Law Office of Janet L. Brewer

Law Office of Janet L. Brewer Protecting the wealth and legacy of affluent families in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area—domestic and international planning for 30+ years.

www.calprobate.com | 650 325-8276 The Law Office of Janet L. Brewer has delivered trusted estate planning services to affluent families in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area for more than 30 years. Based in Los Altos, the firm helps clients navigate legacy planning with clarity, whether their needs are local, international, or both. While the firm handles a wide range of estate planning matters, abou

t a quarter of its work involves international planning for U.S. citizens, green card holders, visa holders, non-residents with U.S. assets, and non-residents with California beneficiaries. Janet and her team design tax-efficient plans that utilize tools such as trusts and wealth transfer strategies to protect what matters most across multiple jurisdictions. As a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, Janet Brewer leads the firm with a commitment to clarity, confidence, and personalized service. Visit www.calprobate.com to access free planning guides in the Resource Room or to schedule a consultation.

If you became unable to make decisions tomorrow, who would step in?For single adults, this question does not answer itse...
05/28/2026

If you became unable to make decisions tomorrow, who would step in?

For single adults, this question does not answer itself. Without a financial power of attorney and a medical power of attorney in place, a court may appoint someone on your behalf — and that person may not be who you would have chosen.

Naming the right people in advance is one of the most important things you can do. Here's where to start. >> https://bit.ly/4nzSdrW

If you pass away without an estate plan, California law decides who receives your assets — and the default order may hav...
05/26/2026

If you pass away without an estate plan, California law decides who receives your assets — and the default order may have nothing to do with your actual wishes.

That gap between intention and outcome can be significant. The people you would have chosen may receive nothing, while distant relatives you barely know may inherit by default.

Putting the right documents in place changes that entirely. Read more about what single adults should have in order. >> https://bit.ly/3ReFvmx

What are you really passing on?Assets transfer through wills and trusts. Values transfer through conversation. Families ...
05/08/2026

What are you really passing on?

Assets transfer through wills and trusts. Values transfer through conversation. Families who talk openly about how their wealth was built — what it cost, what it means, and what they hope it will do — give their heirs something no document can provide: context.

That context is what shapes a beneficiary into a steward.
Read more about how families are approaching this — and what it can mean for the legacy you leave. >> https://bit.ly/4cDS1CW

Warren Buffett's advice on estate planning has nothing to do with stock picks.He recommends that every parent — regardle...
05/07/2026

Warren Buffett's advice on estate planning has nothing to do with stock picks.

He recommends that every parent — regardless of wealth — sit down with their children and explain the logic behind their estate plan before it is ever needed. Not to negotiate. Just to make sure no one is left asking "Why?" when you are no longer able to answer.

It is simpler than it sounds. Read more about how to make that conversation happen. >> https://bit.ly/4ewfZCQ

Most high-net-worth families say their heirs are not very prepared for their inheritance. And 61 percent have given them...
05/06/2026

Most high-net-worth families say their heirs are not very prepared for their inheritance. And 61 percent have given them no meaningful direction about how the wealth should be used.

That is not a planning failure — it is a conversation failure.

Stewardship is not about the size of an estate. It is about the mindset heirs bring to receiving it. And that mindset develops long before any documents are signed.

Here's what those conversations can look like — and how to start having them. >> https://bit.ly/4cDRUau

When did you last talk to the person named in your medical power of attorney?If it has been a few years — or if you have...
05/01/2026

When did you last talk to the person named in your medical power of attorney?

If it has been a few years — or if you have never had that conversation at all — now is a good time. Health conditions change. Relationships evolve. The preferences you had when you signed that document may look different today.

An annual review with your agent and estate planning attorney can help ensure your plan still reflects who you are and what matters most to you.

Read our latest article for a practical guide to what that conversation should cover. >> https://bit.ly/4eHaDoe

You've named someone to make medical decisions for you if you can't. But have you told them what you actually want?A med...
04/29/2026

You've named someone to make medical decisions for you if you can't. But have you told them what you actually want?

A medical power of attorney is only as effective as the conversation behind it. Your agent needs to know your preferred physicians, your treatment history, your medications, your allergies, and — perhaps most importantly — your quality-of-life priorities.

Without that guidance, even someone who knows you well may struggle to act on your behalf with confidence.

Here are some tips to help ensure your agent knows what to do and how to honor your wishes. >> https://bit.ly/4cDRpx8

A will or trust can transfer your assets. It cannot explain your reasoning.When heirs are left to interpret decisions wi...
04/28/2026

A will or trust can transfer your assets. It cannot explain your reasoning.

When heirs are left to interpret decisions without context, confusion and conflict can follow — not because the plan was poorly designed, but because it was never discussed. A family meeting gives your estate plan a voice that documents alone cannot provide.

Here's how to approach that conversation — and make sure it does what you need it to. >> https://bit.ly/4cXb8cx

04/27/2026

The IRS treats the exact same asset completely differently depending on whether you give it away or die owning it. 🔄

Here's how it works for non-resident individuals who own US stock (like shares of Apple):

For GIFT TAX purposes: Stock is considered an "intangible asset." Intangibles aren't tied to a US location, so they're NOT subject to US gift tax.

For ESTATE TAX purposes: The IRS flips the script. That same stock is now considered a "US situs asset" because it's stock in a US corporation—and it IS subject to estate tax.

The result? A non-resident person could gift Apple stock the day before they die with no tax consequences. But if they die still owning it, it's fully taxable.

Attorney Janet Brewer explains these contradictory rules and what they mean for your planning. Here's what you need to know >> https://bit.ly/46R8baj.

For educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. For detailed information, visit: https://www.calprobate.com/full-legal-disclaimer/

04/24/2026

Before COVID, real estate agents in Silicon Valley ran bus tours—40 to 50 foreign investors at a time—who bought million-dollar homes as rental properties. 🚌🏠

But here's what many of those buyers didn't realize: when a non-resident individual dies owning US property, their estate faces a difficult choice on the tax return.

Option 1: Only report US assets (keeping foreign holdings private), but LOSE the ability to deduct things like mortgage interest.

Option 2: Disclose ALL worldwide assets to claim those deductions.

For investors who own substantial assets abroad, this forced disclosure can be a dealbreaker—and skipping those deductions can add tens of thousands to the tax bill. >> https://bit.ly/4sCIRND

For educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. For detailed information, visit: https://www.calprobate.com/full-legal-disclaimer/

Address

4 Main Street, Suite 20
Los Altos, CA
94022

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16503258276

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