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LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI
1871 The Alameda, Suite 400, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 553-0801 | Fax: (408) 553-0807 | Email: contact@lpeplaw.com
LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI
Phone: (408) 553-0801
Fax: (408) 553-0807
Email: contact@lpeplaw.com
1871 The Alameda, Suite 400
San Jose, CA 95126
Located in San Jose, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, specifically San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Francisco. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.
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10 Tips for choosing a Guardian
/in Estate Planning /by David PattonChoosing a guardian for your children is one of the most important estate planning decisions you and your spouse can make. Without a guardian, the court will choose one for you if you and your spouse die unexpectedly. This is a big motive for you to choose and have the say in who will care for your children should the unexpected happen. These are 10 tips to help you make an important decision.
1. Take inventory. Form a list of potential guardians. These can be a number of different people that don’t just have to be family members.
2. Make value judgments. Consider the values that you and your spouse share and ask yourselves which guardians share them as well. You might not find a perfect match so be sure to pick the most important values.
3. Consider the intangibles. Intangible qualities are a big part of a potential guardian. Is this person a “good match”? Do they have the patience and maturity? Are they loving?
4. Consider age. Factor in the age of your guardian to your children. Grandparents may not be the perfect match for the energetic four year old.
5. Be practical. Be sure to pick a guardian that can support your children. Make sure they can accommodate them at their house and take notice of their location.
6. Don’t dismiss the possibility of separate guardians. If the children are from different marriages, are far apart in age, or have special needs, consider separate guardians that might serve them better.
7. Talk it over. Narrow down your choices and choose a first choice with some alternatives. Talk with them about your decision and make sure that person is on the same page as you with becoming your children’s guardian.
8. Put it in writing. Be sure to put the guardian or co-guardians in writing in your will. In this stage you can also exclude potential guardians, name alternate guardians, and the person who will attain the role of guardian in the case of divorce.
9. Choose a temporary guardian. You should also consider choosing a temporary guardian that can take care of your children in the event that you are unable to do so (for medical reasons, for example). This could be the same or a different guardian as your permanent decision.
10. Be flexible. Be sure to check back on your guardian decision as your children get older because what might be a good fit today may not be 10 years from now.
We would be more than happy to help with your guardianship or any other estate planning needs. Fell free to contact us or comment with questions.
Courtesy of The Estate Planner, Triplett Services, LLC, May/June 2009 issue.
10 Tips for choosing a Guardian
Choosing a guardian for your children is one of the most important estate planning decisions you and your spouse can make. Without a guardian, the court will choose one for you if you and your spouse die unexpectedly. This is a big motive for you to choose and have the say in who will care for your children should the unexpected happen. These are 10 tips to help you make an important decision.
We would be more than happy to help with your guardianship or any other estate planning needs. Fell free to contact us or comment with questions.
Courtesy of The Estate Planner, Triplett Services, LLC, May/June 2009 issue.
Mitch Gets Certified
/in Family Law, Firm News /by Lonich Patton Ehrlich PolicastriWe are pleased to announce that Partner Mitchell T. Ehrlich has become a Certified Family Law Specialist as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization . This is a distinction that reflects a very high level of proficiency in a specialized field. To attain this level Mr. Ehrlich had to complete the following;
We here at Lonich & Patton, LLP, are proud of Mitchell’s accomplishment. Family Law is a complex area of practice which requires both a superior knowledge of the law but also familiarity with the local judges and courts to achieve the best results for our clients. Certified specialists are the elite among the Family Law Bar and Mr. Ehrlich’s leadership ranks him at the top of his field. We are happy to have him join Mr. Patton and as a Certified Specialist.
Meet The Attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri
/in Firm News /by Lonich Patton Ehrlich PolicastriMichael E. Lonich
Born in San Rafael, California in 1954, Mr. Lonich grew up in the Santa Clara Valley having moved here with his family in the early sixties. Today, Michael E. Lonich, managing partner of Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri, has nearly thirty years of experience as a litigator. He graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and now represents a wide range of businesses and individuals in all sorts of legal matters including estate planning, family law, civil and business litigation, probate matters, among other areas. Mr. Lonich is prepared to help clients tailor a comprehensive estate plan that suits their needs and concerns.
David A. Patton
Mr. Patton was born in Oakland, California in 1960. A Silicon Valley local, David A. Patton is a certified family law specialist as certified by The State Bar of california Board of Legal Specialization with over 20 years of experience. He graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1987. Today he heads the firm’s family law practice and is exclusively an attorney in that area of expertise. After co-founding Lonich & Patton, LLP in 1994, Mr. Patton developed the firm’s family law practice. Since then, he has become one of Silicon Valley’s top attorneys.
Mitchell T. Ehrlich
Born in Schenectady, NY in 1971, Mr. Ehrlich grew up in San Jose. He began his career at Pepperdine University School of Law, being placed on the Dean’s Honor List numerous times. He is currently a partner with Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri and a California certified family law specialist, as certified by The State Bar of california Board of Legal Specialization, focusing his practice exclusively on family law issues. Mr. Ehrlich has over 11 years of experience as a civil litigator and trial attorney making him one of Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri’s many top attorneys.
Gina N. Policastri
Ms. Policastri joined Lonich & Patton, LLP in November 2003 after completing law school at Santa Clara University, and is the current ranking senior associate. She concentrates her practice in the related areas of estate planning and family law, which provide for a unique specialization and focus on family support and planning. Ms. Policastri’s practice provides her with the expertise to provide clients with the guidance they need.
Julia C. Lemon
Ms. Lemon was raised in San Jose and in November 2007 became an associate at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri, LLP. She supports all major practice areas of the firm, with a special interest in Family Law matters. Ms. Lemon began her relationship with the firm as a second year law clerk in 2005, graduating Santa Clara University School of Law in 2007.
Jennifer L. Mispagel
Ms. Mispagel became the newest associate at Lonich & Patton, LLP in November 2008. She is a San Jose native and graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science in 2003. She has found that the combination of her MBA and law degree provides her with a unique perspective that allows her to focus her practice on the three interrelated disciplines of business law, family law and estate planning.
Welcome to the Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri Blog
/in Firm News /by Lonich Patton Ehrlich PolicastriLonich & Patton, LLP, was founded in 1994 by Michael Lonich and David Patton. It has developed into one of the most respected law firms serving San Jose, the Silicon Valley and northern California. We currently practice family law, estate planning, and business law, which includes divorce planning, settlement negotiation, mediation, estate planning, probate matters, trust administration, corporate business transactions, employment law, and more. Our ability to draw on resources from inside and outside the firm ensures that our clients will receive quality legal advice and representation throughout their case. Our attorneys take a genuine interest in our clients’ law matters, understanding their objectives and providing strong legal representation in a timely, effective and efficient manner. Partners Michael Lonich, David Patton and Mitchell T. Ehrlich have more than 50 years of combined litigation and trial experience. Our attorneys know how to prepare for litigation and how to effectively represent our client’s interests when a trial is necessary if a settlement cannot be reached. A partner oversees every matter our firm handles. Thank you for your time and we hope to be serving you soon.