Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Estate Planning & Trust Attorney in Irvine
The Law Offices of W. Bailey Smith is a distinguished estate planning practice with over 45 years of experience serving clients across California. Certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar, the firm is led by W. Bailey Smith, a Stanford graduate and former U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Agent. With a focus on revocable living trusts, probate avoidance, and estate tax reduction, the firm has successfully created over 7,000 estate plans. Recognized in national publications like the Wall Street Journal and Readers Digest, the practice combines deep technical expertise with personalized service.The team emphasizes proactive planning to protect family assets, avoid probate, and minimize federal death taxes through customized strategies. Their approach prioritizes clear communication, using plain-language explanations and educational materials to ensure client understanding. With offices in Irvine and Long Beach, they serve all of California, including Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate
Trust Administration
Trust Litigation
Estate Tax Planning
Pet Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
Business Succession Planning
Guardianship
Conservatorship
Details
- Year established: 1970
Highlights and features
- 45+ years of specialized experience in estate planning and trust law
- Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
- Proven track record saving families millions in estate taxes
- Personalized approach with plain-language explanations and educational resources
- Serving all of California with offices in Irvine and Long Beach
Associations and certifications
- California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization
What people say
Saved millions in taxes
Certified specialists
IRS audit defense
Clear explanations
Personalized service
Services
Estate Planning
Comprehensive estate planning creates legal frameworks to manage and distribute assets. Our services include revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, durable powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. We help clients protect family wealth, avoid probate, and minimize estate taxes through customized strategies. Our process includes asset inventory, legal document preparation, and ongoing plan maintenance.
Probate
Probate services guide executors through court-supervised estate administration. We assist with asset collection, debt payment, tax filings, and property distribution according to wills or state law. Our team helps resolve disputes, remove uncooperative personal representatives, and streamline the process for estates valued over $150,000. We provide representation in probate court proceedings across California.
Trust Administration
Trust administration services help trustees fulfill their fiduciary duties after a trustor's death. We assist with asset inventory, valuation, tax compliance, and distribution according to trust terms. Our guidance covers collecting trust assets, paying debts, preparing tax returns, and preparing final accountings. We ensure proper execution of trust provisions while minimizing potential beneficiary conflicts.
Estate Tax Planning
Federal estate tax planning strategies reduce or eliminate the 40% death tax through irrevocable trusts, charitable giving, and generation-skipping techniques. We create A/B bypass trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, and dynasty trusts to preserve wealth across generations. Our approach integrates tax management with broader estate goals to prevent unintended disinheritance.
Special Needs Trusts
Special needs trusts protect government benefits for disabled beneficiaries while providing supplemental financial support. We design trusts that maintain eligibility for Medi-Cal and Social Security while covering medical care, housing, and quality-of-life expenses. Our plans address long-term care requirements for children with developmental disabilities or chronic illnesses.
People
W. Bailey Smith
Certified Estate Planning Attorney
Stanford graduate and former U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Agent with 47+ years of legal experience. Certified Specialist in Estate Planning by the California State Bar. Creator of over 7,000 estate plans and author of 'How to Plan Your Estate Today'. Recognized in Wall Street Journal and Readers Digest.
Questions
What's the difference between a will and a living trust?
A will requires probate court validation, while a living trust avoids probate by transferring asset ownership during your lifetime. Living trusts provide ongoing management during incapacity and immediate transfer to beneficiaries after death.
How can I reduce estate taxes?
We use irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and generation-skipping trusts to reduce taxable estate value. Properly structured A/B bypass trusts can preserve both spouses' estate tax exemptions.
What happens if I don't plan my estate?
Without planning, California's intestacy laws determine asset distribution. This often results in unintended beneficiaries, family conflicts, and unnecessary taxes. Probate court decides guardianship for minor children without your input.
How do special needs trusts work?
These trusts provide for disabled beneficiaries without disqualifying them from government benefits. We structure distributions to cover supplemental needs while maintaining eligibility for Medi-Cal and Social Security programs.
Can I update an existing trust?
Yes, we review and revise outdated trusts to reflect current laws and personal circumstances. Our trust review service identifies necessary amendments to ensure proper asset protection and distribution.
What's included in a complete estate plan?
A comprehensive plan includes living trust, pour-over will, durable power of attorney, advance health care directive, and asset transfer documents. We also coordinate real estate deeds and financial account titling.
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