Klaus Gottlieb, Estate Planning Attorney
California | (805) 703-2282 | WealthCareLawyer.com
Offices in San Luis Obispo and Cayucos
Legal Accomplishments:
Klaus Gottlieb's legal journey is marked by noteworthy achievements. After nurturing a long-held dream of studying law, he turned it into reality by graduating from Northwestern California University School of Law in Sacramento in April 2021. His dedication and aptitude were evident when he passed the July 2021 California Bar Exam on his first attempt, a feat in a state with a 53% pass rate. His legal expertise is in Trust and Estates, where he uniquely combines deep legal knowledge, counseling skills honed as a physician, financial acumen as an MBA, and a knack for creative problem-solving. He teaches Wills and Trusts at Monterey College of Law, sharing his expertise and practical experience in estate planning with aspiring JD candidates. He is a member of the California Bar, the California Lawyers Association, and the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association.
Prior Career Highlights:
Before law, Dr. Gottlieb had a multifaceted career. As a physician, he practiced in both private and academic settings, reaching the rank of Full Professor at George Washington University. His medical expertise led him to testify frequently as a medical expert witness. In the pharmaceutical industry, he held executive positions, reflecting his leadership and analytical skills. He served 16 years in the United States Naval Reserve, including deployment in the Global War on Terrorism, achieving the rank of Commander, Medical Corps.
Educational Background:
Dr. Gottlieb's educational journey spans continents and disciplines. After medical school at the University of Bonn, Germany, he pursued an MBA at Indiana University, graduating with highest honors (Beta Gamma Sigma). He also passed the level I Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Exam and completed a Master of Science in Biotechnology at Johns Hopkins.
- Various Articles in the National Law Review
- National Law Review
- Rising Star - Southern California 2024 and 2025
- Super Lawyers
- A Super Lawyer is an exceptional achievement and title given to lawyers across the country who have achieved high standards within their respective fields.
- State Bar of California # 339060
- Member
- Current
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- San Luis Obispo County Bar Association
- Current
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- California Lawyers Association
- Section of Trusts & Estates
- Current
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- California
- State Bar of California
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Free Consultation
Free 30-minute initial consultation. Flat fee for complete estate plans. - Credit Cards Accepted
- Estate Planning
- Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- English: Spoken, Written
- German: Spoken, Written
- Q. Need help with father's trust and my rights as beneficiary in California.
- A: I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. As a beneficiary of a California trust, you have the right to receive a copy of the trust and to request information about how assets are being managed. If your sister is acting as trustee, she has a legal duty to act in the best interests of all beneficiaries, including providing financial transparency and avoiding self-dealing.
Power of attorney doesn’t give her the right to control trust assets — only the trustee has that authority. If the house was in the trust, and she sold it without proper notice or accounting, that may be a breach of duty. You may also have rights regarding your occupancy if your parents intended for you to remain there. ... Read More
- Q. Can a trust alter community property terms post-transfer?
- A: Transferring community property (even if titled with right of survivorship) into a trust does not change its community property character unless there’s a valid transmutation agreement signed by both spouses under California Family Code §§ 850–852. However, placing the property into a trust generally eliminates the right of survivorship, as the trust, not the deed, governs distribution.
If both spouses agree, the trust can include provisions to reimburse a down payment and its proportional growth to a specific beneficiary, but this must be clearly spelled out in the trust and may require careful tracing.
Because this involves complex interplay between trust and community property ... Read More
- Q. How to assign my son as beneficiary of my half of a joint tenancy house in CA?
- A: In California, you cannot use a transfer on death (TOD) deed to pass your share of a house held in joint tenancy unless you first sever the joint tenancy. Joint tenancy includes the right of survivorship, meaning your share would automatically pass to the other joint tenant (your son) upon your death, regardless of your intent to leave it to your other son. To accomplish your goal, you must first sever the joint tenancy—this can be done unilaterally under California Civil Code § 683.2 by recording a deed that changes your ownership to a tenancy in common and notifying the other owner.
Once the joint tenancy is severed, you can execute and record a California Revocable TOD Deed naming your ... Read More