Barrus and Roberts PC is a Clovis-based law firm serving individuals, families, and businesses throughout the Greater Fresno area. We focus exclusively on estate planning, trust administration, probate, and business formation – the legal matters that protect your assets and secure your family’s future. Whether you need a living trust, a will, a power of attorney, or help forming an LLC, our attorney provides clear guidance, straightforward pricing, and personal attention from start to finish.
At Barrus and Roberts PC, we have spent years helping Clovis and Fresno-area families navigate some of life’s most important legal decisions. We know that thinking about wills, trusts, and end-of-life planning can feel overwhelming. Our job is to make that process simple, clear, and handled correctly the first time.
Our attorney is licensed to practice law in the State of California and focus their practice on estate planning and business law. We work directly with every client – no handoffs to paralegals for the important decisions – and we take the time to explain your options in plain language before any documents are drafted.
Our office is located at 375 Woodworth Ave, Suite 103, Clovis, CA 93612. We serve clients throughout Fresno County, Madera County, and the surrounding Central Valley communities.
We offer a full range of estate planning and business law services designed to protect what matters most to you.
A living trust is the cornerstone of most California estate plans. Because California’s probate process is time-consuming and expensive — probate fees are calculated as a percentage of the gross estate value under state law — most homeowners benefit significantly from holding their assets in a revocable living trust. A properly funded trust allows your estate to transfer to your beneficiaries privately, without court involvement, and typically within weeks rather than months or years.
Complete estate plan packages include:
For individuals with simpler estates or younger clients just starting out, a standalone will may be the right starting point. We will evaluate your situation and recommend the documents that best fit your circumstances and budget.
When a loved one passes away, the successor trustee named in their trust takes over management of the trust assets. This process – called trust administration – involves notifying beneficiaries, inventorying assets, settling debts, filing final tax returns, and distributing the estate. It can be complicated, especially when real property or business interests are involved.
We guide successor trustees through every step of California trust administration, helping families fulfill their duties correctly and efficiently while minimizing the risk of disputes or liability.
When a person dies without a trust, or with assets that were never transferred into a trust, those assets must typically go through California probate court before they can be distributed. Probate in California can take 12 to 24 months and involves court filings, creditor notifications, and statutory attorney fees.
If you are facing probate for a family member’s estate, our attorney can guide you through the process, keep costs under control, and help you understand your options at every stage.
A durable power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. An advance health care directive – sometimes called a living will – allows you to designate a healthcare agent and document your medical wishes in advance. These documents are critical components of any complete estate plan and can prevent costly, emotionally difficult conservatorship proceedings.
Starting a business involves more than registering a name. The legal structure you choose affects your personal liability, your taxes, and your ability to bring in partners or investors. Our business attorney helps Clovis and Fresno-area entrepreneurs select the right entity type and put the right agreements in place from day one.
We handle:
Our office is based in Clovis, California, and we serve clients throughout Fresno County and the surrounding region. We regularly work with clients in:
If you are located elsewhere in the Central Valley and need an estate planning or business law attorney, contact us to discuss your situation.
Get Started Today
Estate planning is not something to put off. If you own a home, have children, run a business, or simply want to make sure your wishes are honored, a properly drafted estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for your family.
Contact Barrus and Roberts PC today to schedule a consultation. Call 559-431-6800 or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will follow up within one business day.
Yes, if you own real estate in California, a living trust is the most effective way to avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, and ensure your assets transfer directly to your heirs. Without a trust, your estate may go through probate court, which can take 12 to 18 months and cost 4 to 7 percent of your estate’s gross value in court and attorney fees.
A will directs how your assets are distributed after death but must go through probate court before your heirs receive anything. A living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries privately and immediately upon death, bypassing probate entirely. In California, where probate fees are set by statute, most homeowners benefit from having a trust rather than a will alone.
California probate typically takes between 12 and 24 months. The process requires court filings, creditor notifications, inventory of assets, and a final court hearing before any distributions are made. Attorney and executor fees are calculated as a percentage of the gross estate value under California Probate Code Section 10810, meaning a $600,000 estate could incur over $28,000 in combined fees.
A complete California estate plan typically includes a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, a durable power of attorney for finances, an advance health care directive, and a HIPAA authorization form. Business owners may also need a buy-sell agreement and a business succession plan integrated into their estate plan.
A business formation attorney helps you choose the right legal structure – such as an LLC, S-Corporation, C-Corporation, or general partnership – and prepares the governing documents, operating agreements, and state filings required to protect your personal assets and minimize tax liability.
The cost of estate planning in Clovis, CA depends on the complexity of your estate. A basic plan including a living trust, pour-over will, power of attorney, and advance health care directive typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 for an individual or couple. Contact Barrus and Roberts PC at 559-431-6800 for a consultation and flat-fee quote.
Yes, and you should. Major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, purchasing real estate, or starting a business are all triggers to review and update your estate plan. A revocable living trust can be amended at any time while you are alive and mentally competent.
No. A will does not avoid probate in California. A will must be submitted to the probate court, which then supervises the distribution of your assets. This process is public record, time-consuming, and costly. A living trust is the primary tool used to avoid probate in California because assets held in the trust transfer to beneficiaries directly without court involvement.
