About Jim Gifford

Practice Areas.

Estate planning lawyer Jim Gifford handles legal matters in the following areas: estate planning (including wills and trusts and powers of attorney), estate administration (including probate and trust estates), conservatorships, guardianships, and general business matters (including contracts, incorporation and formation of partnerships and limited liability companies, business planning, buying or selling a business) and real estate.

Education and Experience.

His interest in estate planning commenced with his service as a bank trust officer immediately following the award of his J.D. Degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, California, having previously received his B.A. Degree in Economics (emphasis in accounting) from Stanford University, after which he served as a line officer, then as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy.

During his many years of private law practice he has been engaged principally in the field of estate planning and has had the privilege of serving as president of the Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council and as president of the Rotary Club of Los Gatos. Jim also is a member of the Christian Legal Society, has served as an elder of the Los Gatos Christian Church and as a member of the board of the Saratoga Federated Church Foundation.

Current Employment:
Lawyer, Sole Practitioner

Areas Of Practice:
Estate Planning, including:
     Wills
     Trusts (design and drafting)
          Living Trusts
          Minors Trusts
          Charitable Trusts
          Life Insurance Trusts
     Durable Powers of Attorney (for financial matters)
     Advance Health Care Directives

General Business Matters, including:
     Selection and formation of business entities
     Business buyout agreements

Bar Admissions:
California
U.S. District Court Northern District of California

Education:
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Berkeley, California
     J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence

Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
     B.A., Bachelor of Arts
     Major: Economics

Experience and Affiliations:
United States Navy
     Former Line Officer
     Former Intelligence Officer

Banking
     Former Trust Officer

Santa Clara County Bar Association
     Member

Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council
     Member
     Former President

Los Gatos Christian Church
     Former Elder

Rotary Club of Los Gatos
     Member
     Former President

Christian Legal Society
     Member

Saratoga Federated Church
     Member

Saratoga Federated Church Foundation
     Member of Board

Silicon Valley Bar Association
     Member