Estate Planning
A good estate plan ensures the proper transfer of your assets and that your beneficiaries will be taken…
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Walnut Creek · Contra Costa County
Estate Planning,
Estate Planning,
Trust Administration
& Probate.
Conveniently located in downtown Walnut Creek, CA. Practice Areas include Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate. Contact us today for a consultation.
Attorney Profile
Ryan H. Apperson is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law, where he earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning in 2024. He is a member of the State Bar of California and the Contra Costa Bar Association's Estate Planning & Probate Section.
Updates
Plain-English explainers on California estate planning — from living trusts and probate avoidance to trustee duties and tax considerations.
Practice Areas
Ryan's practice focuses exclusively on Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate — helping Bay Area families protect their assets, avoid costly probate, and carry out their wishes.
Attorney
More About Us
Ryan H. Apperson
"Since 2015, Ryan has focused his practice on estate planning, trust administration, and probate proceedings. Committed to deepening his expertise, he returned to Golden Gate University School of Law and, in 2024, earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning."
Golden Gate UniversityJD + LL.M. Estate Planning (2024)
State Bar of CaliforniaNo. 303197 · Admitted 2015
Contra Costa Bar Assn.Estate Planning & Probate Section
How It Works
A simple, straightforward process.
From first call to final signed documents — three steps, clear expectations, no surprises.
1
Schedule a consultation
Book a free intake call. We'll learn what your family needs and explain how the process works.
2
Initial meeting
We sit down together, review your assets, answer your questions, and design a plan built around your wishes.
3
Plan delivered
We prepare and finalize your will, trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directive — then walk you through signing.
What We Do
Practice Areas
Three practice areas, one careful approach. Everything focused on protecting your family and making your wishes enforceable.
Trust Administration
Serving as the trustee of a trust can be a rewarding yet daunting task. We can assist you during that journey…
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Probate
If you need to use the California Probate Courts to administer an estate, our office can help. The probate…
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What clients say
Trusted by Bay Area families.
Real feedback from Ryan's Yelp and Avvo profiles. Swap these with live quotes before launch.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ryan made what felt like an intimidating process feel manageable. He explained every document in plain English and delivered exactly what our family needed.
JY
Yelp ClientWalnut Creek · 5-Star Review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Professional, responsive, and genuinely cares about the outcome. We felt listened to from the first call. I've already referred three friends to Ryan's office.
MA
Avvo ClientContra Costa County
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Walked us through setting up a living trust after our first child was born. Fair price, clear process, zero surprises. Highly recommend for any Bay Area family.
SK
Estate Planning ClientWalnut Creek, CA
As Seen In
Estate Planning Q&As
Your questions, answered plainly.
The most common questions Ryan gets from Bay Area families. For more, see the full Q&As page.
Why is estate planning so important?
The State of California has a plan for your estate whether you like it or not. That plan will be administered through a court oversight process often referred to as "probate." If you have more than $208,850 in total assets, your estate may be subject to probate.
Why is it so important to avoid probate?
It's expensive! Probate fees are based on the gross value of your estate. For example, the attorney's fees alone for a $750,000 estate would be $18,000. Moreover, the personal representative who petitions the court for probate is also entitled to the same fees! The process is also time-consuming. The average probate takes more than a year to complete. Probate severely delays the process of transferring assets to your heirs.
How would things be different if I had my own estate plan?
Proper planning enables you to choose who inherits your estate, who raises your children, and how the transfer of your assets is managed. Without an estate plan, you defer those choices to the California probate code and the decisions of a probate judge. Let's make your estate plan the gift that it should be.
Latest Blog
Read All Q&As
Estate Planning Q&As
Estate Planning
Why is estate planning so important?
The State of California has a plan for your estate whether you like it or not. That plan will be administered through a court oversight process often referred to as "probate." If you have more than $208,850 in total assets, your estate may be subject to probate.
Read More
Find the Office
Get Directions
Downtown Walnut Creek.
Conveniently located in the heart of Contra Costa County, with easy parking and access from I-680 and BART.
Address1299 Newell Hill Pl, Suite 300
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone925-317-8100 · Fax: 925-433-2800
Office HoursMonday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Do you need professional legal assistance?
Contact Our OfficeLegal Disclaimer
This page is a form of advertisement. Any communication herein does not create an attorney-client relationship. Likewise, no communications herein should be considered legal advice. For any client to enter into an attorney-client relationship with my office, a separate written agreement is required.