Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law

For residents across California, especially within the vibrant Santa Clara County and San Jose area, planning for the future is a critical step in ensuring peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones. As life unfolds, addressing matters of health, wealth, and legacy becomes increasingly important, particularly as we or our elderly family members face medical issues, potential incapacity, or end-of-life decisions. Navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding estate planning, elder care, and probate requires not just legal knowledge, but also compassion and clear guidance. This is precisely what Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, a preeminent firm in San Jose, California, has been providing for decades.

Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, is a highly respected firm specializing exclusively in estate planning, trust, probate, and elder care law. Founded in 1975 by Roy Litherland with a goal of providing quality legal services and education, the firm, now led by President Justin M. Kennedy (a California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law), has become a trusted resource in Northern California. They are dedicated to helping families preserve their wealth and legacy, and protect against the devastating legal effects of incapacity and death.

Their philosophy centers on empowering clients through education, demystifying complex legal concepts, and offering personalized solutions. They understand that each family's situation is unique, and they strive to create plans that truly reflect individual needs, providing guidance not only during the planning phase but also during times of incapacity or estate administration. With a team of experienced attorneys and support staff, including Medi-Cal and probate specialists, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates is committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate legal services.

Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, is conveniently located at 3425 S Bascom Ave #240, San Jose, CA 95008, USA. While the address states San Jose, their service area extends to cover Campbell, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Willow Glen, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Morgan Hill, Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Boulder Creek, and Soquel, making them a central and accessible resource for a wide range of communities across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties in California.

For California locals, this central Bay Area location offers significant advantages. Easy access to their office minimizes travel time for consultations, signing documents, and attending educational seminars. Situated on a well-known thoroughfare, the office is easy to find, and generally offers ample parking, contributing to a stress-free visit. The firm's commitment to being a local resource is evident in its community engagement and its efforts to make quality estate planning and elder care services readily available to residents of the surrounding areas. This local presence fosters a sense of trust and community, which is particularly valuable when discussing sensitive personal and financial matters.

Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, offers a comprehensive suite of legal services focused on estate planning, elder care, and trust/probate administration, designed to meet the unique needs of California families.

• Estate Planning: Creating definite plans for managing wealth during life and distributing it after death. This includes:

  • Revocable Living Trusts: A proven method to protect families from the expense and delay of probate, minimize or eliminate federal estate taxes, and prevent Medi-Cal Recovery liens.
  • Wills: Ensuring specific instructions for asset distribution and guardianship for minors are followed.
  • Powers of Attorney: Designating trusted individuals to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
  • Advance Health Care Directives: Outlining your medical treatment preferences and appointing a healthcare agent.

• Elder Law Planning: Addressing the complex health care and long-term care issues facing elderly and disabled individuals and their families. This includes strategies for long-term care financing and protecting assets from care costs.

• Medi-Cal Planning: Specialized assistance with qualifying for Medi-Cal benefits to cover long-term care costs while legally preserving assets for beneficiaries.

• Trust Administration: Guiding successor trustees through the process of administering a living trust after a grantor’s passing, ensuring assets are distributed according to the trust's terms efficiently and accurately, often avoiding probate.

• Probate Administration: Assisting executors and families through the court-supervised probate process when an estate does not have a trust, ensuring assets are properly collected, debts settled, and distributed according to California law.

• Incapacity Planning: Providing guidance and legal documents to manage affairs and make decisions upon a client's incapacity, ensuring their wishes are respected and loved ones are not burdened.

The firm is dedicated to making these processes as comprehensive and least burdensome as possible for clients and their families.

Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, stands out for several key features and highlights that underscore their dedication to client success and peace of mind.

• Decades of Experience & Specialization: Founded in 1975, the firm has nearly 50 years of experience (as of 2025) exclusively in estate planning and elder care. This deep specialization ensures profound expertise in California's complex laws regarding wills, trusts, probate, and Medi-Cal planning.

• Certified Legal Specialist: President Justin M. Kennedy is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. This certification signifies a high level of proven expertise and dedication in the field, giving clients confidence in his advanced knowledge.

