Why LPEP

Why LPEP

About Us

Established in 1994 by Michael Lonich and David Patton, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri has developed into one of the most respected firms in Northern California. We specialize in two complementary practice areas: Family Law and Estate Planning. Our attorneys take a genuine interest in our clients’ needs, take the time to understand their objectives, and provide strong representation in a timely, effective, and efficient manner.

What Sets Us Apart

At Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, we are a true litigation firm with the resources and training to bring about positive results at trial when a settlement cannot be reached. We draw upon that experience when addressing client needs in family law, estate planning, trust, or probate matters.

What Makes Us Stand Out:

Family Law

With combined litigation experience of over 100 years, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri is a preeminent Bay Area Family Law firm.

Family Law

The Family Law Group at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri is one of the largest family law practices in the State and regularly represents business owners, executives, foreign nationals, and their spouses in complex divorce and family law matters. Family law cases often involve business, real estate, tax, trust and estate matters and our Certified Family Law Specialists benefit from the expertise of our other practice groups. When outside help is needed we collaborate with experienced forensic accountants, business valuators, real estate appraisers, and mental health professionals.

Resolving family law matters is often emotional. During these trying times, we are here to help you protect your family, your assets, and your future. At Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, we will fully prepare you for the divorce process and guide you through the accompanying issues, including:

  • Child Support
  • Spousal Support
  • Domestic Violence
  • Child Custody and Visitation

Our attorneys also have significant experience developing effective pre-nuptial or post nuptial agreements and can help you pursue any modifications to an original divorce agreement.

We recognize that high-asset divorces can be extremely complex. Many of the legal and financial issues involved in these cases are convoluted. Resolving issues involving business ownership interests, determination of joint and separate property, child custody and support, spousal support, estate and trust administration, litigation, and probate require significant family law and business acumen. Our ability to draw on resources from inside and outside the firm ensures that our clients will receive quality legal advice and representation during divorce planning, settlement negotiation, mediation and any necessary trial.

More than 90% of our divorce cases are resolved through settlement, mediation, arbitration, or other forms of collaborative law. However, when a settlement cannot be reached we rely upon our considerable trial experience to pursue favorable results for our clients.

Partner Michael E. Lonich offers several alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services such as mediation, arbitration, and “neutral evaluation” of disputes for other litigants and attorneys. He has extensive experience in this emerging area of the law.

What Makes Us Stand Out

Estate Planning

Our Estate Planning Attorneys have significant expertise in the preparation of estate planning documents, such as wills, revocable living trusts, and all of the multitude of trusts used for the transfer of wealth and charitable giving.

Estate Planning

At Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, our highly qualified trust and estate lawyers specialize in designing estate plans based upon the personal priorities, family situations, and financial positions of each of our clients, as well as trust and probate administration.

  • Foundational Estate Planning: we begin by assisting families and individuals with their basic planning needs, including directing the disposition of assets in the manner that best serves our client’s needs and their beneficiaries, tax minimization, incapacity planning, and avoiding probate. As a part of this planning we prepare living trusts, wills and guardian nominations, as well as financial and medical powers of attorney.
  • More advanced estate planning: the more advanced planning needs of our clients may involve the transfer of significant wealth through tax-efficient irrevocable trusts, gifting strategies, business succession planning or multi-generational planning.
  • Trust and Estate Administration: we advise trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries in trust and probate administrations.
  • Premarital Agreements: we prepare, negotiate and advise clients regarding premarital agreements.

Many of the questions you have been asking yourself or topics that you and your spouse avoid discussing are easily covered in a professional setting that allows for questions to be addressed and solutions analyzed to produce an estate plan that works for you and your family.

Although everyone has an estate and the time will eventually come for it to be distributed to others, many individuals and families do not have the proper estate planning documents in place to make this process as seamless as possible for those left behind. It is important to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan that fits your needs and goals.

A client often needs support in more than one discipline. For example, a Family Law client may need the help of one of our Estate Planning lawyers to deal with a complex business issue raised in a divorce, or an Estate Planning client may have property issues related to their family dynamics and need to consult with one of our Family Law attorneys. Every divorce client should review their beneficiary designations and estate plan with our Estate attorneys. Our Family Law attorneys frequently provide input to our Estate Planning clients to avoid complicated future asset and property issues.

Where We Practice

Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, especially San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito.

