If you want to set up a revocable living trust as part of your estate planning, it would be hard to find an attorney better qualified than John Goralka. My spouse and I retained him in 2016 to help us establish a revocable living trust that continues to protect our interests despite multiple changes in tax and inheritance law since the trust was created. We have not had to make any changes or pay any additional fees since our trust was created. In addition to his expertise in both estate and tax law, he is personable with very good communication skills, has a great sense of humor, and truly cares for his clients. Before the pandemic, John regularly presented free estate planning seminars in his offices for current and prospective clients and hosted periodic "wine downs" at the end of the workday featuring his favorite wines and food that he prepared himself. During the pandemic he has been especially attentive to his older clients, many of whom had lost their life partners and became quite isolated due to the lockdown. His "Wine Down Wednesdays" moved online to Zoom and featured a companionable mix of conversation, trivia games, and a fun raffle for participants. For a long time, our estate planning consisted of holographic wills of our own design, adding the right of survivorship to the title on our home, transfer on death designations on financial accounts, and beneficiary designations on our retirement accounts. After one of our mutual fund companies said they would refer our accounts to a probate court rather than follow our instructions about how to determine inheritance in the event we both died within thirty days of each other, we seriously considered a do-it-yourself trust using a Nolo.com template. If no one ever scrutinizes or challenges your DIY trust: no problem. If you make a mistake, however, your estate can end up in probate after all and have to pay a huge probate fee that is many times the cost of a professionally prepared trust. We decided to pay the upfront costs of a professional trust and searched for the right attorney. We met with three other well-qualified estate planning attorneys before selecting John. His pricing was in line with what other law firms charge for a comprehensive trust that covers the many contingencies that can come up. As John likes to say "bad things can happen to good people" so you want to be prepared and have a good attorney who can protect you. Squabbles over inheritance have torn many families apart. John stands behind his trust work and will defend you and your trust from challengers and make sure your wishes are respected. Other than death and taxes, the only sure thing in life is you don't get what you don't pay for... The State of California has already written an expensive legally binding estate plan for you. If you would like more say in what happens to your assets at less cost, consider a revocable living trust. We have referred a number of our friends and neighbors to John. Those that have used his services have all been pleased. John offers a free one hour consultation to discuss your needs and how he might help you. Have a look at his website and call his office if you have questions. read more

To anyone in need of a good trust attorney, I share my personal experience with the John Goralka Law Firm. I am the recently widowed 85 year old father of a multi-handicapped, legally blind, neurologically impaired adult son and two professional social worker daughters who are severely dysfunctional in our family matters. My trust needs are difficult. Several years ago after disappointing experiences with trust attorneys, I read in the newspaper an advertisement for a free trust seminar by Mr. Goralka which my wife and I attended. Mr. Goralka spoke for two hours on a variety of life situations and legal ways and maneuvers to avoid and/or protect from those circumstances. We found his knowledge of potential situations and legal solutions astounding. As we left seminar, my wife ask what I thought and I told her "after listening to this guy for two hours I think I can pass the bar exam and this is the attorney we need to work with." We hired Mr. Goralka in 2016 to rewrite an existing, problematic, special needs trust for our son and a living trust for ourselves. My wife died January 1, 2021 and those trust served me flawlessly. I have currently hired Mr. Goralka to write two new trusts, a special needs trust for my son, and a living trust for me, that will, upon my death, combine to insure the continued support and protection of my 50 year plus son. In this for me, difficult time, I have found Mr. Goralka to be not only legally intelligent but patient, sensitive, and understanding of my situation. He continually strives to insure the new trust accomplishes my wish wishes and needs and that my sons interests are well represented and protected. I extend my personal thanks to Mr. Goralka and to anyone needing a trust attorney I, without reservation, recommend the Goralka Law Firm. Anyone wishing additional information is welcomed to contact me by email: carrchat2@comcast.net Jerome Carr read more

My younger brother had a horrific work-related accident back in the mid 1980's. My parents worked with a group of attorneys to settle his case. A very large monetary settlement was paid which would have been in subject to probate fees, costs and estate tax. A part of that group was an estate planning law firm that employed John Goralka. John worked closely with my parents as he created a trust to avoid conservatorship during my brother's life. John's trust also prevented probate costs and estate tax upon his death. John was able to create that despite the fact that my brother lacked the capacity due to the accident. They later hired John to advise and help them oversee and administer the trust at his newly created law firm. It's been about three years since all parts of the trust have been completed and I am so glad John was able to put a plan in place to prevent any estate tax being due upon my brother's death. My father and John worked through a very tough time for our family and Dad came to think of John as a part of the family because John was so protective of my brother's trust. When my father passed away, my mother became the trustee, and I accompanied her to meetings that involved the trust. I had never met John, but he earned my respect through his manner, sincerity, and knowledge of every situation we encountered. He always listened and addressed all concerns we had. He fought for us when insurance companies attempted to take advantage of my mother as she acted as trustee. The insurance company tried to avoid payment of a substantial amount due upon my brother's death. John sued, forced the release of the financial information and obtained another very large payment for the family. John has always been there for us, and I am forever grateful for all he has done for my family. read more

