Attorney Dennis A. Fordham (Lakeport, California) focuses primarily in the areas of Estate Planning, Estate Administration and Medi-Cal/SSI Benefits. Our clients come primarily from Lake and Mendocino Counties. Estate Planning is about protecting you and your loved ones in the event of incapacity and death.
It involves drafting Trusts, Wills, Death Beneficiary Forms, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Health Care Directives that meet the clients' goals regarding both Incapacity and Legacy planning: Who steps in, when they step-in, and what authority they have over the client's estate during incapacity. And, who steps in, who gets "what, when and how" after the client dies.
It involves drafting Trusts, Wills, Death Beneficiary Forms, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Health Care Directives that meet the clients' goals regarding both Incapacity and Legacy planning: Who steps in, when they step-in, and what authority they have over the client's estate during incapacity. And, who steps in, who gets "what, when and how" after the client dies.
Services
Dennis A. Fordham is a State Bar Certified Specialist in California Estate Law, including Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law. Mr. Fordham has the following degrees: B.A., Columbia University (New York); J.D., State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law; and LL.M. in Federal Tax Law from New York University (NYU) School of Law.
Business Succession Planning is about planning an orderly transfer of management and ownership of your business as a going-concern in a manner that preserves the value of your business and provides for your retirement needs and other estate planning objectives. This work combines expertise in the areas of estate planning, business entities and tax planning.
Legacy and Estate Planning in California is about protecting yourself and your family should you become disabled, and after you die. Who do you want to be in charge of your finances and assets if you become disabled? How do you want your assets to be distributed when you die? How do you wish to be remembered by your loved ones by what you did for them?
Planned Giving integrates your vision of philanthropic giving with your financial and estate planning goals. The total package allows you to enjoy tax and financial advantages and give to charity - a win-win. Begin the process by meeting with a qualified advisor - a qualified attorney, financial advisor and/or accountant, or a combination thereof - to discuss your personal financial and estate planning goals for you and your family.
Lifetime gifts and inheritances intended for persons with special needs - such as developmental disabilities, dementia and psychiatric disorders - who receive, or will receive, needs based government assistance - such as Medi-Cal and SSI - often involve Special Needs Trust (SNT's).
SNT's help preserve eligibility to receive continued government benefits while the trustee uses the assets in the SNT to supplement (and not to replace) the needed government assistance.SNT's must be drafted carefully to satisfy stringent Medi-Cal and/or SSI limitation requirements.
SNT's help preserve eligibility to receive continued government benefits while the trustee uses the assets in the SNT to supplement (and not to replace) the needed government assistance.SNT's must be drafted carefully to satisfy stringent Medi-Cal and/or SSI limitation requirements.
Reviews (10)
Brandi Carrico
Jan 01, 2022
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This man is in it for an easy payday. He was totally impatient with my family’s unique situation for obtaining a trust. We needed a starting point and he was cold and brushed us off (but immediately charged FULL price, while leaving us with more questions than ever). He isn’t willing to go the extra mile, seems more like a paper pusher than an advocate.
Linda Tellardin
Dec 30, 2021
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Tom Kelley
Dec 19, 2021
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Suzette Lewis
Oct 18, 2021
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Carlos Fagundes
Oct 16, 2021
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We needed to update our living trust and I knew Dennis Fordham from Lakeport Rotary and thought he would do good job.
We weren’t looking forward to the process because we knew it was going to be exhausting and time consuming. Dennis and his crew made the whole process extremely easy for us. He was very professional and asked a lot of questions to figure out exactly what was best for us.
Our estate planning portfolio ( including our living trust, power of attorney, & health care directive ) will help us know we have everything set up properly for our kids & grandkids.
We now can enjoy life
We weren’t looking forward to the process because we knew it was going to be exhausting and time consuming. Dennis and his crew made the whole process extremely easy for us. He was very professional and asked a lot of questions to figure out exactly what was best for us.
Our estate planning portfolio ( including our living trust, power of attorney, & health care directive ) will help us know we have everything set up properly for our kids & grandkids.
We now can enjoy life
Kelseyville Seniors Inc
Sep 11, 2021
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Manuel Borges
Aug 03, 2021
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I don’t normally write a review but my attorney Dennis Fordham is definitely worthy of a review.
I first met with Dennis in February of 2020 to assist me with an estate settlement. There was not a will or trust and as a result this estate was much more complicated that I had originally thought it would be. It involved two pieces of real estate (one of which had an unclear title), and a large amount of personal property which had to be inventoried.
Dennis did a great job. He was able to find the appropriate people to assist with getting an inventory completed. We also had to have 2 environmental
I first met with Dennis in February of 2020 to assist me with an estate settlement. There was not a will or trust and as a result this estate was much more complicated that I had originally thought it would be. It involved two pieces of real estate (one of which had an unclear title), and a large amount of personal property which had to be inventoried.
Dennis did a great job. He was able to find the appropriate people to assist with getting an inventory completed. We also had to have 2 environmental
Tom Guthrie
Nov 24, 2020
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When I needed a new family trust written and property re-deeded to my children, I went to Dennis. I didn't realize how little I knew about trusts and deeds. Dennis was very helpful and explained everything as we went along. He is professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. I am confident that when I pass, my heirs and estate will be properly protected.
Cara Pieraccini
Sep 18, 2020
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We recently needed to update our trust, which was woefully outdated and weighing on our minds. Like many people out there, we dreaded the paperwork and kept putting it off.
We did a Google search and came across lots of positive reviews of Dennis Fordham. We were so happy to have found him. Dennis made the whole process seamless and easy. He is extremely thorough and engaging.
We now have a beautiful binder with all the documents our children need after we’re gone, making their lives easier.
We now sleep better at night, knowing we’ve taken care of business.
We did a Google search and came across lots of positive reviews of Dennis Fordham. We were so happy to have found him. Dennis made the whole process seamless and easy. He is extremely thorough and engaging.
We now have a beautiful binder with all the documents our children need after we’re gone, making their lives easier.
We now sleep better at night, knowing we’ve taken care of business.
Ann
Jul 10, 2018
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My husband and I were fortunate to connect and then work with Dennis Fordham, Estate Attorney. We went into our first meeting not sure of what we needed to do to establish a trust that not only provided for our descendants but also took care of our disabled adult child. Dennis knew exactly what to do and how to go about establishing what we needed. As I was a bit intimidated by the process, Dennis took care of contacting the third party trust and working with them and us to set it up. Having a disabled child and wanting to provide for them without impacting their current services is complicated