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Benjamin James Sowards
About Benjamin
Biography
Mr. Sowards helps his clients transfer wealth from one generation to the next through living trusts, wills and other advanced planning techniques. We use a wide range of estate planning techniques to help our clients meet their estate planning needs and wealth transfer objectives.
As trust and estate litigation attorneys, we focus on will and trust contests, fiduciary litigation, and financial elder abuse actions. Our practice further includes representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in fiduciary disputes, trust and probate petitions and trust administrations.
Prior to opening the Sowards Law Firm, Mr. Sowards was an associate attorney at the international law firm of Morrison Foerster LLP and started his career at San Diego's oldest and largest law firm, Luce Forward Hamilton and Scripps LLP. His experience working with the Fortune 500 has taught him how to address complex challenges in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Mr. Sowards received his B.S., magna cum laude, from San Jose State University where he was a President’s Scholar. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law where he was a member of the U.C. Davis Law Review and the Senior Articles Editor of the U.C. Davis Business Law Journal. He is also a recipient of the Witkins Award for Securities Regulation. While in law school, Mr. Sowards was a law clerk with the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and also worked for the California Resources Agency in Sacramento. Prior to law school, Mr. Sowards worked in the notebook computer industry.
Memberships:
The California Bar Association
American Bar Association
UC Davis Alumni Association
San Jose State Alumni Association
WealthCounsel - the premier organization for estate planning attorneys
The Surfrider Foundation
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Trusts
50%
22 years | 1,000 cases
Estate Planning
15%
22 years | 1,000 cases
Probate
15%
22 years | 25 cases
Wills and Living Wills
10%
22 years | 50 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 21 years
State: California
Acquired: 2004
No misconduct found
Location
Sowards Law Firm
www.sowardslawfirm.com, 2542 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 200, Campbell, CA, 95008
Law Offices of Benjamin James Sowards
800 W. El Camino Real, Suite 180, Mountain View,, CA, 94040
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Benjamin James Sowards's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 8 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | December 18, 2020 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Benjamin is a really good attorney when you can get a hold of him.
Went to him to create a trust. This was about a 6 month process for a non-complicated matter. He further later refused to create another trust without a valid reason. Sowards himself is very knowledgeable and personable but you have to deal with his staff who are late to respond.
Posted by Chad | September 23, 2016 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Accurate and responsive
My company hired Ben to create a contractual agreement, which he did promptly and at a great value. Ben was great to work with and was responsive to all of our needs. Highly recommended.
Posted by anonymous | January 6, 2015
Failed to review documents for accuracy
I received several documents on different occasions from Mr Sowards office that contained errors which had to be corrected based upon my discovery. It appears there was was a lack of proof reading and reliance on templates. I also felt there was questionable billing that he refused to correct. I w...
Benjamin Sowards
Replied last April 6, 2016Like all attorneys, of course we rely on some template documents. Typically we draft several customized documents for clients for each matter. We also send out drafts on certain transactions which may not be 100% perfect so that we can keep the deal moving along. Please contact me direct at [email protected] to discuss your matter and so that we can resolve this for you.
Posted by Scott | November 4, 2011
The Ideal Lawyer
I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Sowards as his intern for about 4 months. I was given the opportunity to have an insider’s view on how he works with his employees and clients. In his mind the client comes first, he does everything he can to help his customers to have the proper legal care th...
Posted by Kyle | November 4, 2011
Ben Sowards
I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with Ben for several months now. If you're looking at these reviews to see if you might want to hire a lawyer then look no further. Ben is an all around great guy: hardworking, intelligent, a family man, and willing to make sure everything is clear and con...
Benjamin James Sowards's Lawyer Endorsements
"I've know Ben for several years, and while he is technically my competition, I have know his work as an estate planning attorney to be first rate. I endorse him for this."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I would highly recommend Ben's services to anyone. He is caring, detail oriented, and a hard worker. You want him on your team!"
"I worked with Mr. Sowards on a matter that he brought me on to assist with surrounding an acquisition. He is a consummate professional in every regard and you can depend on him to carry out his duties. He is easy to work with and very knowledgeable. I have no reservations recommending a potential client to Bens office."
"I endorse Ben. He is knowledgeable, reliable and consistently produces outstanding results for his clients. Ben provides a level of personal service that is rare. He has a large law firm background, but now, through his law firm, he is able to deliver the same high quality work with much a much more individualized approach and attention."