About Us

Established in 1994 by Michael Lonich and David Patton, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri has developed into one of the most respected firms in Northern California. We specialize in two complementary practice areas: Family Law and Estate Planning. Our attorneys take a genuine interest in our clients’ needs, take the time to understand their objectives, and provide strong representation in a timely, effective, and efficient manner.

What Sets Us Apart

At Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, we are a true litigation firm with the resources and training to bring about positive results at trial when a settlement cannot be reached. We draw upon that experience when addressing client needs in family law, estate planning, trust, or probate matters.

What Makes Us
Stand Out:

Family Law

With combined litigation experience of over 100 years, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri is a preeminent Bay Area Family Law firm.

Family Law

The Family Law Group at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri is one of the largest family law practices in the State and regularly represents business owners, executives, foreign nationals, and their spouses in complex divorce and family law matters. Family law cases often involve business, real estate, tax, trust and estate matters and our Certified Family Law Specialists benefit from the expertise of our other practice groups. When outside help is needed we collaborate with experienced forensic accountants, business valuators, real estate appraisers, and mental health professionals.

Resolving family law matters is often emotional. During these trying times, we are here to help you protect your family, your assets, and your future. At Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, we will fully prepare you for the divorce process and guide you through the accompanying issues, including:

  • Child Support
  • Spousal Support
  • Domestic Violence
  • Child Custody and Visitation

Our attorneys also have significant experience developing effective pre-nuptial or post nuptial agreements and can help you pursue any modifications to an original divorce agreement.

We recognize that high-asset divorces can be extremely complex. Many of the legal and financial issues involved in these cases are convoluted. Resolving issues involving business ownership interests, determination of joint and separate property, child custody and support, spousal support, estate and trust administration, litigation, and probate require significant family law and business acumen. Our ability to draw on resources from inside and outside the firm ensures that our clients will receive quality legal advice and representation during divorce planning, settlement negotiation, mediation and any necessary trial.

More than 90% of our divorce cases are resolved through settlement, mediation, arbitration, or other forms of collaborative law. However, when a settlement cannot be reached we rely upon our considerable trial experience to pursue favorable results for our clients.

Partner Michael E. Lonich offers several alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services such as mediation, arbitration, and “neutral evaluation” of disputes for other litigants and attorneys. He has extensive experience in this emerging area of the law.

Estate Planning

At Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, our highly qualified trust and estate lawyers specialize in designing estate plans based upon the personal priorities, family situations, and financial positions of each of our clients, as well as trust and probate administration.

  • Foundational Estate Planning: we begin by assisting families and individuals with their basic planning needs, including directing the disposition of assets in the manner that best serves our client’s needs and their beneficiaries, tax minimization, incapacity planning, and avoiding probate. As a part of this planning we prepare living trusts, wills and guardian nominations, as well as financial and medical powers of attorney.
  • More advanced estate planning: the more advanced planning needs of our clients may involve the transfer of significant wealth through tax-efficient irrevocable trusts, gifting strategies, business succession planning or multi-generational planning.
  • Trust and Estate Administration: we advise trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries in trust and probate administrations.
  • Premarital Agreements: we prepare, negotiate and advise clients regarding premarital agreements.

Many of the questions you have been asking yourself or topics that you and your spouse avoid discussing are easily covered in a professional setting that allows for questions to be addressed and solutions analyzed to produce an estate plan that works for you and your family.

Although everyone has an estate and the time will eventually come for it to be distributed to others, many individuals and families do not have the proper estate planning documents in place to make this process as seamless as possible for those left behind. It is important to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan that fits your needs and goals.

A client often needs support in more than one discipline. For example, a Family Law client may need the help of one of our Estate Planning lawyers to deal with a complex business issue raised in a divorce, or an Estate Planning client may have property issues related to their family dynamics and need to consult with one of our Family Law attorneys. Every divorce client should review their beneficiary designations and estate plan with our Estate attorneys. Our Family Law attorneys frequently provide input to our Estate Planning clients to avoid complicated future asset and property issues.

What Makes Us
Stand Out

Estate Planning

Our Estate Planning Attorneys have significant expertise in the preparation of estate planning documents, such as wills, revocable living trusts, and all of the multitude of trusts used for the transfer of wealth and charitable giving.

Where We Practice

Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, especially San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our firm is currently offering our services to those who resides in the Santa Clara and San Mateo county areas. In the past, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri has provided services in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click the button below.