On October 13 at 8:00 a.m., A to Z Law partner Kendall A. VanConas will present “Legal Preparation for Aging and Incapacity:  The Fundamentals of Estate Planning.”  Designed as an introduction to estate planning, the seminar will cover trusts, wills, powers of attorney for asset management, and advance health care directives.  Ms. VanConas will discuss how the different ways of holding title to property can affect an estate plan, and will also give an update about current changes in the estate tax laws.

Ms. VanConas received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, and her master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University.  She is active with the Ventura County Bar Association, serving as President in 2010, and probate and estate planning section chair from 2007-2009.  She is also a member of the Trusts & Estates Section of the California State Bar, and a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.

In November, Melissa Sayer will present  ”Think Twice Before You Act-Responsibilities of Owners and Officers in Small Businesses and Non-Profits,”  where she will discuss how the current economic environment has drastically increased claims for breach of fiduciary duty among business owners.  More information on that seminar will follow.

The seminars are conducted at the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Tenth Street in Santa Paula.  For more information, or to RSVP, call 525-5561 or 689-2229.

In order to achieve a peer review rating of ‘AV,’ an attorney must first meet a rating of “Very High” general ethical standards.  A “Very High” rating means the attorney has adhered to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities.

In addition to the ethical standards, an ‘AV’ attorney has been found to have the highest professional ability in a specific area of practice.  The legal ability rating is based on performance in key areas, including legal knowledge, judgment, analytical capabilities, and communication ability.

Ms. VanConas joined the firm in 2003 and became a Partner in 2007.  She is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the California State Bar, Board of Legal Specialization, and holds the degree of Master in Science, Taxation from Golden Gate University.  Ms. VanConas practices in the areas of estate planning, conservatorship law, probate and trust administration, elder law & special needs planning.  She is the 2010 President of the Ventura County Bar Association.