"I endorse this lawyer. Ben and I have worked together twice. He is knowledgeable about the law, works quickly to perform the work he has been hired to complete, he works well with his clients and others, and his clients get great results and service."
"Ben is an outstanding attorney with years of excellent training at a large international law firm. Now that he is on his own, he is able to offer his legal and business advice directly to businesses. He is also a very trustworthy and knowledgeable estate planning attorney in the local community and around the Bay Area."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. He has a flexible and remarkable planning system that will eliminate probate, reduce or even eliminate estate taxes, and pass assets to the next generation with the care someone who hires him would desire."
"I worked with Ben at Morrison & Foerster LLP and have collaborated with him since them on other client-related projects. Ben is an experienced and thoughtful attorney who provides his clients with practical and appropriate solutions. He is dedicated to providing high quality legal work and excellent client service at his firm. I endorse and recommend Ben without reservation."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. I highly recommend Ben as an Estate Planning Attorney. He has an outstanding legal background and is able to translate, quickly and efficiently, his knowledge of law into practical legal service for his clients. Ben has a high level of integrity and a terrific client oriented personality. It is an honor for me to work with him on complicated Estate Planning and Asset Protection matters."
"Ben is an excellent attorney - smart, capable, and caring. I endorse his work."
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Leslie Daff
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Jeffrey Matsen
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Experience
Honors
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2012
Rated Superb (Rated 10.0), Avvo
2011
Super Lawyer - Rising Star, Super Lawyers - Northern California
2011
Superb Rating (Rated 10.0), Avvo
2009
Wiley W. Manuel Award, State Bar of California
2008
Wiley W. Manuel Award, State Bar of California
2004
Witkins Award - Securities Regulation, U.C. Davis
2004
Articles Editor, U.C. Davis Business Law Journal
2002
Member, U.C. Davis Law Review
2001
College Scholarship, San Jose State University
2000
Scholastic Honor, Black Masque Honor Society
1993
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
Work Experience
2008 - Present
Attorney, The Sowards Law Firm
2006 - 2008
Attorney, Morrison Foerster LLP
2004 - 2006
Attorney, Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps
2004 - 2004
Law Clerk, Yolo County District Attorney's Office
2002 - 2002
Law Clerk, California Resources Agency
2000 - 2001
Clerk, Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office
Associations
2012 - Present
Campbell Chamber of CommerceMember
2009 - Present
National Academy of Elder Law AttorneysAttorney Member
2009 - Present
AARPAARP Network Attorney
2008 - Present
WealthCounselAttorney Member
2005 - Present
US District Court, Southern District of CaliforniaAdmitted Attorney
2004 - Present
UC Davis Alumni AssociationAlumni Member
2003 - Present
J Reuben Clark Law SocietyMember
2001 - Present
San Jose State Alumni AssociationAlumni Member
1993 - Present
Boy Scouts of AmericaEagle Scout
2010 - 2012
BYU Management Society - Silicon ValleyPresident
2009 - 2010
Milpitas Chamber of CommerceBoard of Directors
Sample of Legal Cases
Defeated Medi-Cal Recovery
Retained California Medi-Cal Benefits for Client
Estate Plans
Successfully drafted hundreds of estate plans
LLCs / Incorporation
Company Formation
Education
N/A
UC Davis SOL King Hall
JD - Juris Doctor
N/A
San Jose State Univ
undergraduate
Speaking Engagements
2010
Annual Public Service Awards 2010
BYU Management Society Public Service Awards
2009
Estate & Financial Planning Traps for 2010
Estate Planning Traps for 2010
2009
Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series
Planning Tips for Home Based Businesses
2009
BYU Management Society - Silicon Valley Chapter
Estate Planning for Parents of Minor Children
Publications
2008
Contributing Author, Fiduciary Duties and Other Responsibilities of Corporate Directors and Officers, R.R. Donnelley Capital Markets
Fiduciary Duties of Directors and Officers
2004
U.C. Davis Business Law Journal
Senior Articles Editor
2003
U.C. Davis Business Law Journal
Articles Editor & Member
2002
U.C. Davis Law Review
Member
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
Dad's wife refuses to honor the Durable POA my dad gave to me, she continue to override my decisions when I'm not around
02 Apr 2016
Q&A
What rights do I have as a tenant with mold in our rental when landlord refuses to provide mold inspection?
03 Apr 2014
Q&A
Can I represent myself inprobate court? My sister won't put the property in my name and my mother wishes are not being met
07 May 2012