What Is A Certified Legal Specialist

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALIST

Mr. Yahnian is a Certified Specialist as designated by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization in the following areas of law:

•Taxation Law
•Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law

Few of the licensed attorneys in California have earned the “Certified Specialist in Taxation Law” or “Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law” designations from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Taxation Law Specialist

The reasons for and the significance of the designation are explained below, adapted from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization brochure What Can a Certified Taxation Law Specialist Do for You?

  • What does it mean when an attorney is a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law?
    A Certified Specialist is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A California attorney who is certified by the State Bar as a Taxation Law Specialist must have:

    • Generally, have taken and passed a comprehensive full-day written examination in tax law administered by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization or have earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation;
    • Demonstrated a high level of expertise and requisite number of years of experience in taxation law;
    • Fulfilled mandated ongoing education requirements in taxation law;
    • Been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his tax law work.
    • Taxation law is complex and constantly changing – a Certified Specialist stays current with the law.
  • Why does the State Bar certify legal specialists?
    • To help the public identify attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law;
    • To encourage the maintenance and improvement of attorney competence in specialized fields of law.
  • What can a certified Taxation Law Specialist do for you?
    • Create and implement tax plans;
    • Provide written tax opinions;
    • Apply and obtain favorable private letter rulings;
    • Render tax planning advice
    • Structure and advise upon the tax aspects of Business, Estates, Real Estate and other matters;
    • Minimize death, gift, and income taxes in connection with your Business, Estates, Real Estate and other matters;
    • Perform tax litigation to challenge tax assessments;
    • Defend you against the IRS and California taxing agencies;
    • Represent you in working out and settling tax debts

Whether your situation is simple or complex, consider hiring an attorney who is a “Certified Specialist in Taxation Law” by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization – an attorney who is committed through certification to maintaining proficiency in taxation law through continual practice and continuing education.<

Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist

The reasons for and the significance of the designation are explained below, adapted in part from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization brochure

  • What Can a Certified Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist Do for You?
    • Plan, design, and implement estate plans, simple as well as complex and sophisticated;
    • Prepare estate planning documents, including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, family LLCs and partnerships, closely held corporations;
    • Design, organize and implement plans to protect your assets from future creditors;
    • Advise how your assets may be protected from existing creditors;
    • Create and implement your estate plan by preparing wills and trusts;
    • Minimize death, gift, and income taxes in connection with your estate plan;
    • Plan, organize and implement Family Business Succession
    • Assist with probate, trust, conservatorship, Medi-Cal planning and guardianship proceedings and disputes.
    • Conduct the administration of your estate for the benefit of your family and heirs when you die
  • What does it mean when an attorney is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law?
    A Certified Specialist is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A California attorney who is certified by the State Bar as an Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist must have:

    • Taken and passed a comprehensive full-day written examination in estate planning, trust, and probate law administered by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization;
    • Demonstrated a high level of expertise and requisite number of years of experience in estate planning, trust, and probate laws;
    • Fulfilled mandated ongoing education requirements in estate planning, trust, and probate law;
    • Been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his estate planning, trust, and probate work.
  • Why does the State Bar certify legal specialists?
    • To help the public identify attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law;
    • To encourage the maintenance and improvement of attorney competence in specialized fields of law.
    • Estate planning, trust, and probate law is complex and constantly changing – a Certified Specialist stays current with the laws.

Whether your situation is simple or complex, consider hiring an attorney who is a “Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law” by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization – an attorney who is committed through certification to maintaining proficiency in estate planning, trust, and probate law through continual practice and continuing education.