Planning for your most important asset....Your Family!Good estate planning for your family doesn't come cheap, but I'm worth every penny.Living trusts are not a product like cereal or tires. A specialist attorney is what you need.
Author of the "California Consumer Guide to Wills, Living Trusts and Estate Planning," estate planning attorney Bob Bergman has been helping families in the Silicon Valley (and beyond) with their estate planning needs since 1980. Bob is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law (State Bar Board of Legal Specialization), and especially focuses on helping families that have young children. He also assist families with special planning for retirement plan assets and special needs family members. Check out his website for more information.
You can also visit Bob's Youtube channel for a free living trust seminar and retirement plan trust seminar, as well as informative podcasts on various estate planning topics. The link is in the profile.
For those in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bob offers offer public and private workshops on estate planning.
Bob is also the live radio talk show host of "Plan Your Estate Radio" on 1220 AM, KDOW, broadcasting from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Friday afternoons in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Practice areas
I work with families to plan their estates to maximize tax savings, provide for the orderly transfer of their assets to their heirs, and provide asset protection for their heirs' inheritance.
41 years, 700 cases
I prepare revocable living trusts, life insurance trusts, charitable trusts, supplement and special needs trusts, and special trusts for retirement plan assets.
41 years, 700 cases
I handle both Probate and trust administration. This includes estates with no Will or just a Will, or a living trust. I also handle court work involving gathering in loose assets into a trust or modifying an irrevocable trust.
41 years, 100 cases
Languages spoken
English
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman
3535 Ross Avenue, Ste. 308
San Jose, CA, 95124
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
CA | Active | 1980 | 02/07/2022 |
Legal answers | 277 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2019 |
Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law | State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization | 2011 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Attorney | Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman | 2006 - Present |
Attorney | Gilfix & LaPoll Associates | 2006 - 2006 |
Attorney | Law Offices of Roy W. Litherland | 2005 - 2006 |
Attorney | Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman | 2003 - 2004 |
Vice President and Business Development Officer | Comerica Bank Institutional Trust Department | 2000 - 2003 |
Senior Trust and Investments Officer | Fremont Bank | 2000 - 2000 |
Attorney | Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman | 1984 - 2000 |
Attorney | Eagle & Courtney | 1983 - 1984 |
Attorney | Law Firm of Harold A. Galloway | 1981 - 1983 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
WealthCounsel (www.wealthcounsel.com) | Member | 2006 - Present |
Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Section, State Bar of California | Member | 2006 - Present |
State Bar of California | Member | 1980 - Present |
ElderCounsel (www.eldercounsel.com) | Member | 2012 - 2012 |
Advisors Forum (www.advisorsforum.com) | Member | 2012 - 2012 |
Financial Knowledge Institute (www.financialknowledgeinstitute.org) | Speaker | 2009 - 2009 |
Academy of Special Needs Planners (http://specialneedsplanners.com) | Member | 2008 - 2009 |
Family Wealth Planning Institute | Personal Family Lawyer | 2007 - 2008 |
Foundation for Personal Financial Education (www.fpfenonprofit.org) | Speaker | 2007 - 2009 |
Advisors Forum (www.advisorsforum.com) | Member | 2006 - 2007 |
NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) | Member | 2005 - 2006 |
CANHR (California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform) | Member | 2005 - 2006 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
California Consumer Guide to Wills, Living Trusts & Estate Planning | 2021 California Consumer Guide to Wills, Living Trusts & Estate Planning | 2021 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Santa Clara University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1980 |
San Jose State University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1977 |
De Anza Junior College | A.A. | 1975 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2009 |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2008 |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2008 |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2008 |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2008 |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2008 |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wills and Trusts, but Were Afraid to Ask | Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts | 2008 |
Case name | Outcome |
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Probate Court Petitions to Confirm Assets into Trust Ownership (Probate Code 850) and for Modification of Irrevocable Trusts | Success in getting loose assets, including real property and large brokerage accounts, into trust ownership. Success in modifying existing irrevocable trusts to enhance their features. |
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Kris Crawford, Administrative law Attorney on Mar 17, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Bergman provides great advice to those in need. He takes time out of his day to answer questions on AVVO and point people in the right direction.
Patricia Mayer, Estate planning Attorney on May 14, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I highly recommend Bob Bergman. I have sat in on one of his seminars, and know that he presents difficult material in a way that is easy to understand. He is an excellent attorney, very approachable, and always works for his clients' best interests.
Kris Crawford, Administrative law Attorney on Mar 17, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Bergman provides great advice to those in need. He takes time out of his day to answer questions on AVVO and point people in the right direction.
Patricia Mayer, Estate planning Attorney on May 14, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I highly recommend Bob Bergman. I have sat in on one of his seminars, and know that he presents difficult material in a way that is easy to understand. He is an excellent attorney, very approachable, and always works for his clients' best interests.
Kenneth Ziskin, Estate planning Attorney on Jan 19, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I had long wanted to work with Bob Bergman due to his sage comments on the Wealth Counsel listserve and his reputation as a great educator. We have now begun to work together. I am even more impressed by his expertise and his dedication to helping clients achieve THEIR goals than I could ever have expected. So, I wholeheartedly endorse Bob.
John Demas, Estate planning Attorney on Jan 19, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Bob Bergman's enthusiasm and care are evident in everything that he does. I've been honored to work with him in educating the public and serving our local communities. Bob's radio service to the community is relevant, helpful, and does a great job accurately reflecting him as an approachable, practical and solutions oriented attorney. For value in tax planning and actually developing real solutions to wills, trusts and a host of other tax and family solutions, Bob is a fantastic resource. I recommend him highly.
Jonathan Mintz, Estate planning Attorney on Jan 7, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Bob Bergman and I have had numerous interactions over the years; he consistently “sharpens the saw” to stay current on the cutting-edge techniques employed by the best and brightest minds in our field of law. He is caring and skilled, able to handle the simple through the most complex issues with ease. I highly recommend him.
C Welty, Estate planning Attorney on Jun 7, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Bob is an estate ans trust planner of the highest caliber and has a topnotch national reputation to boot.
Michael Doland, Trusts Attorney on May 23, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I just reviewed a lengthy answer of Mr. Bergman and was really impressed. It was extensive in its detailed explanation of the background necessary to give an answer and then cusomized that answer to the specific needs of the Avvo asker. He then commented on some potential strategy. He is a credit to Avvo and must be on any client's short list of lawyers to interview.
James Frederick, Trusts Attorney on Aug 24, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have had the privilege of reviewing many of Attorney Bergman's responses, since we practice in some of the same areas of law. His answers demonstrate a firm grasp of the law and provide good practical advice, as well. When I find that I learn something new from a lawyer's answers, I feel the need to endorse him. Attorney Bergman has earned that endorsement on numerous occasions. James Frederick
Shirlene Bastar, Estate planning Attorney on Apr 3, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
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