About Michael
Practice areas
- Estate planning: 45%
Estate Planning focuses on development of a comprehensive, multi-generational plan to manage, protect, and preserve family assets. It includes trusts, powers of attorney, tax planning, special needs planning.
37 years, 2,000 cases
- Elder law: 30%
Elder Law addresses all legal planning needs of older clients and their families. It often focuses on addressing of long term care -- qualifying for Medicaid/Medi-Cal, asset preservation, and ensuring quality of care. Special Needs planning for the benefit of disabled family members is often related. It includes surrogate decision making, relying on personalized Durable Powers of Attorney, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and steps to avoid court involvement unless it is unavoidable.
47 years, 2,000 cases
- Trusts: 20%
Trusts are at the heart of estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning. Revocable living trusts are appropriate for the vast majority, while a number of irrevocable trusts are utilized for tax, asset protection, and special puroposes. Dynasty trusts are typically established for the benefit of children to maximize protection of inherited assets from divorce, litigation, and estate tax exposure for future generations.
37 years, 1,800 cases
- Probate: 5%
Probate is the court supervised process by which an individual's estate is passed along to heirs. While we routinely and successfully handle probate matters, we emphasize that probate is to avoided by more sophisticated trust planning. Probate can include dispute resolution, easily managed by our Litigation Department.
37 years, 200 cases
Similar lawyers
Sponsored Listings
Contact
2300 Geng Rd #200
Palo Alto, CA, 94303
Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Active | 1973 | 06/12/2022 |
| Legal answers | 0 |
| Legal guides | 0 |
Excellent Living Trust Services
5.0 stars
Posted by Lutz
July 15, 2015
Over-priced, I recommend going elsewhere
1.0 star
Posted by anonymous
May 2, 2021
Attorney endorsements
(5)
James Schuster, Elder law Attorney on Nov 15, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Michael Gilfix is a legend in the field of elder law. He was a co-author of one the earliest works in the field. I have attended CE programs taught by him and his depth of knowledge and quickness of mind is second to none, anywhere in the country. Michael is simply one of the best elder law attorneys in the United States.
Valerie Logsdon, Elder law Attorney on Nov 15, 2011
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
I endorse this lawyer. Mike has a great sense of empathy and can explain complex issues so that a client can understand them. A great person and a great lawyer. Valerie Logsdon
