Key Contacts
Kristin N. Capritto
Kristin N. Capritto
Partner
Kristin Capritto assists clients with all aspects of estate planning, trust administration, probate, business entities, and real estate transactions. Her alternative dispute resolution and negotiation expertise offers clients alternatives to litigation and adversarial proceedings.
Sacramento 916.520.5275
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5275
San Francisco 415.848.4818
Related Industries
Related Practices
Wealth Transfer
Our Wealth Transfer group lawyers focus on estate planning and administration. The lawyers in this group routinely deal with the interplay of business, tax and estate planning on the one hand, and family dynamics on the other. We expect business succession planning, in particular, to become increasingly important as Baby Boomers transfer businesses at retirement or through their estates. Much of the work of our group is tax sensitive.
We handle a broad spectrum of wealth transfer planning projects, from simple revocable trusts to complex estate freezes and multi-generation trusts. We help clients identify their estate planning objectives, and then we help them structure estate plans designed to meet those objectives. We advise trustees and executors regarding their fiduciary duties and the proper administration of the trusts or estates for which they are responsible. We understand that clients can sometimes be overwhelmed by the complexity of the estate planning and administration process and the related documents. We focus on identifying the most critical information and then educating clients so that they are more comfortable with the process.
Our wealth transfer group lawyers recognize the importance of staying technically sharp. Our partners are present or past members of the California State Bar Trusts and Estates Section Executive Committee (which takes just five lawyers state-wide each year). They are all certified as specialists in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. One or more of them have also presented for many years to other lawyers in the region at the annual Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) estate planning recent developments program in Sacramento.
Selected Experience
- We represented a married couple whose $13 million estate included an operating corporation and numerous limited liability companies, one of which owned substantial commercial real estate. Most of the real estate was used in the business operations, but some was not. Two of the couples’ three children were involved in the business and one was not. Following the death of husband, through a combination of strategic asset allocation among sub-trusts, disclaimers, gifts, and intra-family sales, we helped the extended family reorganize the business and real estate property ownership. As a result, all of the business-related real estate and all of the stock of the operating company are now owned by the children and grandchildren who are involved in the business. Other property formerly held in entities is now owned by those not involved in the business. In the process, the widow fully utilized her roughly $5 million gift tax exemption, and property tax reappraisal was minimized.
- We represented a married couple whose $13 million estate included an operating corporation and numerous limited liability companies, one of which owned substantial commercial real estate. Most of the real estate was used in the business operations, but some was not. Two of the couples’ three children were involved in the business and one was not. Following the death of husband, through a combination of strategic asset allocation among sub-trusts, disclaimers, gifts, and intra-family sales, we helped the extended family reorganize the business and real estate property ownership. As a result, all of the business-related real estate and all of the stock of the operating company are now owned by the children and grandchildren who are involved in the business. Other property formerly held in entities is now owned by those not involved in the business. In the process, the widow fully utilized her roughly $5 million gift tax exemption, and property tax reappraisal was minimized.
- A recent federal tax law change allowed just a two-week generation-skipping transfer tax “holiday” for transfers to certain kinds of trusts for benefit of grandchildren. Within that two-week window, we helped the client refinance an $8.5 million promissory note owed to her by a grandchildren’s trust she had previously created. She then forgave the note. As one of the benefits of this planning, she saved over $2,500,000 in generation-skipping transfer tax.
- An irrevocable trust established 30 years ago provided for asset distributions under standards and at beneficiary ages that no longer made sense in light of changing circumstances. We asked the court to modify the trust in accordance with certain Probate Code authority. We received a court order that modified the trust and will allow the trustee to properly administer the trust for several more decades.
Jennifer D. Barcellos
Jennifer D. Barcellos
Associate
Jennifer Barcellos assists families and business owners in various areas of estate planning, trust administration, probate, business, real estate, and estate, gift, and income taxation. Clients trust that she will skillfully guide them through the legal complexities with compassion and empathy.
Sacramento 916.520.5462
Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5462
Kristin N. Capritto
Kristin N. Capritto
Partner
Kristin Capritto assists clients with all aspects of estate planning, trust administration, probate, business entities, and real estate transactions. Her alternative dispute resolution and negotiation expertise offers clients alternatives to litigation and adversarial proceedings.
Sacramento 916.520.5275
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5275
San Francisco 415.848.4818
James L. Deeringer
James L. Deeringer
Of Counsel
Jim Deeringer is one of Northern California's premier trust and estate litigation attorneys. With more than 35 years of practice, he has handled hundreds of planning, administration, and litigation matters involving estates ranging from the relatively small to over $100 million in value.
