Richard D Silvester, JD LLM

Specialties

My law practice focuses on estate planning and administration, including preparation and administration of living trusts. Although one of my objectives is to assist my clients in avoiding Probate, if it becomes necessary, I am also able to assist in Probating estates in Superior Court. I have been designated a Legal Specialist in Probate, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. I have assisted clients in establishing more than 1,500 living trusts in the San Francisco Bay Area, and have been practicing law for more than 35 years.

I pride myself in providing personalized, courteous, professional and prompt legal services. I offer a no-​cost initial consultation, and am usually able to make house calls or hospital visits for clients unable to meet in my office. I encourage potential clients to call and chat for a few minutes so we can begin to get acquainted.

History

Established in 1979.

After working for several years in Washington, D.C. for the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, followed by working in the Law Department of Southern Pacific Transportation Company in San Francisco, I opened my own law office in Concord, California, in 1979. After working nearly 30 years in the City of Concord, I moved my office to Walnut Creek, California, in early 2009.

Along the way, I have also worked at various times as an adjunct (part-​time) faculty member at Golden Gate University’s Graduate School of Taxation in San Francisco.

For the most part, my business has been operated in the same manner as it is now, as a «sole practitioner,» which means that I do the legal work myself and do not delegate it to a less-​experienced attorney or a paralegal. I find this makes it easier to draft legal documents that will carry out the estate planning objectives I have discussed with my clients.

Meet the Business Owner

Richard S.

Business Owner

As background, I grew up in the State of Idaho, did my undergraduate studies in Utah at Brigham Young University, and attended the University of Utah College of Law, where I graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

While working as a Justice Department Attorney in Washington, D.C., in the early 1970’s, I did post-​doctoral studies at the George Washington University School of Law, where I received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Taxation Law.

I have been active in various civic, church and community organizations, spending time as a Scoutmaster, President of a Rotary Club and an active member of numerous other local and professional organizations.

I live in the community of Clayton, California, and am happily married to Melanie Silvester. Between us, we have 7 children and 10 grandchildren scattered around the world.