“If an entire living trust package costs less than a nice dinner, you're buying paperwork — not protection.”

Serving High-Net-Worth Families, Business Owners & Real Estate Investors Who Refuse to Leave Their Legacy to Chance

You didn't just build wealth—you built a legacy. A business. A real estate empire. A name that means something.

But the real threat isn't market swings. It's what happens when you're not there to protect it:
Taxation. Litigation. Probate. Reassessment. Family disputes. Asset loss.

At the Law Office of James Burns, we don't sell cookie-cutter documents.
We build strategic, multi-layered estate and asset protection plans that insulate wealth and ensure it passes on exactly how you intended.

Because your story deserves more than “just a trust.”

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💼 High-Net-Worth Estate Planning & Wealth Structuring Services

Our clients include real estate moguls, multi-generational families, tech founders, medical professionals, and entrepreneurs with estates ranging from $5M to $100M+.

With our proprietary FortressWall™ Wealth Protection Framework, we help clients:

• Avoid probate and public court battles

• Preserve low property tax assessments under Prop 13 and Prop 19

• Protect assets from lawsuits, divorce, and creditors

• Eliminate or defer estate and capital gains taxes

• Plan across generations with privacy and precision

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⚙️ Our Core Services Include:

✅ Legacy Trusts (forget regular living trusts)
Dynasty trust power. Lawsuit protection for heirs. Ironclad privacy.

✅ Private Retirement Plans (PRPs)
California-specific structures that offer superior asset shielding compared to IRAs or 401(k)s.

✅ Structured Installment Sales
Sell real estate or business interests while deferring capital gains taxes over time.

✅ Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI)
For clients with $20M+ in net worth seeking tax-free growth and multi-jurisdictional asset protection.

✅ Trust Design & Asset Integration
Custom irrevocable and grantor trust structures that coordinate with LLCs, PRPs, and life insurance strategies.

✅ Prop 19 & Property Tax Preservation Planning (only included with full plans)
Ensure a family home or rental property can be passed to heirs without triggering reassessment. We structure non-pro rata trust distributions, occupancy planning, and filing support.

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📈 Success Stories (Anonymized Real-World Outcomes)

How a $20M Business Owner Eliminated Estate Tax
We structured a gifting and grantor trust plan that erased $8M in projected estate taxes—keeping the company in the family and out of probate court.

Protecting a Real Estate Empire Through PPLI
Using PPLI within a South Dakota trust, we sheltered $30M in rental income and property appreciation—creating tax-free liquidity while protecting against creditors.

Multi-Generational Wealth Transfer, Secured
Four generations. Zero probate. Locked-in property tax base under Prop 19. A multi-tiered trust strategy preserved family harmony and long-term growth.

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🔒 Irrevocable Trust & Asset Protection Strategies

We design irrevocable trusts tailored to your life and legacy. Whether you're seeking Medicaid/Medi-Cal protection, offshore strategies, or lawsuit insulation, we ensure that your assets are structured to withstand risk while remaining fully compliant.

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📞 Take Control of Your Legacy

You've already done the hard part—creating the wealth.
Now let's ensure you keep it, grow it, and pass it on with intention.

"The greatest mistake parents make is thinking that signing a guardian document is enough. It isn't. True protection lives in preparation, activation, and vigilance."
— James Burns, Esq.

 Law Office of James Burns
📞 (949) 305-8642

📍 Get Directions | 6B Liberty, Suite 130, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

With decades of experience, the Law Office of James Burns is here to guide you every step of the way.