ABOUT US
The Schnaus Law Group is a boutique law firm dedicated exclusively to tax planning & compliance; estate & business succession planning; and trust administration. We provide entrepreneurs and business owners results-driven legal counsel in a manner that meets the needs of the busy entrepreneur.
With our extensive expertise in tax, entrepreneurial mind set and focus on listening to our clients we are able to fully meet the goals of our clients. With this combined knowledge we are able to achieve the goals of our client and convey our strategies in an understandable and efficient manner.
PLANNING PROCESS
Our Tax & Estate Planning focuses on two aspects; first, meet the goals of our clients in an efficient and effective manner and second, properly communicating the recommended strategies to our clients. We believe it is paramount that our clients fully understand their tax & estate plan so that they can make informed business decisions. Additionally, we listen to our clients; this allows us to fully understand the goals of our clients and how we can achieve those goals.
Collaborating with our clients and their teams leads to great success by approaching the tax & estate planning process from multiple angles as a team. This also allows our clients to feel comfortable with their planning decisions because of the team aspect of our process. The purpose of this process is for you to be provided the required knowledge so that you can make an informed business decision.
We customize all tax & estate plan presentations based on the information you need to make an informed decision about your plan. This is done by educating our clients using specialized presentation; data driven hypothetical models; and straightforward written summaries of the estate plan. Additionally, we know your schedule is busy; that is why we provide realistic schedules along the entire planning process. This allows you to maximize the time you spend with us and leads to efficiencies.
PRACTICE AREAS
TAX PLANNING & COMPLIANCE
With every passing year tax legislation becomes more and more complex. Continually searching for tax opportunities is essential to the success of your business. We take this approach with our clients both when we do tax planning & compliance. This approach has allowed our clients to be informed of the most recent tax opportunities available to them. Additionally, we are experienced in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service and Franchise Tax Board on various audit matters.
ESTATE PLANNING
We assist business owners document their estate plan goals and wishes. From there we provide you various strategies to achieve your estate plan goals in a manner that saves both income and estate tax. In order to fully achieve your estate plan goals we inform you of the risks and rewards of each estate planning strategy; this provides you the right information and knowledge to make an informed decision about your estate plan.
Services include:
Drafting wills, living revocable trusts, separate property trusts, advanced healthcare directives and durable powers of attorney
Advanced estate planning techniques to avoid estate and income tax, life insurance trusts, charitable trusts, grandchildren trusts and international estate planning trusts.
SUCCESSION PLANNING
We provide business owners the knowledge and strategies to successfully transfer their busines in a manner that benefits the family and preserves the business. This could be a transfer to the next generation; sales to employees; transfer to third-parties such as a strategic buyer. Whatever course of action is best for you and your family we will provide you the information and expertise for your to make an informed decision.
INTERNATIONAL TAX PLANNING & COMPLIANCE
We guide individuals, families, family offices and closely held businesses through the complexities of international tax. We help guide clients with both inbound and outbound transactions, whether that's an investment in a foreign country or a family moving to the Unitied States. We assist clients understand their U.S. tax compliance obligations and ensure clients are aware of planning and structuring opportunities.
OUR TEAM
JERRY SCHNAUS
Principal
Jerry is committed to excellence and strives to achieve the best results for his clients. This philosophy leads to effective advice in a thorough and efficient manner; the type that works best for busy entrepreneurs focused on growing their businesses.
Jerry has assisted numerous domestic and foreign clients in the private equity, real estate, construction, manufacturing and technology industries analyze, plan, model and document partnership transactions.
Jerry is also responsible for assisting various pass-through entities in their dissolution whether it be through a merger, acquisition or succession planning. Jerry also focuses on the tax aspects of estate planning, including gift and generation-skipping taxes, children's trusts, life insurance trusts, foreign trusts and charitable giving. He is also responsible for assisting many private clients with their trust administration and assisting families continue their legacy while reducing taxes.
Jerry received his Juris Doctor and L.L.M at Loyola Law School and his B.S. in Accounting and M.S.A from CSUSB. Prior to establishing Schnaus Law Group he worked at a boutique estate planning firm in Irvine, CA and worked at a large national CPA firm in Los Angeles. He advised on transaction structuring to acquire and finance various real estate ventures in a tax efficient manner; draft estate plans for various high-net worth individuals and their families; and work on the trust administration for various clients.
CONTACT US
If you believe our expertise, commitment and techniques can provide value to you and your business please reach out.
Schnaus Law Group
1400 Newport Center Drive, Suite 230
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Silver Lake, CA 90039
Patton, CA 92369