Law Offices of Gary R. Kershner

Estate planning and related services

Estate planning is the primary focus of this Oakland firm. The Law Offices of Gary R. Kershner works with clients in Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area. Its listed services cover personal planning documents, probate matters and the administration of trusts.

The firm's website identifies wills, trusts and powers of attorney as central areas of work. It also lists advance directives, living wills, living trusts and special needs trusts. Elder law, guardianship and incapacity planning appear among the other stated services.

This mix addresses decisions that can arise during life and after death. Some documents direct the transfer of property. Others give a chosen person authority to make financial or medical decisions when the person who signed them cannot act.

Documents named by the firm

A will sets out instructions for assets that pass through an estate. It can name the person who will manage the estate and identify intended beneficiaries. When minor children are involved, a will can also record a parent's choice of guardian, subject to court approval.

A living trust follows a different process. A person can transfer assets into the trust and name a successor trustee to manage them after death or incapacity. The trust document controls those assets, while a will can address property that remains outside the trust.

The firm also handles special needs trusts. In general, these trusts require careful terms because distributions can affect eligibility for certain public benefits. The trustee must follow the document and consider the beneficiary's needs when making permitted payments.

How the attorney's background shapes the work

Gary R. Kershner leads the firm and is the only attorney named on its website. He graduated from Santa Clara University in 1986 with an MBA and a law degree. His career began with a focus on business litigation before estate planning became his primary area.

The firm reports that Kershner has worked with estate planning clients for over three decades. That history covers work for people in Oakland and other Bay Area communities. The website ties his present work to planning, probate and trust administration.

His MBA and earlier business litigation focus may be relevant when an estate includes business interests or disputed financial records. That is an observation about the published background, not a claim about results in any matter. In my opinion, the website gives prospective clients a clear account of the attorney who leads the work and the subjects he handles.

Probate and trust administration

The firm's stated work includes matters that begin after a death. Probate places estate administration under court supervision. Trust administration follows the trust document and the duties that apply to the trustee.

In a typical probate matter, the court reviews a petition and confirms who has authority to manage the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, addresses valid debts and prepares property for distribution. Court filings and notice requirements shape the timing of the case.

Trust administration usually starts with the trustee reviewing the trust and identifying trust property. The trustee may need to send notices, obtain asset values and keep records for beneficiaries. Distribution depends on the trust terms and any legal duties that apply to the trustee.

Guardianship and court oversight

Guardianship is another area named by the firm. A guardianship case generally requires a petition, notice to interested people and a court decision. The judge considers the evidence and the needs of the person who would receive protection.

Estate plans can interact with guardianship questions. Parents may name a preferred guardian in a will, while the court retains authority over the appointment. Planning documents can also reduce uncertainty by recording choices before a health crisis or death.

Planning for incapacity and medical decisions

Several listed services concern decisions made during the client's lifetime. Powers of attorney, advance directives and living wills can address periods of illness or incapacity. Each document has a distinct role, so the names alone do not make them interchangeable.

A financial power of attorney authorizes an agent to handle matters described in the document. The scope can include banking, property or other financial tasks. The wording controls the agent's authority and the conditions under which that authority begins.

An advance health care directive records medical choices and can name a person to make health care decisions. A living will commonly states preferences about treatment near the end of life. These documents give family members and medical providers a written source for the person's wishes.

How the pieces connect

An estate plan often requires coordination among documents and asset records. A trust can govern property placed into it, while beneficiary designations may control certain accounts outside the trust. A will can direct the handling of probate property and address other personal choices.

Asset ownership also affects what happens after death. Property held jointly may pass under title rules, and an account with a valid beneficiary designation may pass under that designation. General estate planning work includes identifying which document or ownership rule controls each asset.

Incapacity planning adds another layer. The successor trustee may manage trust property, an agent may act under a power of attorney and a health care representative may address medical choices. Clear documents help define each person's authority.

What prospective clients can confirm

The published material centers on one named attorney and a defined group of estate-related services. It provides Kershner's educational background, his earlier business litigation focus and his later move into estate planning. It also states his history of more than three decades working with clients in the area.

The service list covers planning before incapacity, medical directives, asset transfer and administration after death. Probate and guardianship add court-based matters to the firm's stated work. The Law Offices of Gary R. Kershner serves clients in Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area.

Initial consultation and contact details

The office offers a free initial consultation. This gives prospective clients an opportunity to discuss the matter before deciding whether to retain the firm. It also allows the attorney to hear the basic circumstances and determine whether the requested work falls within the practice.

The listing publishes two telephone numbers: (510) 953-5652 and (510) 336-9500. These numbers provide direct contact options for questions about the consultation or appointment availability. The website supplies another place to review the firm's information before making contact.

The free consultation is a practical detail because estate-related work can begin under very different circumstances. Some people seek advice while preparing documents, while others contact an attorney after a death or a change in capacity. An initial discussion gives the client a place to explain which type of assistance prompted the call.

Office hours and scheduling

The firm lists office hours from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Saturday. Saturday is part of the published weekly schedule, which may help clients whose weekday commitments limit their appointment options.

The stated hours create a clear window for contacting the office. They cover six days each week and extend through the late afternoon. For a practice led by one named attorney, the published schedule is useful information for clients who want to plan an initial conversation.

The consultation offer and listed hours together provide a basic outline of the first step. A prospective client can contact the office during the stated schedule and ask to arrange the free initial meeting. This process is simple and clearly presented in the firm's published information.

The Leimert Boulevard office

The office address is 1425 Leimert Blvd. The street address gives clients a specific destination when arranging an in-person visit and places the practice within the community identified in the listing.

A stated local address can matter when a legal matter involves personal records or a detailed discussion of family circumstances. Clients may need to bring documents for review or speak with counsel at length. The Leimert Boulevard location provides a fixed office point for those conversations.