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Thomas E. Rossmeissl
Law Office of Thomas E. Rossmeissl
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Biography
I am a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Specialization. My focus is on estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and estate litigation. I help individuals and families who face serious legal situations, and I help bring them solutions and peace of mind. My goal is to help clients gain the peace of mind that comes with taking care of their families, to help clients navigate through the challenges of trust and estate administration, and to zealously represent clients in litigation to seek the best available result.
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center
- J.D. (1990) | Law
- -
- Honors: magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
- University of California - Davis
- B.A. (1984) | Psychology
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- Honors: summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Experience
- Owner
- Law Office of Thomas E. Rossmeissl
- - Current
- Attorney at law, practicing estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and estate litigation.
- Partner
- Terra Law LLP
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- Attorney at law focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, trust and estate litigation, and some business litigation.
- Staff Attorney (judicial law clerk)
- United States Federal Court
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- Judicial staff attorney (law clerk) to United States District Judge Ronald M. Whyte
- Trusts and Estates Attorney
- Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
- -
- Estate planning and trust and estate administration attorney working with high net worth clients.
- Regional Trust Manager
- Wells Fargo Private Bank
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- Regional Trust Manager for Palo Alto Region of Wells Fargo Private Bank, responsible for managing a team of wealth management professionals who provide and plan estate planning and wealth management strategies for high net worth clients.
- Trusts and Estates Attorney
- Mount & Stoelker
- -
- Estate planning and administration attorney; estate litigation attorney.
- Staff Attorney (judicial law clerk)
- United States District Court
- -
- Judiical Staff Attorney for United States District Judge Ronald M. Whyte
- Attorney
- Skjerven Morrill LLP
- -
- Intellectual property litigation attorney
- Attorney
- Rosenblum Parish & Isaacs
- -
- Business litigation attorney
- Atttorney
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- -
- Business litigation attorney
Publications
Articles & Publications
- Estate Administration (chapter in publication)
- PLC Cross-Border Private Client Handbook
Certifications
- Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
- State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Awards
- SuperLawyer
- SuperLawyers.com
- AV-Preeminent
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Order of the Coif
- Georgetown University Law Center
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
- Psi Chi
- Psi Chi National Honor Society
Professional Associations
- State Bar of California  # 150384
- Member
- Current
- Silicon Valley Bar Association
- Trustee
- - Current
- Activities: Board of Trustees member
- Santa Clara County Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- California
- 9th Circuit
Fees
- Credit Cards Accepted
Practice Areas
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
- Q. Hi I’m in California my dad passed he is married but not to my mom. He didn’t have a will or trust.
- A: You should consult with an attorney near you for advice. If your father had no will or trust, then there is a possibility that you are a beneficiary to a portion of his estate. Under California's law of intestacy, the community property will pass to the surviving spouse, and any "separate property" will be divided between the surviving spouse and the deceased person's children. That said, sometimes property and accounts are held in such a way that they will pass automatically to a surviving co-owner. Your best bet is to consult with an experienced trusts an estates attorney near you, and bring with you as much information as you can gather regarding the nature of your ... Read More
- Q. In Calif, doesthe executor of a living trust have to be a resident of Calif
- A: An executor is the person who will administer a will through probate. A trustee is who will administer the trust. There is no restriction on who can serve as trustee, and an executor of the estate does not have to be a resident of California.
If the estate is going through probate and a non-California resident is the executor, he may be required to post a fiduciary bond before being appointed to administer an estate.
- Q. My spouse and I had a simple (restated) spousal trust designed to continue. She died, do I need a new Cert. of Trust?
- A: If there has been a change in the trust name, or a change in the trustee, you will likely need a new certification off trust. The attorney who assisted you should be able to prepare it fairly easily. The other option is to complete whatever certification forms provided by the financial institutions themselves.
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