We first met John at a seminar he was giving about estate planning and trusts. I went expecting a timeshare hard type sell approach. I could not have been more wrong. John went through a information packed presentation. He explained various types of trusts and the and living wills giving pros and cons of each type. I came out of that presentation feeling informed not pressured. We made an appointment to have John prepare our trust. When we met in John's office all his employees were friendly, happy and helpful. He made the preparation of the trust more like a friend having a conversation than a boring and lawyerly box "A", box "B", sign here inquisition. After the first meeting we received a rough draft to go over. We were able to rethink some things and make changes. During this time all calls and questions were promptly answered and resolved with the same friendly attitude. When we came to sign, it was like meeting with a friend. The process was quick and all documents were very well prepared. We have an in depth understanding of what we would need to do and very clear instructions for the Successor Trustee. We recommended Goralka Law Firm to my wife's parents and they too are having their trust updated. At all times John Goralka and his entire staff were professional, friendly and helpful. I not only highly recommend Goralka Law firm I will only use them for any future Estate planning. read more

This review is long overdue. A while back we had a severe mold infestation caused by a leaky kitchen sink in an apartment we were renting. The owner refused to invest to properly (and safely) have the mold removed and sink fixed. As a result, the mold began impacting my health and the landlord refused to allow us to break our lease. A family friend recommended we contact the Goralka Law Firm because they had a very positive experience working with them. Even though tenant/landlord disputes are not the main focus of the Goralka Law Firm, they agreed to take on our case and were both friendly and pleasant to work with. The Goralka Law Firm explained our rights as tenants and helped us draft a legal note to our landlord requiring him to make appropriate fixes or allow us to break our lease. They were both prompt in their drafting of the letter and available to answer all of our questions. Ultimately, our landlord let us out of our lease, refunded our full deposit, and we had no need to pursue further legal action. We are so grateful to the Goralka Law Firm for their help and expedited delivery of all legal documents - we highly recommend this law firm! read more

I worked with John Goralka in setting up a legal structure for my business. His knowledge and suggestions regarding which structure I needed were spot on target. I was very happy with how he worked with me and the patience to deal with my endless questions! Why is that important? He billed me one price for the whole setting up and didn't charge extra when i called with yet another question or concern. He doesn't nickel and dime you for everything which is as nice as it gets from an attorney. I was so satisfied that I ended up having him work on a personal trust for me. Again, he was very patient in making sure I understood the ins and outs of what I was trying to do. His guidance and expertise made the process of getting things set up a relatively easy process. His price structure was also fair and didn't have little add ons here and there. Very fair and reasonable. I also honestly feel like he actually cares me as a client AND a person. He shows by his demeanor and actions that he is vested in doing the best that he can for me as my attorney. I will continue to use John for as long as he will have me as a client! read more

While representing me during a very long and difficult tax case with the State of California and audit with the IRS, John was always very professional, thorough and competent in the areas of State and Federal tax law and procedures. He put all his expertise and energy into my case to affect a positive outcome. In addition, Mr. Goralka always represented himself with the utmost integrity and honesty whether with other counsel, judges, or with outside experts and witnesses. While a tax audit and tax court case can also be emotionally challenging, John did a very fine job of assisting with the practical aspects of managing my disposition and emotions through some otherwise difficult times. In the end, he was able to reach a favorable settlement for me, often knowing what was best for me, even if I was not always aware what was best for myself. I would recommend Mr. Goralka and am available to speak to any prospective client that would like more information. read more

I have known John for over 30 years. His honesty and character are beyond reproach. His professional resume ranks among the top in the industry. I have retained John's services on several occasions and have been thoroughly satisfied with his superior legal work. Furthermore, as a legal professional myself, I am often asked by friends and family for attorney referrals. I have made a dozen or so referrals for people seeking help with estate planning to John. Without fail, each person I directed his way praised his excellent work and thanked me for recommending him to them. Lastly, John has surrounded himself with a team of professionals and support staff that mirrors the high standards he sets for himself. John's firm is truly one of the premier estate planning firms in the area; one can retain The Goralka Law firm knowing they have made the right choice in choosing their attorney. read more

I attended a Living Trust seminar presented by John. My mother had just passed and Mom and Dad's Living Trust had not been updated in nine years. I was impressed with the extensive knowledge John demonstrated. I went home and told my father he should contact John to update his living trust since it had been so many years since it had been done. We went to see John and he updated my Dad's trust. Dad is very happy with what John and his staff have done. He now has peace of mind knowing all his wishes will be taken care of. John and his staff were very professional and at the same time so friendly we felt like we were now part of their family. We highly recommend John and the John Goralka Law firm to anyone who needs top notch legal help with their Living Trust needs. Sincerely, Ray and Diane Baxkstedt read more

