James E. Berge

James E. Berge is the founding attorney and managing partner at the Law Offices of Berge & Berge, whose practice centers on estate planning law, trusts, probate, elder law, and estate administration. He has practiced privately since 1992 and has represented more than 5,000 individual clients. His work includes advanced tax and estate planning, disability and special needs planning, asset protection, charitable gift planning, and matters involving property, income, gift, and estate taxation for California families and individuals statewide.

James earned his J.D., cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation, magna cum laude, from Golden Gate University School of Law. He also earned his B.S.C. in Accounting, magna cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Business. He is admitted in California and is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and related practice areas.

James advises clients on trust and estate administration, including probate, along with sophisticated planning for disability, special needs, taxation, and asset protection. He also assists with charitable gift planning and strategies involving trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. His background as an inactive California certified public accountant adds financial perspective to estate and tax matters requiring detailed analysis, organization, and long-term planning for clients throughout California.

James E. Berge has received recognition for his estate planning work and professional accomplishments, including the ValueStar Certified Award for high customer satisfaction and the AICPA Elijah Watt Sells Award for CPA exam performance. He lectures on estate planning topics and has contributed to publications addressing disabled persons and special needs trusts. His career reflects sustained focus on trust, estate, probate, tax, and elder law matters throughout California communities statewide.

Law Office Affiliations

• Managing Partner, Law Offices of Berge & Berge
• Member, California State Bar
• Member,WealthCounsel

Licensed State

• California

Education

• Golden Gate University School of Law
  Master of Law (LLM)
• Santa Clara University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Santa Clara University School of Business
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges