Point Loma Estate Planning Law, APC

Attorney: Ted Cook

• Estate planning attorney with decades of experience focused on wills, trusts and related planning.
• Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the University of San Diego School of Law (JD, 1989).
• Former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer and Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps officer.
• Practised estate planning with Henry and Cook, LLP before founding Point Loma Estate Planning Law, APC after his partner Tom Henry passed away.
• Works closely with each client to tailor an estate plan to their specific needs and goals.

Office location

• Liberty Station office in Point Loma, San Diego.
• Address: 2305 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92106.
• The website notes ample parking is available at the Liberty Station location.

How to contact the firm

• Phone: (619) 550-7437.
• Website contact form: clients can fill out the form on the Contact Us page at pleplaw.com to request a consultation.

Consultations

• The firm offers an initial consultation (advertised on the website as an exclusive 30‑minute consultation) to discuss a prospective client's estate planning or related needs.
• Specific fees and total costs are not listed on the website; the firm notes that it offers reasonable rates and tailored solutions, and fee details are discussed directly with the attorney.

According to the firm's website, elder law and elder protection services can include:

• Integrating estate planning (wills and trusts) with long‑term care planning.
• Evaluating options that may relate to public benefits or long‑term care funding.
• Addressing elder abuse concerns and helping protect a senior's rights and assets.
• Advising on healthcare decision‑making, including advance healthcare directives and medical powers of attorney.
• Handling real estate and housing‑related issues that affect seniors.

Guardianship and conservatorship

The firm also addresses guardianship and conservatorship issues, such as:

• When a court‑appointed guardian or conservator may be needed for a loved one who cannot manage personal or financial affairs.
• The basic legal and procedural aspects of establishing or modifying a guardianship or conservatorship.
• How these court arrangements interact with existing estate planning documents.

Specific eligibility rules for public benefits, detailed long‑term care cost figures, and outcome predictions for any guardianship or conservatorship case are not listed on the website and should be discussed directly with the attorney.

Estate planning services

Point Loma Estate Planning Law, APC focuses heavily on comprehensive estate planning designed to protect a client's legacy and safeguard loved ones.

Core planning tools

The firm helps clients design and implement estate plans that may include:

• Wills – to direct how assets are distributed and who will administer the estate.
• Revocable living trusts – to manage and transfer assets, often with the goal of avoiding or minimizing probate and providing clear instructions for administration.
• Specialized trusts – such as irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, special needs trusts and asset protection trusts, where appropriate.
• Financial powers of attorney – to authorize a trusted person to handle financial and legal matters if the client becomes incapacitated.
• Medical powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives – to document healthcare wishes and appoint a healthcare decision‑maker.
• Beneficiary and guardianship designations – including designations for retirement accounts, life insurance, and guardianship planning for minor children.

Planning goals

Typical goals the firm addresses include:

• Protecting assets and preserving a family legacy.
• Reducing taxes and unnecessary expenses where possible.
• Avoiding or simplifying probate through appropriate use of trusts and beneficiary designations.
• Providing clear instructions to reduce the risk of family conflict.
• Coordinating estate planning with other legal, financial and tax professionals when needed.

Who these services are for

The firm works with adults at different stages of life, from those creating their first estate plan to clients updating or revising existing plans after life changes, with the aim of creating plans that are practical, understandable and tailored to each client's circumstances.

Point Loma Estate Planning Law, APC assists families and fiduciaries with the administration of estates after someone has passed away.

Probate guidance

The firm helps clients understand and navigate California probate, including:

• Determining whether a full probate, a simplified procedure, or a probate alternative is required.
• Preparing and filing court documents to open and complete a probate case.
• Explaining the roles and responsibilities of an executor or administrator.
• Identifying which assets are subject to probate and which may pass outside probate.
• Addressing debts, expenses and creditor claims against the estate.

Estate and trust administration

The firm also assists with non‑probate estate and trust administration, such as:

• Guiding executors and trustees through their duties to collect, manage and safeguard assets.
• Coordinating appraisals and valuations where needed.
• Overseeing or advising on distribution of assets to beneficiaries in accordance with a will or trust.
• Helping resolve questions or issues that arise during administration to keep the process on track.

Asset distribution focus

Based on the firm's published materials, a significant emphasis is placed on thoughtful asset distribution, including:

• Creating or following clear instructions so that a loved one's wishes are honored.
• Reducing the risk of disputes among beneficiaries by clarifying expectations.
• Considering tax and practical implications of how different assets are allocated.

Specific timelines, court filing fees and total costs for probate or administration are not published on the website and should be confirmed directly with the firm.

For ongoing administration of a trust, the firm can:

• Advise trustees on their legal duties and fiduciary obligations.
• Help interpret and implement the terms of a trust.
• Assist with managing, accounting for and distributing trust assets in line with the grantor's intent and applicable law.
• Coordinate with tax and financial professionals when needed.

Trust and probate disputes (trust litigation)

The firm's materials describe support with disputes involving trusts and probate, including matters such as:

• Challenges to the validity or interpretation of a trust.
• Allegations of breach of fiduciary duty by a trustee.
• Conflicts among beneficiaries over distributions or administration.
• Other contested issues that may require court involvement.

Alternatives to litigation

The website also discusses alternatives to traditional courtroom litigation in California probate and trust matters, including:

• Mediation – using a neutral mediator to help parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
• Arbitration – where a neutral arbitrator issues a binding decision, often based on an arbitration clause in a trust.
• Family settlement agreements – negotiated agreements among family members regarding division of assets.
• Trustee resignation or replacement – changing a trustee when that is the source of conflict.

Which option is available or appropriate in a particular case depends on the specific facts and the governing documents; the firm can explain options and next steps during a consultation.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.