San Mateo, CA estates & probate lawyer Jeffrey Loew talks about his approach to the practice and shares the most common advice that he gives to clients. He shares that every client who comes into the office brings a deeply personal matter, not merely a business concern. Often, these cases involve the estate of a parent or close friend, or a situation where the client has been entrusted as a trustee to carry out the wishes of a loved one. Each case is prepared thoroughly with the readiness to go to trial and achieve the best possible result. At the same time, the firm recognizes that trial may not always serve the client’s best interests. Because these disputes frequently involve siblings or close family members, it is often preferable to resolve matters peacefully rather than pursue a strict win-loss outcome.

Clients are advised to remain mindful that a case may be resolved through various outcomes, some of which may provide better solutions than what a court could impose. Courts often lack the flexibility to divide matters equitably, and trials are typically zero-sum in nature. For this reason, the firm counsels clients to consider alternative resolutions that may better serve their long-term interests.