Brett Alan Bjornson

Brett Alan Bjornson

also known as Brett A. Bjornson, M.S., C.P.A., Esq.

5.0
Rating: 8.2

Licensed for 21 years

Probate Lawyer at Santa Monica, CA
Practice Areas: Probate, Estate Planning, Trusts

201 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300, Santa Monica, CA

About Brett

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Probate 50%

The Probate Court is a court of equity. the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over estate administration, whether testate (there is a will) or intestate (there is no will).

50%
Estate Planning 25%

Mr. Bjornson is adept at complex trust arrangements involving CRTs, CLTs, GRATs, IDGTs, and QPRTs. Interrelated income, gift, estate and property tax matters require management, as they sometimes work against one another.

25%
Trusts 25%

Trust administration involves the private process of administering an estate where the assets are owned by a trustee of a trust. Trust administration is much easier and less costly than a probate.

25%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in California for 21 years

State: California

Acquired: 2004

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Brett A. Bjornson, Esq., PLC

201 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300, Santa Monica, CA, 90401

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Brett Alan Bjornson's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

8 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (8) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 8 reviews

Posted by Lucile | May 01, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Tax

Brilliant Creative Approach to Problems

Interviewed four atty. for a very complex legal/tax/estate situation. He came up with a solution that he executed successfully that was not even a suggetion by the other four. He is so good that I use him for everything even if it is outside his expertise because I respect his directions and his re...ferrals when my situations are too beyond his reach.

Posted by Luke | October 06, 2014 | Estate Planning

Leadership, Coordintation and Empathy

Brett has been our estate attorney for over a decade. His organization, retention and foresight are unrivaled in the industry. He has always incorporated the complex family dynamics into his guidance, and due to his vast experience, as the estate triggers begin to initiate, all of Brett's hardwork... and planning is realizing my parents wishes. If you and your family engage Mr.Bjornson, it will be the best business decision you ever made. He has expertise in all estate matters, and the fact that he is a certified specialist only magnifies his ability to manage all of your estate needs.

Posted by stephen | September 14, 2014 | Estate Planning

family estate planning

My parents used Brett to plan their estate so that all assets went into a trust. The family dynamics are very complicated and divisive but Brett has been the calm through the storm and has provided a road map for the trustees so the assets will be passed along seamlessly.

Posted by Tina Oshiro | August 06, 2014 | Estate Planning

Superior Estate Attorney!

I utilized Brett's services to prepare for my relocation to Japan, for a very high level position within a global company. We sold our Los Angeles home and thought we were only in need of a trust. We met with Brett; not only was he incredibly efficient and knowledgable, he uncovered some unexpec...ted intricate tax issues that needed to be resolved before we moved, on top of the said trust that was needed. I was so impressed with his knowledge of the law; his ability to unravel tax issues that we did not even anticipate facing, and as a result, saved us a lot of money; plus the speed at which we needed things done -- He was able to expedite with such attention to detail. He is truly a gifted attorney who immediately made us feel comfortable, with his ability to unravel and communicate complicated issues to us. It was a highly stressful time. He turned this all around for us within a short period of time and we felt we were in the best of hands! I HIGHLY recommend Brett Bjornson. Not only do I think he is a gifted attorney, but he has the experience with tax issues, unlike any attorneys we spoke with prior to meeting Brett. He's brilliant! I can not say enough about his unique abilities as an estate attorney.

Posted by Tom | June 25, 2014 | Trusts

Review of Brett Bjornson's services

Brett wrote a Restatement of our Living Trust that needed to be updated. It was innovative the way he wrote it up, and was different from traditional ways other law firms would have done it. When I decease or predecease my wife , my named executor will heavily need his services.

See All Client Reviews

Brett Alan Bjornson's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Brett
Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Apr 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Kevin Scott Feldman headshot
Kevin Feldman

Trusts lawyer | Feb 14

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. One of the most intelligent accounting minds I have ever met. Can understand and deconstruct the most complicated of trusts."

View All Endorsements

No Endorsement Data Available Yet
This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.

Experience

Rating:  8.2 (Excellent)

Honors

2014

Certified Specialist - Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law, State Bar of California

Work Experience

2014 - Present

Principal, Gorman and Miller

2012 - 2013

Adjunct Professor, Glendale University College of Law

2004 - 2014

Principal, Brett A. Bjornson, Esq., PLC

1988 - 2004

Principal, Bjornson & Associates, CPA's

1981 - 1983

Internal Revenue Agent, Internal Revenue Service

Associations

2011 - Present

Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council

Member

2011 - Present

Santa Monica Bar Association

Member

2011 - Present

Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce

Member

2004 - Present

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Member

2004 - Present

Beverly Hills Bar Association

Member

2004 - Present

Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce

Member

Education

2004

Southwestern University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1987

California State University at Hayward

M.S.

1981

California State University, Hayward

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2018

Jerry A. Kasner Estate Planning Symposium Can Attorneys "DO" The Numbers?

2017

Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades

Trust Administration - "Portability" vs The "ABC Trust"

2017

Meals on Wheels West Board Meeting

Planned Giving Insights

2016

Public Seminar

Tax Matters

2016

Public Seminar

Will Substitutes

2016

Public Seminar

Trust Admininstration

2016

Public Seminar

"Portability"

2015

Los Angeles Estate Planning Council

GRATs & CLATs In a Low Interest Rate Environment

2015

Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council

2015 Heckerling Institute Update

2013

AAII - Ventura

Estate Planning - Portability - Is it ideal for you?

2008

Pacific Palisades AARP Meeting

Estate Planning Without a Living Trust

2007

Peninsula Estate Planning Council

Case Studies in Estate Planning

Publications

1987

California Society of CPAs IRS Audit Techniques and Strategies

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution