Matthew’s practice focuses exclusively on estate planning and related areas of law. That focus means you’re not getting a generalist who does estate planning on the side. You’re getting an attorney who has spent his career mastering this area of California law.
Last Will and Testament
A will is the most basic building block of any estate plan. It spells out who gets what, and it names your executor (also called a personal representative) to carry out your wishes. If you have minor children, your will is also where you name a guardian. Without a will, California’s intestate succession laws decide everything for you, and the result may not match what you would have wanted.
Revocable Living Trust
For most Walnut Creek families, a revocable living trust is the smartest planning move you can make. It keeps your estate out of probate entirely, lets you stay in control of your assets while you’re alive, and passes everything to your loved ones quickly and privately when you’re gone. Matthew handles the full process: drafting the trust agreement, transferring assets into it (called trust funding), updating deed transfers and beneficiary designations, and making sure everything is properly titled.
Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney names someone to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may have to go to court to get a conservatorship just to pay your bills or manage your accounts. It’s one of the most important documents most people never think about until they need it.
Healthcare Directive and POLST
A healthcare directive (also called an advance healthcare directive) tells your doctors and loved ones what medical care you want if you can’t speak for yourself. It also names a healthcare agent to make decisions on your behalf. Matthew also helps clients understand when a POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is appropriate alongside their advance directive.
Pour-Over Will
If you have a living trust, a pour-over will works alongside it. Any assets that weren’t moved into your trust during your lifetime get ‘poured over’ into it at death, so everything ends up in the right place.
Beneficiary Designation Review
Your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and certain bank accounts pass directly to whoever you’ve named as a beneficiary, completely bypassing your will and trust. Matthew reviews these designations to make sure they line up with your overall plan, not just whatever you set up years ago.
Special Needs Trust
If you have a child or family member who receives government benefits like SSI or Medi-Cal, a standard inheritance can disqualify them from those programs. A special needs trust is designed to provide financial support without affecting eligibility.
Irrevocable Trust and Asset Protection
For clients with more complex situations, such as concerns about creditors, estate tax exposure, or Medi-Cal planning, an irrevocable trust may be the right tool. Matthew walks through the tradeoffs carefully so you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to before any documents are signed.
Medi-Cal Planning
Long-term care is expensive, and Medi-Cal planning is one of the most under-used tools in estate planning. Matthew helps families understand how to structure their assets in a way that may preserve what they’ve built while planning ahead for potential care costs.
Trust Administration and Probate
When a loved one passes away, someone has to actually carry out the instructions in the trust or will. Matthew guides successor trustees and executors through that process: notifying beneficiaries, gathering and valuing assets, handling creditor claims, and making distributions. If the estate does go through probate at the Contra Costa County Superior Court, Matthew handles that too.
Why Work With Matthew W. Harris
Matthew holds both a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Laws (LLM), a post-graduate law degree that reflects advanced specialization in the law. Most practicing attorneys hold only a J.D. The LLM represents an additional level of academic depth that matters in a field as detailed and consequential as estate planning.
A few things that set his practice apart:
- Focused practice: Matthew works exclusively on estate planning and related matters. This isn’t a side service at a general law firm.
- Personalized attention: You work directly with Matthew, not a paralegal or junior associate.
- Local knowledge: He understands the specific needs of families and business owners in Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, Orinda, Alamo, Pleasant Hill, and across Contra Costa County.
- Clear fee structure: No surprise billing. Matthew is transparent about costs upfront.
- In-person and virtual options: Meet at his Walnut Creek office or connect remotely via video consultation. Documents can be signed digitally when appropriate.
- Active State Bar of California member, serving the local community through the Contra Costa County Bar Association.
What to Expect When You Work With Us
The process doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how most estate plans come together:
Step 1: Initial Consultation. You sit down with Matthew (in person or virtually) and talk through your goals, your family situation, and what you own. There’s no pressure and no judgment if you don’t know the right questions to ask. That’s what the consultation is for.
Step 2: Plan Design. Based on your conversation, Matthew recommends the right documents for your situation. This usually includes a trust, will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, and sometimes additional tools depending on your needs.
Step 3: Document Drafting. Matthew drafts your estate planning documents using specialized estate planning tools and reviews them with you to make sure everything reflects your actual wishes.
Step 4: Signing and Execution. Your documents need to be properly signed, witnessed, and notarized to be legally valid in California. Matthew coordinates the execution process so nothing gets missed.
Step 5: Funding Your Trust. A trust only works if your assets are actually transferred into it. Matthew guides you through updating titles on real estate (using a quitclaim deed or deed transfer), changing account ownership, and updating beneficiary designations.
Step 6: Ongoing Support. Life changes. Marriages, divorces, new children, property purchases, business changes. Matthew is available to review and update your plan through a trust restatement or trust amendment when your circumstances shift.
Serving Walnut Creek and the Greater East Bay
Matthew’s Walnut Creek office serves clients throughout Contra Costa County and the broader East Bay Area. Whether you’re in downtown Walnut Creek near Broadway Plaza, in North Gate, Saranap, or Tice Valley, or you’re in a neighboring community, Matthew is ready to help.
Communities served include: Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, Martinez, Brentwood, Antioch, Pittsburg, Moraga, and Clayton.
Virtual consultations are available for clients who prefer to meet by video or who aren’t local to the Walnut Creek area.
Start Your Estate Plan Today
The best time to put an estate plan in place is before you need it. If something happened today, would your family know what to do? Would your wishes be followed? Would your kids be protected?
Matthew W. Harris, Esq., LLM is here to make the process straightforward and personal. Contact the office today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your family, your assets, and your legacy.
In-person and virtual appointments available.
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