Business Details
Trusted Estate Planning Attorneys in California
At Shiells & Hammer, we specialize in estate planning, probate, and trust administration, dedicated to helping clients protect their legacies and loved ones. Our attorneys prioritize compassionate, high-quality legal advice, ensuring clients feel supported during emotionally challenging times. With offices in Roseville and Sacramento, we serve clients across California, offering tailored solutions for estate planning, special needs planning, and probate court proceedings.Our team combines extensive experience with a commitment to ethical practice, aiming to exceed client expectations through personalized service and transparent communication. We focus on minimizing legal complexities and emotional burdens, providing fixed-fee quotes and no-obligation planning meetings to ensure clarity and accessibility for all clients.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate Court Proceedings
Trust Administration
Special Needs Planning
Advance Health Care Directives
Highlights and features
- Our attorneys specialize in estate planning, trusts, and probate with decades of combined experience.
- We offer personalized, fixed-fee legal solutions to ensure transparency and accessibility.
- Our team provides compassionate support during emotionally challenging times.
- We serve clients across California, including Placer County, Sacramento County, and the Bay Area.
- Founding partners Adam Shiells and James Hammer bring courtroom experience and proactive planning expertise.
What people say
Unparalleled service
Knowledgeable and responsive
Compassionate support
Transparent communication
Experienced attorneys
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning service ensures you maintain control over your financial and medical future through customized living trusts, wills, and advance directives. We help clients in California create comprehensive plans that protect assets and loved ones while avoiding probate court complexities. Our no-obligation consultations provide clear fixed-fee pricing for personalized estate solutions.
Probate Court Proceedings
When probate becomes necessary, our experienced attorneys guide executors through court-supervised asset distribution, will validation, and conservatorship processes. We specialize in navigating California's probate requirements to efficiently settle estates while minimizing legal conflicts and delays for grieving families.
Trust Administration
We assist trustees with post-death trust administration responsibilities, including asset inventory, debt settlement, and beneficiary distributions. Our legal support ensures compliance with California's strict trustee duties while maintaining family relationships and minimizing liability risks during emotionally challenging times.
Special Needs Planning
Our special needs planning protects government benefits like Medi-Cal while creating financial security for individuals with disabilities. We implement specialized trusts and conservatorships to ensure long-term care and independence for special needs beneficiaries across California.
Advance Health Care Directives
We help clients establish legally binding health care directives to ensure their medical wishes are honored during incapacity. This critical planning tool designates decision-makers and outlines treatment preferences, providing peace of mind during emergencies like pandemics.
People
Adam S. Shiells
Partner
Adam Shiells specializes in estate planning and probate law, bringing litigation experience to proactive planning solutions. He focuses on minimizing family conflict through customized trust arrangements and has guided clients across California since joining the firm.
James R. Hammer
Partner
James Hammer practices estate planning and elder law, combining legal expertise with compassionate support. He assists families with trust administration and probate matters, leveraging his experience from California's Trusts and Estates Section.
Robert Maybie
Paralegal
Robert Maybie supports clients with trust and estate administration, applying his conflict management background. A Sacramento native, he joined the firm in 2022, focusing on providing technical expertise and compassionate service during difficult transitions.
Rayna Amundson
Paralegal
Rayna Amundson assists with estate planning and probate documentation, drawing on her political science background and legislative experience. She supports clients throughout Sacramento and surrounding areas with meticulous attention to legal details.
Jessica Daniels
Paralegal
Jessica Daniels brings 16 years of legal experience to estate planning and trust administration. As a Sacramento-based paralegal, she helps clients navigate complex documentation while balancing family responsibilities and community involvement.
Questions
What areas of law does Shiells & Hammer specialize in?
We focus on estate planning, probate court proceedings, trust administration, and special needs planning to protect your assets and future.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, we provide no-obligation planning meetings to discuss your estate planning needs and fixed-fee options.
How can you help with special needs planning?
We create tailored estate plans to secure government benefits and future independence for families with special needs individuals.
What happens during probate court proceedings?
We guide executors through court-supervised asset distribution, will probate, and conservatorship processes with legal expertise.
Do you serve clients outside Sacramento?
Yes, we serve clients throughout California, including Placer County, Sacramento County, and the Bay Area.
