Fresno, California, Attorneys
At the Fresno Law Office of Howk & Downing, LLP, we are committed to helping clients protect their peace of mind. Knowledge is power. Our team takes the time to build a relationship with you and provide the education you need to create the best future you can. Understanding your options allows you to make well-informed and reasoned decisions about your future.
We help clients get through the complexities of real estate, business planning and estate planning. Each of these areas is an important part of who you are. We make sure that your business, your estate plan and your real estate transactions reflect your values. Please Contact us to learn more.
Values based, integrity driven
Estate planning, probate or elder law
Help! Mom needs more care than I can give her now. How can I afford the care she needs without going broke?
More than 60% of all Californians age 65 and over will require some kind of long-term care. In 2007, the average cost of a yearlong stay in a nursing home in California was $73,000 and is growing at a rate of approximately 5% per year. (California Department of Health Services) In most cases, assistance is needed for these expenses. With planning, we can usually help save at least some of your hard-earned assets. We provide:
- Medi-Cal planning, qualification, and application assistance
- Estate Planning
- Long Term Insurance Review
Call our estate planning lawyers for free workshop times and a 15-point evaluation of your current estate plan.
I am worried about what will happen to my special needs child after I am gone.
Call us for free workshop times and a 15-point evaluation of your current estate plan including provisions for your special needs child.
Someone wants me to transfer my property to his or her name or put another name on my property with me so I can avoid probate. Should I do this?
This decision could create a huge tax bill for you and leave you penniless and homeless. We can help you with a better, less risky plan.
Call our estate planning lawyers for free workshop times and a 15-point evaluation of your current estate plan.
I run a business. How will my family and business survive if I am not here to run it? Who will run it for me?
Eighty percent of all small businesses fail at the death of the primary business owner. We can help you with proper planning. Call for an appointment.
Will my insurance cover my needs and those of my family?
Robert Howk has worked in the area of insurance for the past 27 years and is qualified as an expert to provide testimony regarding the insurance industry. He can provide you with an independent review of your insurance policy and needs as part of your overall protection and estate plan.
We do not sell insurance, investments, or provide services other than legal advice, so you can rest assured we have your best interests at heart, not those of the insurance company or investment counselor.
Call for an appointment.
I am afraid my family will fight over my things when I'm gone. Plan for family harmony.
Call us for free workshop times and a 15-point evaluation of your current estate plan.
If my spouse remarries after I die, will my children still inherit from me?
Proper planning can help provide for your spouse while considering your other loved ones. Without proper planning remarriage and even creditors can result in your loved ones receiving nothing.
My child is unable to care for him/herself and is turning 18. What do I do?
You may need to establish legal guardianship over your child so that you can continue to provide for their affairs. Without this, your child could become prey for unscrupulous individuals or the state may take guardianship over them.
Do I need a power of attorney?
We recommend that everyone establish a power of attorney for healthcare and finances as well as to make sure they have HIPPA qualification forms available. If you fail to do this while you can and become unable to take care of your own affairs, a guardianship may have to be established which is much more expensive.
How do I get the best deal on my business property lease? The owner gave me a lease but I am not sure what it says.
Leases can be written in ways to benefit either the person leasing the property or the property owner. It is important to have a real estate attorney draft or at least review any lease you are considering prior to signing. Consulting with an attorney early can help to avoid problems later and save money in the end.
My tenant is not paying the rent.
We provideresidential and commercial eviction services. Call for information.
Buying or selling real estate?
We can help write the agreements and make the transaction go smoothly.
My neighbor seems to think my property is his.
Boundary disputes are common, especially in less developed areas such as the foothills and countryside. Sometimes the boundary lines have been innocently or not so innocently misrepresented. Other times, no one has found out what the boundary lines really are. If your neighbor is using your property without your permission, you can lose some of your property rights and be at risk should someone be hurt on your property. We can help protect your property rights.
My tenants are destroying my property. How do I get them out?
The rules for evicting a tenant are very strict. Time, although often much longer than the property owner wants or feels is warranted when this difficult situation occurs, is shorter for this type of case than others. Therefore, the procedure to evict a tenant must be carefully followed because the court will hold you, as the landlord, responsible for following every rule even if your tenants are not. We can help. Giving proper notice for the tenant to move and following the right procedures for the court is our job and we have been serving property owners and property management companies in California for over twelve years.
Code Enforcement has filed a complaint against me. Can you help?
We have represented many clients with Code Enforcement problems. We pride ourselves in taking a proactive and cooperative approach to solving problems, saving our clients thousands of dollars.
Our contractor has failed to complete our project. What can I do?
How much a contractor can charge at the start of a project is set by law. In the event that a contractor fails to complete a project, you have rights. In most cases, this includes the right to hire a new contractor to finish the project. There can be insurance issues in every contract. Having an attorney review your contract prior to signing can provide important protection for you. Enlisting the help of an attorney if a problem arises can reduce your damage in the end.
How do I protect my business and myself if someone sues me?
How should I organize my business to protect my family and myself?
Who will run my business if I die or when I retire?
Eighty percent of all businesses fail within the first year of the primary business owner's death or retirement. Provide for your company's future with a plan for your company and your family.
My partners and I are not getting along. How do I get out of the partnership?
We offer a full range of business counseling including mediation and dissolutions of FLPs, LLPs, LLCs and other partnerships.
I am starting a business. What do I need to do?
We advise and counsel start up companies in matters such as:
- Licensing requirements
- Choice of business entity (LLP, FLP, LLC, partnership, even sole proprietorship may be right for you)
- What kind of insurance should I have to protect my family, my customers, my business, my employees and myself?
Robert Howk has worked in the area of insurance for the past 27 years and is qualified as an expert to provide testimony regarding the insurance industry. He can provide you with an independent review of your insurance policy and needs as part of your overall protection and estate plan.
We do not sell insurance, investments, or provide other services other than legal advice so you can rest assured we have your best interests at heart, not those of the insurance company or investment counselor.
Call for an appointment.
Our law firm is there when needed, providing clients with experienced legal services in all these areas. To speak with an attorney about your legal needs, we invite you to contact our firm Link to Contact Us today.
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The Law Office of Howk & Downing, LLP
1540 East Shaw Avenue
Suite 122
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: (559) 229-8109 | Fax: (559) 229-8137