Sacramento 916.520.5352
Of Counsel
Sacramento 916.520.5352
Announcements
7 related items-
February 16, 2022Hannah Shakin Joins Downey Brand’s Trusts and Estates Team
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November 9, 2020Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2021 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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January 2, 2020Downey Brand Welcomes Aaron Johnson to Estate Planning and Taxation Practices in Sacramento
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November 4, 2019Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2020 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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December 15, 2017Downey Brand Partner Silvio Reggiardo Appointed Sacramento County Bar President
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November 6, 2017Downey Brand Named a Tier 1 Regional “Best Law Firm” in Six Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® in 2018
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October 24, 2017Downey Brand Welcomes Attorneys Avalon Fitzgerald and Kristin Capritto
In the News
1 related items-
February 2, 2014Family Farms: How to Pass On – or Sell Off – the Family Business
The Sacramento Bee
Speaking Engagements / Events
19 related items-
March 21-22, 2024Ouch Those Interest Rates Hurt – Or Do They – Planning In a High Interest Rate Environment
2024 Estate and Gift Tax Conference -
November 22, 2023Splitting Heirs: Partition of Real Property Act
CEB Webinar Recording -
October 19, 2023Highs and Lows: Estate Planning Techniques for a High Interest Rate Environment
ABA Virtual 2023 Fall Tax Meeting: Joint Estate & Gift Tax and Fiduciary Income Tax Session -
August 30, 2023Avoiding Conflict Over Your Estate Plan
Presenter, UC Davis Webinar -
May 16-17, 2023Improving Filing Efficiencies and Reporting Compliance For Estate and Gift Tax Returns
Presenter & Author, California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Washington DC Delegation -
October 6, 2022Dust to Dust: An Overview of Real Property Issues for T&E Lawyers
Presenter, Continuing Education of the Bar Webinar -
July 28, 2022The Do’s and Dont’s When Using Life Insurance
Speaker, 29th Annual Estate and Gift Tax Conference -
May 13, 2022When Family Friction Catches Fire: Practical Advice for Avoiding Interfamily Litigation
Presenter, Capital Region Family Business Center's 2022 Annual Generations Conference -
February 25, 20222022 Estate Planning Safari
Presenter, Sacramento Zoo Virtual Event -
May 12, 2021Agriculture Clients: Wealth Management and Charitable Giving
Yolo Community Foundation Professional Advisors Forum -
December 3, 2020SECURE Act Planning for Retirement Plans in Trusts
El Dorado Community Foundation -
March 4, 2020Estate Planning Safari
Presenter, Sacramento Zoo Special Event -
May 7-8, 2018An Uncertain Future: How the Potential Clawback Muddies the Estate and Gift Tax Waters
Presenter, California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Washington DC Delegation -
January 29-30, 2018Death and Taxes are Certain, Divorce is Possible, and Business is Unpredictable – Are You Prepared?
Co-Presenter, Capital Region Family Business Center's 2018 Annual Generations Conference -
August 3, 2017New Digital Assets Law and Potential New Tax Law Changes
Co-presenter, Crocker Art Museum Estate Planning Seminar -
May 20, 2014Beware the Bankruptcy Trustee, South Placer Estate Planning Council
Presenter -
October 29, 2013Keeping the Family Farm in the Family – Part 3
Downey Brand and Westmark Group Program -
May 16, 2013Keeping the Family Farm in the Family – Part 2
Downey Brand and Westmark Group Program -
March 28, 2013Keeping the Family Farm in the Family – Part 1
Downey Brand and Westmark Group Program
Legal Alerts
1 related items-
July 27, 2015Small Adjustments to Estate Plans Can Save Income Tax Without Triggering Estate Tax
Estate Planning
Publications
10 related items-
November 2018Valuation Discounts in Modern Estate Planning
California Grocer, Issue 5 -
October 2018An Uncertain Future: How the Potential Clawback Muddies the Estate and Gift Tax Waters
California Tax Lawyer, Vol. 27, No. 3 -
October 20, 2017Tax Law Uncertainty Should Not Delay Your Estate Planning
Sacramento Business Journal -
Fall 2017Tax Law Uncertainty Should Not Delay Farming Business Succession Planning
Spotlight -
April 2016Family Farm and Ranch Business Succession
Inside the Minds: Family and Business Succession Planning, 2016 Ed., Aspatore Books -
Spring 2012Going, Going, Gone? Gifting Under the Soon-to-Expire Tax Law
Spring 2012 Pathways -
Fall 2010Special Needs Trusts Help Disabled Beneficiaries Think Charitably This Holiday Season
Pathways, A Trust and Estate Newsletter from Downey Brand -
Spring 2010Plan Now to Avoid Capacity Challenge Later; Roth IRA Conversion Opportunity; Estate Planning can Be Funny!
Pathways, A Trust and Estate Newsletter from Downey Brand -
Fall 2009New California Laws; A Historical Perspective on Estate Taxes; Will Congress Fix the Estate Tax – and When?; Charitable Remainder Trusts
Pathways, A Trust and Estate Newsletter from Downey Brand -
Spring 2009New Law Impacts No-Contest Clauses; Why Wills Matter: Estranged Father Inherits from Son He Never Met; Update Your Beneficiary Designations
Pathways, A Trust and Estate Newsletter from Downey Brand