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- Benjamin Sowards
Benjamin James Sowards
- Campbell, CA
- Licensed for 15 years
- Free consultation
About Benjamin
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
- Trusts: 50%
I help individuals and families tranfer their wealth from one generation to the next through wills, trusts, and other advanced strategies. My living trusts are custom drafted to meet your unique needs. No two estate plans are the same. We can help anyone - from those just getting started in life to those with substantial asseets to preserve and protect.
15 years, 1,000 cases
- Probate: 15%
For those that don't have an estate plan, we can assist the executor to take the estate through probate. In CA, this process lasts at least 1 year and sometimes up to 2 years.
15 years, 25 cases
- Estate planning: 15%
Mr. Sowards is an estate planning and wealth transfer attorney. He sets ups estate plans, including living trusts, to help to avoid probate, minimize taxes and limit conflict. He also helps to settle out and administer trust and probate estates. He r
15 years, 1,000 cases
- Wills and living wills: 10%
Mr. Sowards is an estate planning and wealth transfer attorney. He sets ups estate plans, including living trusts, to help to avoid probate, minimize taxes and limit conflict. He also helps to settle out and administer trust and probate estates. He r
15 years, 50 cases
- Elder law: 5%
Assist with transition of management and control of assets and legal responsibility from seniors to their children or chosen fiduciary agents.
15 years, 50 cases
- Power of attorney: 5%
Assist with appointing a fiduciary agent to manage all of your legal and financial affairs.
15 years, 1,000 cases
Languages spoken
English
Photos and videos
Contact
Sowards Law Firm
www.sowardslawfirm.com
2542 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 200
Campbell, CA, 95008
800 W. El Camino Real
Suite 180
Mountain View,, CA, 94040
Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Active | 2004 | 11/04/2019 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2012 |
| Rated Superb (Rated 10.0) | Avvo | 2012 |
| Super Lawyer - Rising Star | Super Lawyers - Northern California | 2011 |
| Superb Rating (Rated 10.0) | Avvo | 2011 |
| Wiley W. Manuel Award | State Bar of California | 2009 |
| Wiley W. Manuel Award | State Bar of California | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Witkins Award - Securities Regulation | U.C. Davis | 2004 |
| Articles Editor | U.C. Davis Business Law Journal | 2004 |
| Member | U.C. Davis Law Review | 2002 |
| College Scholarship | San Jose State University | 2001 |
| Scholastic Honor | Black Masque Honor Society | 2000 |
| Eagle Scout | Boy Scouts of America | 1993 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney | The Sowards Law Firm | 2008 - Present |
| Attorney | Morrison Foerster LLP | 2006 - 2008 |
| Attorney | Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps | 2004 - 2006 |
| Law Clerk | Yolo County District Attorney's Office | 2004 - 2004 |
| Law Clerk | California Resources Agency | 2002 - 2002 |
| Clerk | Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office | 2000 - 2001 |
|---|
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell Chamber of Commerce | Member | 2012 - Present |
| National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys | Attorney Member | 2009 - Present |
| AARP | AARP Network Attorney | 2009 - Present |
| WealthCounsel | Attorney Member | 2008 - Present |
| US District Court, Southern District of California | Admitted Attorney | 2005 - Present |
| UC Davis Alumni Association | Alumni Member | 2004 - Present |
|---|---|---|
| J Reuben Clark Law Society | Member | 2003 - Present |
| San Jose State Alumni Association | Alumni Member | 2001 - Present |
| Boy Scouts of America | Eagle Scout | 1993 - Present |
| BYU Management Society - Silicon Valley | President | 2010 - 2012 |
| Milpitas Chamber of Commerce | Board of Directors | 2009 - 2010 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Contributing Author, Fiduciary Duties and Other Responsibilities of Corporate Directors and Officers, R.R. Donnelley Capital Markets | Fiduciary Duties of Directors and Officers | 2008 |
| U.C. Davis Business Law Journal | Senior Articles Editor | 2004 |
| U.C. Davis Business Law Journal | Articles Editor & Member | 2003 |
| U.C. Davis Law Review | Member | 2002 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| UC Davis SOL King Hall | JD - Juris Doctor | N/A |
| San Jose State Univ | undergraduate | N/A |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Public Service Awards 2010 | BYU Management Society Public Service Awards | 2010 |
| 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 | 2009 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Defeated Medi-Cal Recovery | Retained California Medi-Cal Benefits for Client |
| Estate Plans | Successfully drafted hundreds of estate plans |
| LLCs / Incorporation | Company Formation |
Accurate and responsive
Posted by Chad
Sat Sep 24 2016
Highly recommended
Posted by Roberto
Tue Mar 29 2011
Attorney endorsements
(11)Robert Bergman, Estate planning Attorney on Nov 14, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
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.
Elaine Dai, Public finance and tax exempt finance Attorney on Sep 8, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Sam Marshall, Estate planning Attorney on Mar 11, 2017
Relationship: Other
I would highly recommend Ben's services to anyone. He is caring, detail oriented, and a hard worker. You want him on your team!
Pierre Zado, Business Attorney on Apr 1, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter
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.
Eric Strongin, Personal injury Attorney on May 23, 2013
Relationship: Friend
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.
Andrew Dosa, Criminal defense Attorney on Mar 12, 2013
Relationship: Worked together on matter
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.
Michelle Yu, Business Attorney on Jun 27, 2010
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
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.
Ahmed Shaikh, Trusts Attorney on Nov 19, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
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.
Carlos Heredia, Corporate and incorporation Attorney on Oct 19, 2009
Relationship: Co-worker
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.
Jeffrey Matsen, Estate planning Attorney on Aug 26, 2009
Relationship: Worked together on matter
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.
Leslie Daff, Probate Attorney on Aug 18, 2009
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Ben is an excellent attorney - smart, capable, and caring. I endorse his work.
Cost
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