Absolute Trust Counsel

Absolute Trust Counsel While some law firms offer general services meeting every conceivable legal need, Absolute Trust Counsel takes a different approach. Please consult an attorney.

California estate law is our specialty. It’s what we love and what we do best. Absolute Trust Counsel focuses on five closely intertwined areas of the law: estate planning, trust administration, probate, special needs planning and Medi-Cal planning. You need a legal team who takes the time to gain a thorough understanding of your unique situation and hones in on what exactly your goals, hopes and

concerns are regarding your legacy. And, we pride ourselves on practicing that type of personalized law. Whether you have estate planning needs, probate needs, are looking for nursing home assistance or help with a special needs family member our firm will be there for you and your family today, tomorrow and for years to come. We are your law firm for life. The content of this page provides no legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For further details, see www.absolutetrustcounsel.com.

09/03/2026

Roughly 25% of U.S. adults are childfree, and almost none of the standard financial planning playbook was written for it.

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe sits down with Scott Barnes, CFP®, CLTC, Director of Financial Planning at Childfree Wealth®, a firm built for people who aren't raising children. Their conversation surfaces something most families never say out loud: for a lot of parents, the long-term care plan is simply the assumption that a child will step in.

Kirsten and Scott talk through what changes when there's no built-in caregiver — why disability and long-term care coverage move to the top of the list, and why waiting for a crisis is the most expensive choice available.

The first days after a loss bring a new kind of time: mail arrives, bills come due, and yet you’re not the person receiv...
09/02/2026

The first days after a loss bring a new kind of time: mail arrives, bills come due, and yet you’re not the person receiving them. This guide outlines what families in California often face in the first 30 days, from death certificates and documents to trust administration vs. probate. If you need clarity, Absolute Trust Counsel is here for East Bay families. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/what-to-do-in-the-first-thirty-days-after-someone-dies-in-california-a-practical-guide-for-families/

08/31/2026

JoeyCo founder Alison Donnally was leading healthcare innovation teams at Amazon Care and Kaiser Permanente when three of her own family members --- her grandmother, her uncle, and her godmother --- each experienced a major health event while aging alone. The hard lesson: aging alone doesn't show up in healthcare offices "until it is something that is healthcare." Then, as a new mom in the sandwich generation relearning the au pair system, she had her aha moment: if American families can get relatively affordable live-in childcare, why can't older adults get the same kind of live-in support? That question became JoeyCo, which matches older adult homeowners with local students who rent a spare room and lend a helping hand around the house. Hear the full story on Absolute Trust Talk. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/14175-2/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

08/27/2026

It's the question that stops most homeowners before they start: if a student moves into my house, could I end up with a tenant I can't ask to leave? JoeyCo founder Alison Donnally walks Kirsten through the answer. Every match rests on two agreements that reference each other — a lodging agreement and a household employment agreement — and in many California jurisdictions, housing offered because of the employment gives the homeowner more support from a termination standpoint. Alison points to case law in San Francisco and elsewhere in the state built around live-in building superintendents, where the apartment is available to that person only because they perform a role in the building. She also explains what a real move-out looks like in practice, why JoeyCo stays involved in every household rather than making a match and wishing everyone luck, and why the interviews, references, and background checks mean, as Kirsten puts it, these are not squatters. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/210-aging-in-place-part-2-how-joeyco-home-sharing-actually-works/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

08/24/2026

Downsizing isn't about losing space — it's about gaining freedom. In this clip from Absolute Trust Talk, Nathan Jines of Jines Real Estate Group reveals what buyers 55 and up are really searching for in their next home — and it starts with the two things everyone needs: relationships and community. He tells the story of clients who traded a 2,500-square-foot Redwood Heights home full of a lifetime of belongings for a 1,000-square-foot condo on Yerba Buena Island — no garage, no roof to maintain, nothing to think about except where to travel next and where to eat in downtown San Francisco. As host Kirsten Howe puts it, more people are choosing to "lighten their life": fewer things, fewer obligations, and a home that works for the lifestyle they actually want. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/208-downsizing-on-your-terms-part-2-buy-first-sell-later/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

08/20/2026

Joeys don't help with feeding, transferring, or the typical ADLs --- and that's exactly the point of this moment from Absolute Trust Talk. Host Kirsten Howe shares a story about standing in a theater line behind an older woman and the younger companion who made her night out possible, and JoeyCo founder Alison Donnally explains why moments like that matter so much: as we age, life starts to feel smaller --- we become less able to get out, and one by one, we lose our friends. Even casual connection, like chit-chatting with a stranger in line at a play, restores vibrancy and expands our world. That's why Kirsten calls JoeyCo more than a business transaction --- a room and a helping hand, with wins on both sides that go way beyond the deal. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/209-aging-in-place-how-joeyco-matches-older-adults-with-student-housemates/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

08/19/2026

Joeys don't help with feeding, transferring, or the typical ADLs --- and that's exactly the point of this moment from Absolute Trust Talk. Host Kirsten Howe shares a story about standing in a theater line behind an older woman and the younger companion who made her night out possible, and JoeyCo founder Alison Donnally explains why moments like that matter so much: as we age, life starts to feel smaller --- we become less able to get out, and one by one, we lose our friends. Even casual connection, like chit-chatting with a stranger in line at a play, restores vibrancy and expands our world. That's why Kirsten calls JoeyCo more than a business transaction --- a room and a helping hand, with wins on both sides that go way beyond the deal. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/14175-2/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

08/13/2026

Think you have to sell your house before you can buy the next one? On Absolute Trust Talk, real estate agent Nathan Jines of Jines Real Estate Group explains why --- if you're financially able --- buying first and knowing where you're going is exponentially better than selling first and moving twice. Bridge lenders can collateralize the value of your current home to get you into the next one, and from there, Nathan's team handles everything remotely: clearing out the house, staging prep, painting, landscaping, inspections, and negotiations, while you review contracts and sign documents from your new life. Some of his East Coast clients never set foot in the old house again. >> https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/208-downsizing-on-your-terms-part-2-buy-first-sell-later/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

08/12/2026

JoeyCo founder Alison Donnally was leading healthcare innovation teams at Amazon Care and Kaiser Permanente when three of her own family members --- her grandmother, her uncle, and her godmother --- each experienced a major health event while aging alone. The hard lesson: aging alone doesn't show up in healthcare offices "until it is something that is healthcare." Then, as a new mom in the sandwich generation relearning the au pair system, she had her aha moment: if American families can get relatively affordable live-in childcare, why can't older adults get the same kind of live-in support? That question became JoeyCo, which matches older adult homeowners with local students who rent a spare room and lend a helping hand around the house. Hear the full story on Absolute Trust Talk. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/14175-2/

[Ad] Need help navigating these upcoming changes? We're here to assist. Schedule a free discovery call now, and let’s discuss your estate planning goals. https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/

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Walnut Creek, CA
94597

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