Joann Duncan Gould

Welcome to Manteca,California, nestled in the Central Valley, half way between Stockton andModesto.  When investigating movingmy office from the South Bay City of Cupertino, one of my long time clients inTracy said, "Come to the Central Valley, we don't have any attorneys herethat do the things that you do!" 

In 2008, asa solo practitioner, I opened my practice here in Manteca, California.  My practice is devoted to a full rangeof estate planning from larger estates with the need for tax planning to planningfor long term care, from addressing ElderLaw issues to planning formulti–generations not to mention same-sex relationships.  I am also continuing my representationand assistance to small business.

I believethat there is an underserved population that has been hoodwinked by Trust Millsas well as lack of information about health care decisions.  I see daily the result of mismanagementof estates through the inappropriate use of powers of attorney.  I work with my clients to createdocuments based on their needs and wishes rather than the 'one size fits all'concept. 

In theevent of illness, incapacity or death, I work with families, couples andindividuals providing assistance with such matters as conservatorships, trust administrationand probate. The cases I work often require special, individualized attentionor have out–of–the–ordinary issues, such as out–of–state and out–of–countryexecutor or trustee or caregiver. I work regularly with conservatorships, probates, and other cases utilizingemerging law; such as Elder Abuse and health care advocacy.

Smallbusiness are always a challenge. Often the business owner know the product or service to be provided, butis lost in dealing with corporate governance, planning for the future, workingwithin a budget and organizing the office matters.  We have done all of that, from starting a small business,carefully growing it over the years and addressing the day to day problems.

Because ofmy work with catastrophic illness such as Alzheimer's Disease, I work oftenwith the 'family' aspect of client issues in connection with providingassistance to a designated caregiver child, protection to the spouse living athome whose husband or wife is in a nursing home, individuals with SpecialNeeds, second marriages, and Medi–Cal long–term care benefits. I am alsoinvolved in the right–to–die cases and other cases related to health careissues which has led to my working with a health care professionals andprofessional fiduciaries.  

In theevent of incapacity or death of a family member, my practice also includesworking with trust and estate administration.  I also assist clients or families where an individual mayhave met with and employed a non–professional planner or trust mill resultingin inadequate estate planning documents. 

I enjoy mywork in my community both as a speaker and as a team player with otherprofessionals such as tax preparers, insurance firms and professionalsfiduciarys.  I work with and speakto groups such as The Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's and Parkinson'ssupport groups, and AARP, and local senior citizen's centers.  As part of my investment in thecommunity, I speak to professional, religious and community groups such asprofessional investment organizations, local Rotary groups, The Lions Club,Chambers of Commerce and other fraternal organization.