Sacramento 916.520.5275
San Francisco 415.848.4818
Assistant Information
Michael Montgomery
Phone 916.520.5413
Email
Education
- M.A., Conflict Resolution, Brandeis University, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, 2017
- J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2014
- B.A., Political Science and Philosophy, California State University, Chico, 2003
Bar Admissions
- California, 2014
- Massachusetts, 2015
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Immigration Court
- U.S. Tax Court
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.
Kristin works with families and individuals to effectuate their wealth transfer and succession planning goals. She also regularly advises clients in connection with entity formation and management, real estate transactions, as well as the local, state, federal, and international tax consequences of their objectives. With her special focus on charitable planning, clients trust her to manage the formation and administration of private foundations and nonprofit entities. As a skilled mediator and negotiator, Kristin assists business partners with pre-venture counseling to minimize future conflicts and ensure the longevity and success of joint ventures. When necessary, she effectively and efficiently employs her advocacy skills to obtain the results her clients deserve in state and federal courts.
Kristin’s legal education and experience spans nearly two decades; her more than 10 years as a paralegal in various aspects of trusts, estates, business transactions, and taxation has given her a wide breadth of knowledge and expertise to the benefit of her clients. She has amassed more than 300 hours of mediation and negotiation training, both locally and internationally, and has participated in peace-building processes involving both interpersonal conflicts and politics at the community level on an international scale.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Phoebe’s Fund, Board of Directors, 2018-present
- KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), Volunteer Attorney
- McGeorge Prisoners Civil Rights Mediation Clinic, Adjunct Professor, 2018-2020
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California Pro Bono Panel, 2016-present
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California Voluntary Dispute Resolution Panel, 2016-present
- VLSP Estate Planning Clinic, Volunteer Attorney, 2016-present
- Gordon D. Schraber Mock Trial and Moot Court Competition, 2013-present
- California Lawyers for the Arts/Sacramento Mediation Center, 2013-2017
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento
- Sacramento Estate Planning Council
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning & Tax Law Sections
- California Lawyers Association, Trust and Estates & Taxation Sections
- International Bar Association
- Alliance for Peacebuilding, 2004-present
- Peace and Collaborative Development Network, 2010-present
- McGeorge Alumni Advisory Network
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch, Business Organizations, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, 2023-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Estate & Probate, 2020-2024
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Estate Planning & Probate, 2015-2023
- Honoree, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Dispute Resolution Panel
- Honoree, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Pro Bono Panel
- Honoree, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Voluntary Dispute Resolution Panel
- Clerkship, Honorable Justice Eldad Mwangusya, High Court of Uganda
- Phi Delta Phi, International Legal Honor Society
- Advanced tax planning techniques and valuation discount strategies that minimize income, gift and estate tax consequences of multi-generational wealth transfers.
- Irrevocable trusts, including grantor trusts, ILITs, GRATs, QPRTs, charitable trusts, and other “estate freeze” techniques.
- Representation of citizen and non-citizen individuals and couples to minimize estate and gift tax liability.
- Estate planning for unmarried couples, including same-sex partners.
- Advises clients in connection with charitable planning, including the formation and management of private foundations and other nonprofit entities.
- Represents families with special needs children and beneficiaries to ensure continued eligibility of public benefits, including the preparation of supplement needs trusts.
- Assists clients with the formation and management of various business entities and family limited partnerships.
- Real estate transactions ranging from residential and commercial real estate transactions to multi-million dollar agricultural land sales, acquisitions, and leases.
- Probate and trust administration, from simple to complex, including trust modifications, decanting, and preparation of estate tax returns.
- Conservatorships and guardianships.
- Tax controversy matters, including innocent spouse relief and offers in compromise.
- Mediation of trusts and estates matters, business disputes, and civil rights cases.