• Compassionate & Knowledgeable Team: Clients consistently praise the team's empathetic and knowledgeable approach. Testimonials highlight staff members like Medi-Cal specialist Dedra Jize and probate specialist Marco Ruiz for being "incredibly helpful and knowledgeable." The entire team, including Kenzie, is noted for thoroughly explaining steps and providing multiple opportunities for questions, ensuring clients feel confident and cared for.

• Client Education Focus: The firm champions client empowerment through education. They regularly host public seminars and educational presentations, offer special reports, and provide insightful articles. This commitment helps the community understand the importance of estate planning and demystifies complex legal concepts, fulfilling their goal of taking "the mystery out of estate planning and elder care."

• Holistic Family Protection: Their services extend beyond mere document preparation. As one client shared, they received help in "preserving their health at the proper facilities and preserving their estate at their end of life," demonstrating a comprehensive approach to family well-being and legacy protection.

• Proven Track Record & Client Confidence: The firm has helped thousands of people protect their families from the devastating legal effects of incapacity and death. Client reviews consistently express a high degree of satisfaction and confidence that their beneficiaries will be "very well taken care of" and that their estate is "in good hands."

• Super Lawyers Recognition: Justin M. Kennedy has been selected to the California Super Lawyers list, an honor granted to no more than five percent of lawyers in the state, further affirming the firm's exceptional legal talent.

Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, actively engages in client education and community outreach, which serves as a valuable offering for potential clients. While they do not explicitly list traditional "promotions" in the form of discounts, their commitment to public education is a significant benefit.

• Free Seminars and Educational Presentations: The firm regularly hosts free seminars and offers educational presentations designed to inform the public about estate planning, elder law, and Medi-Cal planning. These events provide an excellent opportunity for individuals to learn crucial information and ask questions in a no-pressure environment before committing to legal services. You can find upcoming seminars listed on their website.

• Special Reports and Articles: They provide free resources such as special reports and insightful articles covering various real-life issues related to estate planning and elder care. These resources help individuals gain a foundational understanding of important legal steps.

• Request a Consultation: The firm encourages individuals to request a consultation, which is a standard offering in the legal field allowing for an initial discussion of specific needs and goals. While the precise nature of this initial consultation (e.g., free or paid) isn't explicitly stated as a promotion, it's a critical first step to assess suitability and understand how the firm can help. Individuals are encouraged to inquire about their consultation policy directly when contacting the firm.

These educational initiatives and accessible resources highlight their dedication to empowering the community, acting as a valuable first step for many seeking legal guidance in estate planning.

If you are a resident in California, particularly within the San Jose or broader Bay Area, and require expert legal assistance for estate planning, elder care, or trust/probate matters, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, is ready to provide dedicated support.

• Address: 3425 S Bascom Ave #240, San Jose, CA 95008, USA

• Phone: (408) 356-9200

Their office hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and they are closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. You can also visit their website to explore their educational resources or request a consultation.

For locals in San Jose and across the broader Northern California region, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended legal resource for all estate planning, elder care, and probate needs. Their convenient location on S Bascom Ave in San Jose ensures easy accessibility for residents across Santa Clara County and beyond, fostering direct and consistent communication, which is vital for these sensitive legal matters.

The firm's deep specialization and nearly 50 years of experience exclusively in estate planning and elder law mean that locals benefit from unparalleled expertise. With a certified legal specialist like Justin M. Kennedy at the helm and dedicated specialists such as Medi-Cal expert Dedra Jize and probate specialist Marco Ruiz, clients receive highly informed and strategic guidance. This specialized knowledge is crucial for navigating California's intricate laws related to wealth preservation, healthcare planning, and asset transfer, ensuring peace of mind for both individuals and their families.

Furthermore, the glowing client testimonials consistently highlight the firm's compassionate approach and commitment to educating their clients. They are praised for making complex processes understandable, ensuring beneficiaries are well taken care of, and providing a sense of security during challenging times. The firm's proactive engagement through free seminars and educational resources further demonstrates their dedication to empowering the local community. For Californians seeking a trusted, experienced, and deeply client-focused partner to protect their health, wealth, and legacy, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates offers a truly invaluable and locally attuned solution.