The Goralka Law Firm helped us set up a trust for our family. They were really pleasant to work with and made the process an easy one. They answered any questions we had, gave us some great advice when we asked for it, and even gave us some things to think about we hadn't even considered having to make a decision on. John also represented us in a dispute with our neighbors and with a lease dispute. We were very pleased with the outcome of both issues. He's always prompt and courteous to our needs and requests. We have never felt that we were overcharged for his services. We are very happy working with The Goralka Law Firm and will continue to do so. He's the first attorney that comes to mind when we are needing or looking for legal advice. We highly recommend the Goralka Law Firm. Terri M. read more

I started my relationship with the Goralka Law Firm by attended their living trust seminar. I highly recommend this! I have been a financial planner for almost 20 years and have attended numerous seminars, but none as educational and motivational as John Goralka's! After the seminar, I arranged to have him come speak at my branch office where he was equally impressive. He and his staff have been nothing but professional, timely and pleasant to work with. I also just completed the process to create our family trust.and was most satisfied. Every concern I had and decisions I needed to make were carefully addressed. In close, I highly recommend the Goralka Law Firm to anyone in need of a new trust, trust update, or estate tax planning. You will not be disappointed! read more

My wife and I attended a seminar presented by John Goralka and were very impressed by his knowledge and the way he engaged the attendees.. We decided that night to have John update our trust. We made an appointment and went into the Goralka office shortly after the seminar to meet privately with John. The initial data gathering meeting went well. A month or so later and after we reviewed the first draft of the trust we had another meeting meeting in which the trust was finalized. John and his staff were very easy to work with throughout the process. We highly recommend John and the John Goralka Law firm to anyone who needs help with their Living Trust needs. Sincerely, Dale and Kathi Skoda Rancho Murieta, Ca. read more

Top of the line, quality professionals with a strong relationship based feel. I've had the opportunity to meet various members of the staff, including John Goralka himself, and these are good people. John truly cares about what's in the best interest of the client, and they are not out to gauge people with fees. Kristin Kaminski is professional, smart and very sweet. They make a great team. If you sign up for their newsletter, they really keep you in the loop, host seminars and my personal favorite - wine down Wednesday's - wine, raffles, home cooked meal, FONDUE!!! Zero pressure, no strings attached good old fashioned relationship building and a way to give back to clients. read more

Initially we chose John Goralka to create our Trusts based on his experience as a certified specialist in both estate planning and taxation, his prestigious accomplishments, and his stellar testimonials. Almost immediately we realized his dedication to patiently listening to our needs and the compassion he showed towards us and his profession. John was able to protect our daughter from losing her government benefits while still receiving her inheritance. He and his team worked tirelessly and extremely well together. Each team member was on the same page and took ownership for there areas of expertise. Ed and Paula Grateful Clients read more

We first met John in 2007 when our financial advisor recommended him. He prepared a Living Trust for us at that time and we were very satisfied with it. We recently met with him again this year, to update that trust and both times we have found him to be highly professional and efficient. His comprehensive tax knowledge is such a plus. He spends a lot of time up front listening to what we need and then he carries it out. We feel confident our estate will be distributed as we want it to be. And I can't say enough about his staff; they are professional and efficient and always helpful and on top of things if we have questions. read more

First and foremost I would like to thank John and Kate for putting together our family trust. John's knowledge and professionalism were above and beyond what we expected. The customer service his office gave us was outstanding. We were met with sincere greeting and a smile as well as just making us feel very welcomed. John was very thorough in explaining the steps needed to set up our trust. He made it easy to understand all of the procedures needed in setting up the trust. I would highly recommend "The Goralka Law Firm" for all of your trust needs or any other John"s office provides. Thank you again John read more

Our Estate Plan was created by Goralka Law Firm and each phase of the process was conducted very professionally. Our Estate Plan was comprehensive and was created for our unique circumstances since our inheritance. Attorney Goralka had knowledge and insight of estate tax planning and was instrumental in providing options and guidance to achieve our desired Estate Plan outcome. Goralka Law Office is considered by us to be the premier Estate Planning and Tax Planning law firm available and should be considered by anyone who is in the process of establishing their Estate Plan and or selling a business. read more

Our Estate Plan was created by Goralka Law Firm and each phase of the process was conducted very professionally. Our Estate Plan was comprehensive and was created for our unique circumstances since our inheritance. Attorney Goralka had knowledge and insight of estate tax planning and was instrumental in providing options and guidance to achieve our desired Estate Plan outcome. Goralka Law Office is considered by us to be the premier Estate Planning and Tax Planning law firm available and should be considered by anyone who is in the process of establishing their Estate Plan and or selling a business. read more

John and his staff did a great job setting up our family trust. He was great to work with, provided fab follow up, and is always available to answer one of my many many questions. We could not be happier with our experience and his service. Estate planning can be a scary thing, with lots of difficult decision points and technical language to maneuver through. John walked us through it all - every step of the way showing the utmost professionalism and caring. We are happy to have him guide us through this process and feel comforted that we've got things in place if/when the time comes. read more