Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Fremont, CA
Experienced guidance in family law, estate planning, probate, and trust administration, delivered with compassion, integrity, and proven results.
Estate planning
Protecting Your Assets Both Now and in the Future
It is never too early to begin estate planning to ensure that your wishes are met after you are no longer able to voice them. Our experienced attorneys help clients draft wills, advanced care directives, powers of attorney, and other estate planning tools that reflect their goals and are legally valid.
Advance Health Care Directives
An advance health care directive ensures your medical preferences are strictly followed and provides your family with invaluable peace of mind by appointing a trusted healthcare agent.
Long-Term Care Planning
Proactive long-term care planning helps you protect your hard-earned assets from the rising costs of assisted living while ensuring you receive high-quality care.
Estate Planning FAQs
Explore our comprehensive estate planning FAQs to find clear, direct answers about asset protection, probate avoidance, and tax implications.
Powers of Attorney
Establishing a power of attorney ensures a trusted individual can seamlessly manage your financial and legal affairs without delays if you ever become incapacitated.
Trusts
Establishing a trust allows you to safeguard your legacy, retain control over wealth distribution, and keep your estate out of the costly probate process.
Wills
Creating a will serves as the foundational blueprint for your estate plan, ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes and designating guardians for minor children.
Family Law
Guiding Families Through Challenging Legal Matters
Our boutique law firm represents clients across the East Bay Area through diverse family law matters with an emphasis on personalized attention, one-on-one communication, and collaborative guidance. With over 40 years of experience practicing in Alameda County, we deeply understand the local court system and California statutes that impact your case.
Custody & Visitation
Let us help you advocate for a custody arrangement that prioritizes your child’s best interests.
Child Support
We represent clients seeking to create, enforce, and modify child support orders.
Division of Property
Protect your property and advocate for your interests during divorce with our seasoned family law attorneys.
DV & Restraining Orders
We help clients file for domestic violence restraining orders, as well as clients wrongfully accused of DV.
Family Law FAQ
Visit our FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions about our family law services.
Gray Divorce
We help clients over age 55 navigate the unique challenges of “gray divorce.”
Guardianship
Our attorneys represent clients through the court process of seeking legal guardianship over a minor.
Paternity Cases
We have extensive experience representing fathers through the process of establishing or disestablishing legal paternity.
Spousal Support
Let us help you understand and advocate for your rights surrounding spousal support in a divorce.
Estate planning
Protecting Your Assets Both Now and in the Future
It is never too early to begin estate planning to ensure that your wishes are met after you are no longer able to voice them. Our experienced attorneys help clients draft wills, advanced care directives, powers of attorney, and other estate planning tools that reflect their goals and are legally valid.
about us
About Our Law Firm
Our law firm consists of husband-and-wife team C. Lee Hewitt and Deborah Hewitt. We have extensive experience across complex estate planning and family law matters and have been serving the Bay Area for more than three decades.
We take an individualized approach to your case.
Your legal guidance should reflect your unique goals, circumstances, and family unit. We take the time to understand your wishes and use them to shape every element of our advice and representation.
We know when to litigate.
Not every family law case requires litigation, but we prepare as if your case will go to court and seek to use litigation to your advantage. When negotiations and mediation fail, we aren’t afraid to advocate for your interests in front of a judge.
testimonials
Hear From Past Clients About Our Commitment to Compassion and Dedication
I had been putting off creating a Living Trust for far to long. Mr. Hewitt and his team provided the guidance I needed in protecting my assets for my family. Additionally putting in place the documents needed for medical, legal and financial decisions if I in the future I could not. The process was easy and affordable. It is one less thing I worry about now and true piece of mind.
Holly B.
Satisfied Client
Lee and Deborah are a class act. We have worked with both of them on separate occasions. There is only one thing on their mind when presenting the facts. Do it with class, do it with integrity, and do it with an outcome everybody is fair with. It has been a pleasure to work with this law firm for many years and a privilege to have them as my attorneys.
Dennis H.
Satisfied Client
I have known C Lee Hewitt for 35 years. He is honest, hard-working and dedicated. He has represented us through varying personal matters including divorce, custody, probate and estate planning. His fees are absolutely fair. While any legal situation can be challenging, or may not have the desired outcome, Lee will honestly manage expectations and stand by you through the entire process.
D Clark
Satisfied Client
Legal matters can be stressful, but Deborah made the process manageable by being consistently available to answer my questions and address my concerns. She navigated my case with expertise, helping me secure a successful outcome. Her services were provided at a reasonable rate, offering excellent value for the level of expertise provided. I am grateful to have had Deborah Hewitt in my corner.
Deepti C.
Satisfied Client
C. Lee Hewitt is an exceptional family law attorney. He diligently reviewed my decades-old case, developing and executing a powerful, winning strategy. Backed by a highly knowledgeable, efficient staff, he made the complex legal process clear and expedient. Beyond his professionalism and deep experience, Mr. Hewitt’s greatest strengths are his compassion and deliberate communication. I highly recommend him for securing fair, reasonable solutions to complex legal problems.
Michael B.
Satisfied Client
FAQ's
Find Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
We understand that family and estate planning law may feel incredibly unfamiliar. We want you to make informed decisions throughout your case and seek to explain complex legal matters as simply as possible.
How does California divide property in a divorce?
California is a community property state, which means assets and debts acquired during the marriage belong equally to both spouses and should be split 50/50 in a divorce. If you have specific property that you would prefer to keep, such as the family home, our attorneys can advocate for your interests and negotiate with your spouse on your behalf.
What happens if you die without an estate plan?
If you die without an estate plan in California, your assets will be distributed according to intestate succession laws, in which the court assigns someone to oversee your estate and determines who will receive your inheritance. This process can be lengthy, stressful, and expensive for your family members, which is why we always recommend planning early for what will happen to your property.
How is child custody determined in California?
California recognizes two types of custody: legal custody, which is who can make major decisions for the child, and physical custody, which is where the child lives. The court seeks to determine a custody arrangement that is in the best interests of the child, and both types of custody can be awarded to one or both parents.
How do you establish paternity in California?
You can establish paternity through a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage form, or file a Petition to Determine a Parental Relationship to involve the court in the process. Our attorneys can walk you through the legal paternity process and advocate for your interests.
Do you represent both spouses in a divorce?
No, we do not recommend sharing an attorney with your spouse during a divorce. We will represent you alone to ensure that your individual rights and interests are upheld and avoid any conflicts of interest.
How can I get started?
You can request a free legal consultation to discuss your case and learn how our attorneys can help you. Give us a call or fill out our contact form below.
Request Your Free Legal Consultation
We know that reaching out to a law firm can feel intimidating, but we want to make the process as easy as possible for you. Just follow a few steps to get started.
Reach out to our firm at 510-792-8811 or fill out our contact form to request a consultation.
We will be in touch to schedule a no-obligation consultation in person or via Zoom for a time that works for you.
We will ask about your case and share exactly how we can assist you, answer any questions you may have, and discuss our reasonable fee structure.
We understand that this may be a confusing and overwhelming time, and we want to provide legal clarity and support so that your family can start moving forward. Contact The Law Offices of C. Lee Hewitt today to get started.
Blog
Legal Insights, News & Updates from Our Fremont Attorneys
The Role of Mediation in Family Law Disputes
You picture your divorce as a courtroom showdown, and the thought alone keeps you awake at night. Many family law
How Often Should You Update Your Estate Plan?
An estate plan may reflect your wishes when you sign it, but circumstances can look very different a few years
What’s the Difference Between Estate Planning and a Will?
Many people assume that writing a will is all they need to protect their family and property when they die.