Announcements
21 related items-
August 15, 2024Best Lawyers® 2025 Recognizes 44 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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June 26, 202441 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 17, 2023Best Lawyers® 2024 Recognizes 46 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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August 1, 202338 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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June 30, 202342 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 18, 202240 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch 2023
Three selected as 2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” -
August 3, 202233 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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July 7, 202232 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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December 30, 2021Downey Brand Names Two New Partners
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November 12, 2021Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized at 12th Annual Noon Time to Honor Service
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July 7, 202130 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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June 17, 202138 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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December 31, 2020Downey Brand Promotes Three Senior Associates to Counsel
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July 24, 202045 Downey Brand Attorneys Earn Top Lawyers Distinction from Sacramento Magazine
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July 8, 202025 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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November 18, 2019Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized at 10th Annual Night to Honor Service
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May 1, 201949 Downey Brand Attorneys Distinguished as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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November 30, 2018Six Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized at 2018 Night to Honor Service
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June 29, 2018Sacramento Magazine Recognizes 54 Downey Brand Attorneys As Top Lawyers
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November 17, 2017Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized at 2017 Night to Honor Service
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October 24, 2017Downey Brand Welcomes Attorneys Avalon Fitzgerald and Kristin Capritto
Speaking Engagements / Events
28 related items-
August 8, 2024Paws and Reflect About Your Estate Plan to Prevent Roars and RowsPresenter, Estate Planning Safari at the Sacramento Zoo
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July 16, 2024Charitable Case StudiesPresenter, Sacramento Region Community Foundation's Philanthropic Advisors' Forum
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March 21-22, 2024Ouch Those Interest Rates Hurt – Or Do They – Planning In a High Interest Rate Environment2024 Estate and Gift Tax Conference
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January 16, 2024Highlights from 2023: Estate & Tax Planning Year in ReviewPresenter, Sacramento County Bar Association
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November 22, 2023Splitting Heirs: Partition of Real Property ActCEB Webinar Recording
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October 19, 2023Highs and Lows: Estate Planning Techniques for a High Interest Rate EnvironmentABA Virtual 2023 Fall Tax Meeting: Joint Estate & Gift Tax and Fiduciary Income Tax Session
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August 30, 2023Avoiding Conflict Over Your Estate PlanPresenter, UC Davis Webinar
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May 16-17, 2023Improving Filing Efficiencies and Reporting Compliance For Estate and Gift Tax ReturnsPresenter & Author, California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Washington DC Delegation
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January 31, 2023Highlights from 2022: Estate & Tax Planning Year in ReviewPresenter, Sacramento County Bar Association's Estate & Tax Planning Year in Review
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October 6, 2022Dust to Dust: An Overview of Real Property Issues for T&E LawyersPresenter, Continuing Education of the Bar Webinar
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July 28, 2022The Do’s and Dont’s When Using Life InsuranceSpeaker, 29th Annual Estate and Gift Tax Conference
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February 25, 20222022 Estate Planning SafariPresenter, Sacramento Zoo Virtual Event
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February 15, 2022Highlights from 2021: Estate & Tax Planning Year in ReviewPresenter, Sacramento County Bar Association Virtual Event
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December 9, 2021Cultural Competence for Lawyers Representing LGBTQ+ ClientsSpeaker, “Recognition and Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and Society” MCLE
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May 12, 2021Agriculture Clients: Wealth Management and Charitable GivingYolo Community Foundation Professional Advisors Forum
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September 25, 2020Is the A/B Trust Model Still ViableContinuing Education of the Bar, MCLE Webinar
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May 8, 2020COVID-19 Webinar No. 7: Considerations for Businesses & EmployersDowney Brand COVID-19 Webinar Series
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March 4, 2020Estate Planning SafariPresenter, Sacramento Zoo Special Event
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May 6-7, 2019Creating Uniformity In Partial Interest Discounts With Safe Harbor Valuation Discount Tables (Internal Revenue Code §§ 1014 and 2031)Presenter, California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Washington D.C. Delegation
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April 18, 2019Working With Your Attorney—A Fresh PerspectivePresenter, Sacramento Legal Secretaries Association
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January 2019Current Developments in Estate Planning 2019Sacramento County Bar Association
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May 7-8, 2018An Uncertain Future: How the Potential Clawback Muddies the Estate and Gift Tax WatersPresenter, California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Washington DC Delegation
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April 2018Working With Your Attorney—A Fresh PerspectiveSacramento Legal Secretaries Association
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January 2018Key Developments in Estate Planning 2018Continuing Education of the Bar, California: Estate Planning MCLE
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January 2018Current Developments in Probate and Estate Planning 2018Sacramento County Bar Association
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December 7, 2017Expanding Your Tool Box: Add Charitable Techniques to Your Problem-Solving CapabilitiesLecturer, Financial Planning Association of Northern California
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September 2017Divorce and Beyond: Constructing a Workable Estate Plan for Children with Special NeedsFamilies for Early Autism Treatment
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March 2017Divorce, Custody & Support: Constructing a Workable Parenting Plan for Children with Special NeedsSacramento County Law Library
Publications
2 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
Kristin has a strong commitment to serving others and is an ardent advocate for raising awareness of issues affecting women, children, and other marginalized groups. She has been recognized for her pro bono work, which includes representing undocumented and unaccompanied minors in both immigration and guardianship proceedings, in addition to representing incarcerated individuals in civil rights litigation. Kristin rarely misses a Sunday at the local farmers market and loves to travel, but is most centered and grounded when surrounded by her myriad of nieces and nephews.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Phoebe’s Fund, Board of Directors, 2018-present
- KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), Volunteer Attorney
- McGeorge Prisoners Civil Rights Mediation Clinic, Adjunct Professor, 2018-2020
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California Pro Bono Panel, 2016-present
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California Voluntary Dispute Resolution Panel, 2016-present
- VLSP Estate Planning Clinic, Volunteer Attorney, 2016-present
- Gordon D. Schraber Mock Trial and Moot Court Competition, 2013-present
- California Lawyers for the Arts/Sacramento Mediation Center, 2013-2017
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento
- Sacramento Estate Planning Council
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning & Tax Law Sections
- California Lawyers Association, Trust and Estates & Taxation Sections
- International Bar Association
- Alliance for Peacebuilding, 2004-present
- Peace and Collaborative Development Network, 2010-present
- McGeorge Alumni Advisory Network
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch, Business Organizations, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, 2023-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Estate & Probate, 2020-2024
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Estate Planning & Probate, 2015-2023
- Honoree, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Dispute Resolution Panel
- Honoree, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Pro Bono Panel
- Honoree, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Voluntary Dispute Resolution Panel
- Clerkship, Honorable Justice Eldad Mwangusya, High Court of Uganda
- Phi Delta Phi, International Legal Honor Society