Ms. Gonsalves is the managing partner in Gonsalves & Kozachenko and represents clients in a range of Estate Planning, Probate and Business matters.
Ms. Gonsalves advises clients regarding estate planning matters, and has extensive experience in representing clients in probate proceedings, including petitions to modify existing irrevocable trusts, Heggstad petitions to transfer property to the decedent’s living trust, and appointment of successor trustees, conservators and guardians. She has also been appointed by the court as a conservator and guardian ad litem to represent the interests of incapacitated individuals.
She represents clients in will contests, trust contests, and contested guardianships and conservatorship matters. She has prosecuted and defended numerous will and trust contests involving lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence and litigation involving the rights of a surviving spouse to a probate homestead, a family allowance, and an omitted spouse’s share of the deceased spouse’s estate.
In addition to estate planning, Ms. Gonsalves provides advice to business clients regarding their ongoing business needs and succession planning. Succession planning services include forming business entities; providing ongoing business advice for sole proprietorships, corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships; and working with clients to protect and transfer the ownership of their assets to their intended beneficiaries. Estate and business planning services for family business owners include buy-sell agreements, corporate reorganizations and stock transfer agreements.
It is not uncommon for an individual to work with Ms. Gonsalves on estate planning, which includes disposition of a business, then ask to broaden the relationship and have Gonsalves & Kozachenko handle legal affairs for the business as well. In cases like this, clients benefit from working with both the firm’s senior partners.
Ms. Gonsalves graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Santa Clara Law School and was the recipient of the Merit Scholarship. Ms. Gonsalves has served as a pro tem judge in the Alameda County Probate Department. She is a member of the State Bar of California Trusts and Estates section, the Alameda County Bar, and the Estate Planning Council of Southern Alameda County. She served for twelve years as a trustee and executive committee member of the Washington Hospital Foundation.
Before forming Gonsalves & Kozachenko, she served as a Judicial Extern to Judge Reid Ambler, Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County and worked at Coopers & Lybrand in personal financial planning and on individual tax matters. She served as chair and as a member of the Fremont Economic Development Advisory Commission for eight years,. She has been a president and director of the Washington Township Bar Association. She presently serves as a director of Fremont Bank.
