of all accounts must be less than $116,250 for a death in 2020 and $150,000 for a death in 2019.
Q. As a benifaciary of a trust do I have any recourse if another benifaciary refuses to sign release that will close trust?
A: Under California law, a beneficiary cannot be forced to sign a release of the trustee. Therefore, I don't see that you would have any recourse against the co-beneficiary.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Blog
LAW MADE EASY PODCAST WEBLOG
Contact & Map
Orange County Office
19900 Beach Boulevard, Suite B
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Telephone: (949) 274-4760
Santa Rosa Office
532 Mendocino Avenue, Suite 104
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Telephone: (707) 542-6644
Fax: (707) 528-3189