About Us
About Bjornson Law
Our firm specializes in probate, estate planning, litigation, wills, trusts, elder abuse, and income taxations.
We pride ourselves on putting our clients first and listening to their stories. Our goal is to craft a successful strategy that’s efficient and cost effective for all of our clients.
Bjornson Law has over 40 years of experience spanning cases surrounding trust, estate planning, and probate matters. We look forward to assisting you with your legal needs.
Brett Bjornson, Esq.
Brett is a California Certified Legal Specialist, in estate planning, trust and probate Law. He is an inactive CPA and holds a Master of Science in Federal Income Taxation.
Brett practiced in Palo Alto, California for 20 years where his Silicon Valley CPA practice was well regarded as the premiere boutique firm adept at income, gift, and estate tax planning. Brett orchestrated trust estate and wealth transfer matters for high net-worth individuals.
Most recently, Brett was a partner at Gorman & Miller, a boutique law firm emphasizing trust and estate litigation, trust and estate planning, civil litigation, real estate law and corporate governance. Brett has also had the pleasure of serving as an adjunct professor at Glendale University School of Law where he taught the course on Wills and Trusts.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS – CIVIC & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Former Chairman of the Estate Planning Group of the CPA/BAR Alliance of Palo Alto
Former Chairman, Planned Giving Council, Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford
Former Chairman, Annual Operating Campaign for Palo Alto YMCA
Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)
Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council (BHEPC)
Former President of Pacific Palisades Rotary
Former Board of Directors, Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
Former Board of Directors of the Peninsula Chapter of CSCPA’s
Former Director of the CPA/BAR Alliance of Palo Alto
In addition to his statewide reputation for handling complex property, income, gift, and estate tax planning issues with skill and sensitivity, Brett has also hosted, organized, and spoken at various continuing education seminars on estate planning matters for CPAs and attorneys through the CPA/BAR Alliance, the Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, the YMCA and various other estate planning groups and charities. He also created and produced a series of continuing education courses and associated publications for attorneys and CPAs on a variety of trust and estate topics, including:
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“Estate Planning Without a Living Trust”
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“Basic Estate Planning”
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“Case Studies in Estate Planning”
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“Trust Accounting and Tax Issues “Checklist for Administration of a Living Trust After the Death of a Trustor”
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IRS Audit Techniques and Strategies
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Monthly programs on estate planning for CPA’s and attorneys in the Bay Area as member and Director of CPA Bar Alliance of Palo Alto
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“Numbers for Attorneys” presented at the Jerry Kaster Estate Planning Symposium at Santa Clara University College of Law
Sara Forkenbrock
Sara Forkenbrock is a paralegal who brings over 20 years in experience to the firm. Ms. Forkenbrock specializes in elder law with an emphasis on probate, trust, and estate litigation. She has spent countless hours involved with litigation plans to increase the probability for a successful outcome prior to filing any litigation. Ms. Forkenbrock is sensitive to each client’s emotional connection to their matter and believes that everyone deserves to be heard and treated with respect.
Ms. Forkenbrock received her bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University San Marcos in 1994 and is married with two fur-children and enjoys skiing, golfing, and cooking in her spare time.