Kenneth E. Goodin

Partner
San Francisco Office
kgoodin@cwclaw.com
415-433-1900
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Kenneth E. Goodin, a partner of Cooper, White & Cooper LLP, focuses on the design and implementation of estate tax "freezing" and valuation reduction techniques, revocable and irrevocable trusts, trusts for minors, life insurance trusts, family partnerships, personal residence trusts, and various forms of family and charitable gifts. He is experienced in all aspects of probate and trust administration, and in the establishment and administration of conservatorships and guardianships, including representation of both individual and institutional trustees and executors.

Mr. Goodin also practices in the related areas of executive compensation and employee benefits, and is experienced in the design, administration, and termination of qualified employee retirement plans. He has a special interest in estate planning for the owners of closely held businesses and significant real estate holdings, and in the administration of estates comprised of real estate and business interests. He also practices in related areas of general corporate law and real estate and business transactions.

Mr. Goodin has lectured on estate planning for the National Business Institute and on probate administration for the California Continuing Education of the Bar. He has authored articles on estate planning, and is a member of the San Francisco Estate Planning Council. His recent lectures for the National Business Institute include "Drafting and Executing Living Trusts," "Funding and Operating Living Trusts," "Fundamental Principles of Will Drafting,"and "A Practical Guide to Estate Administration." He is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco's Probate section and of the American Bar Association Committees on Taxation and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law. He is certified as a specialist in the field of Estate Planning and Probate by the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

PRACTICE SPECIALITIES

1. Estate Planning - Design, documentation and implementation of all estate planning techniques including the following:

• Wills
• Revocable trusts and other will substitutes
• Life insurance trusts / Personal Residence Trusts
• Minors' trusts and other general purpose irrevocable trusts
• Annual exclusion gifting
• Estate "freeze" techniques
• Charitable gift planning
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts
• Outright charitable gifts

2. Business Planning - Advice on general business matters, particularly as related to estate planning techniques, including:

• Business entity selection
• Valuation discount techniques
• Family partnerships and limited liability companies
• Corporate and partnership buy-sell agreements
• Design, implementation and administration of qualified retirement plans
• Design, implementation and administration of non-qualified deferred compensation plans
• Split-dollar insurance arrangements

3. Estate and Trust Administration - Representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries in connection with all aspects of estate and trust administration, including:

• Probate estates
• Non-probate transfers
• Administration of estates through revocable trusts
• General trust administration

4. Conservatorships - Representation of conservators in all aspects of conservatorship administration, including petitions for appointment of conservator, obtaining proper administrative powers, administration of conservatorship assets and conservatorship accounting and termination.

Mr. Goodin received his B.A. degree from Stanford University in 1958. He received his LL.B. degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1963.