Thomas E. Rossmeissl

I am a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Specialization. My focus is on estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and estate litigation. I help individuals and families who face serious legal situations, and I help bring them solutions and peace of mind. My goal is to help clients gain the peace of mind that comes with taking care of their families, to help clients navigate through the challenges of trust and estate administration, and to zealously represent clients in litigation to seek the best available result.

• Credit Cards Accepted

California

Since 1990

9th Circuit

Since 1992

Owner

Law Office of Thomas E. Rossmeissl

2015 - Current

Attorney at law, practicing estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and estate litigation.

Partner

Terra Law LLP

2010 - 2015

Attorney at law focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, trust and estate litigation, and some business litigation.

Staff Attorney (judicial law clerk)

United States Federal Court

2009 - 2010

Judicial staff attorney (law clerk) to United States District Judge Ronald M. Whyte

Trusts and Estates Attorney

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

2008 - 2009

Estate planning and trust and estate administration attorney working with high net worth clients.

Regional Trust Manager

Wells Fargo Private Bank

2006 - 2008

Regional Trust Manager for Palo Alto Region of Wells Fargo Private Bank, responsible for managing a team of wealth management professionals who provide and plan estate planning and wealth management strategies for high net worth clients.

Trusts and Estates Attorney

Mount & Stoelker

2002 - 2006

Estate planning and administration attorney; estate litigation attorney.

Staff Attorney (judicial law clerk)

United States District Court

1999 - 2002

Judiical Staff Attorney for United States District Judge Ronald M. Whyte

Attorney

Skjerven Morrill LLP

1994 - 1999

Intellectual property litigation attorney

Attorney

Rosenblum Parish & Isaacs

1992 - 1994

Business litigation attorney

Atttorney

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

1990 - 1992

Business litigation attorney

Georgetown University Law Center

J.D. (1990) | Law

1987 - 1990

Honors: magna cum laude, Order of the Coif

University of California - Davis

B.A. (1984) | Psychology

1981 - 1984

Honors: summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

SuperLawyer

SuperLawyers.com

2016

AV-Preeminent

Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Order of the Coif

Georgetown University Law Center

1990

Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

1984

Psi Chi

Psi Chi National Honor Society

1984

State Bar of California  # 150384

Member

Current

Silicon Valley Bar Association

Trustee

2002 - Current

Activities: Board of Trustees member

Santa Clara County Bar Association

Member

1993 - Current

Estate Administration (chapter in publication)

PLC Cross-Border Private Client Handbook

1999

Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law

State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Q. Hi I’m in California my dad passed he is married but not to my mom. He didn’t have a will or trust.

April 5, 2018

A: You should consult with an attorney near you for advice. If your father had no will or trust, then there is a possibility that you are a beneficiary to a portion of his estate. Under California's law of intestacy, the community property will pass to the surviving spouse, and any "separate property" will be divided between the surviving spouse and the deceased person's children. That said, sometimes property and accounts are held in such a way that they will pass automatically to a surviving co-owner. Your best bet is to consult with an experienced trusts an estates attorney near you, and bring with you as much information as you can gather regarding the nature of your father's assets and how they were titled at his death. ... Read More

Q. In Calif, doesthe executor of a living trust have to be a resident of Calif

April 5, 2018

A: An executor is the person who will administer a will through probate. A trustee is who will administer the trust. There is no restriction on who can serve as trustee, and an executor of the estate does not have to be a resident of California.

If the estate is going through probate and a non-California resident is the executor, he may be required to post a fiduciary bond before being appointed to administer an estate.

Q. My spouse and I had a simple (restated) spousal trust designed to continue. She died, do I need a new Cert. of Trust?

April 5, 2018

A: If there has been a change in the trust name, or a change in the trustee, you will likely need a new certification off trust. The attorney who assisted you should be able to prepare it fairly easily. The other option is to complete whatever certification forms provided by the financial institutions themselves.