The office provides various types of legal services. If you are uncertain if we can represent you, please call our office to determine if we can assist you. The common areas of law we practice are below.
Wills, trusts, and probate
Ultimately, everyone will be at a point where it is necessary to pass their property to loved ones or perhaps a charitable organization. Pre-death planning includes not only who will receive property, but also who will be in charge of gathering the assets, paying proper claims, distributing the property, and who will look after any minor children. This may be done either through a Will or Living Trust. It is also a good time to direct who should make decisions for you in the event of a mental or physical infirmity. By planning for the inevitable, not only can property be passed more efficiently, but estate taxes can also be reduced or eliminated. We emphasize the small to medium-sized estate (under five million dollars for a single person and ten million dollars for a married couple).
REAL ESTATE
We can assist clients when they are buying or selling their house, commercial or investment property, or if the sale has not gone as planned. Perhaps there is a dispute with an adjoining landowner regarding the extent of a landowner's rights and their impact on a neighbor, or an issue over financing or refinancing. Due to our representation of public agencies and their imposition on conditions on developments, we normally do not represent property developers in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Landlord/Tennant
Both landlords and tenants have rights. A landlord is required by a contract and the law to provide properly for the tenant. Likewise, the tenant has agreed to pay rent to the landlord. For landlords, a common problem involves non-payment of rent. Tenants on the other hand frequently face problems caused by unscrupulous landlords. Even though evictions are simple in concept, evictions have many procedures which must be strictly followed by a landlord who is trying to evict a tenant. A tenant who is being wrongfully evicted also has rights, but the tenant must follow the same procedures or they will be evicted.
Public Agency
We currently represent three public agencies as general counsel, the Truckee Fire Protection District (since 1979), Truckee Cemetry District (since 1984) and Truckee Tahoe Airport District (since 2004). We previously represented, as general counsel, the Squaw Valley County Water District, Truckee Sanitary District, and Fallen Leaf Lake Community District. We have provided special counsel to Sierra County, Tahoe Forest Hospital District, Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District, and Alpine Springs County Water District.
The representation of these entities are similar to running any business (contracts, land acquisition and management, labor issues), but also involves ensuring compliance with laws specifically for public agencies (Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Conflict of Interest). Accordingly, our continuing education for our private entity clients assists us in representing these agencies and vice versa.
The representation of these entities are similar to running any business (contracts, land acquisition and management, labor issues), but also involves ensuring compliance with laws specifically for public agencies (Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Conflict of Interest). Accordingly, our continuing education for our private entity clients assists us in representing these agencies and vice versa.
Mediation
Most everyone agrees that trying to resolve a dispute through negotiation and communication is better than confrontation and litigation. Not only can it save time and money, it allows the parties to work out a solution that will work for everyone instead of giving the decision to a judge, who is bound to follow the applicable law even though a better resolution may be available. The mediation process will be carried out privately and not subject to public inquiries and is also done at the parties’ convenience.
It is the policy of the office to conduct what we refer to as a “conflict check” prior to any initial consultation with a potential client. As such, we ask that you contact our office directly at the phone number provided to ensure that we are not representing the individual or entity on the other side of your legal matter. If our office determines that there are no actual or potential conflicts with your matter we will then go ahead and set you up with an initial appointment.
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(530) 587 9233 |
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