My Practice Areas

The “One-Size-Fits-All” Risk. Families sometimes start with a well-meaning general practice attorney or a trusted referral when the matter is already complex—multiple beneficiaries, uneven records, and real money on the line.
Estate and trust work is detail-driven. The California Probate Code is unforgiving about timing, notice, fiduciary duties, and documentation. Use the eight practice hubs below to move directly to the topic that fits your situation and risk posture.


SAN DIEGO ESTATE PLANNING STRATEGY & CONTROL
Discreet planning guidance for San Diego families: documentation discipline, fiduciary control, and coordinated outcomes under California law.
Estate Planning Advisory & Strategies » A structured starting point for building control, privacy, and defensibility across your plan.
Comprehensive Trust Services » Trust design and funding alignment that keeps administration clean and governance predictable.
ESTATE PLANNING ADVISORY & STRATEGIES
The core architecture for long-term control: strategy, lifecycle alignment, and review discipline under California law.
WILLS & TESTAMENTARY DRAFTING
Precision drafting and execution discipline that reduces dispute risk and keeps intent enforceable.
COMPREHENSIVE TRUST SERVICES
Trust creation, governance, and funding alignment built for administrative control and long-horizon clarity.
PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
Court-supervised administration steps, deadlines, and reporting discipline for predictable distributions and reduced exposure.
TRUST & ESTATE LITIGATION
When conflict arises, procedural discipline and evidence posture determine leverage, exposure, and resolution options.
INCAPACITY PLANNING & DIRECTIVES
Decision authority and medical/financial controls designed to avoid delay, confusion, and unnecessary court involvement.
STRATEGIC ASSET PROTECTION
Compliance-first structures that manage exposure without compromising governance or administrative control.
ESTATE TAX & TAX EFFICIENCY
Tax-aware structuring that respects timing, valuation, and documentation so transfers stay defensible.
Estate Tax Mitigation & Efficiency »
Recognition of exposure points and coordination of transfer posture before decisions get compressed.
Proposition 19 Planning (San Diego) »
Real property transfer planning that accounts for local holding strategy and reassessment risk.
Transfer Tax Structuring »
Transaction sequencing and documentation discipline to reduce avoidable transfer friction.
Advanced Tax Trust Structures »
Trust designs that coordinate income and transfer tax posture with long-horizon governance.
Income Tax During Administration »
Fiduciary reporting awareness that protects beneficiaries from preventable surprises and timing errors.
THE BLISS EDGE
CPA discipline + 35+ years of San Diego planning: practical risk control, valuation awareness, and documentation that holds up when tested.
The Bliss Edge » | About Steve Bliss »
A discreet overview of approach, philosophy, and the discipline behind durable estate planning.
BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING
Ownership transition structures that protect continuity, authority, and tax posture before timing pressure sets in.

Mastering the California Probate Code

Veteran Guidance. Total Protection.

Whether you are securing your family’s future or navigating the complexities of the probate court, we provide the veteran advocacy you deserve.

Attorney Advertising, Legal Disclosure & Authorship
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Under the California Rules of Professional Conduct and State Bar advertising regulations, this material may be considered attorney advertising. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship or any professional advisory relationship. Laws vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change, including recent 2026 developments under California’s AB 2016 and evolving federal estate and reporting requirements. You should consult a qualified attorney or advisor regarding your specific circumstances before taking action.
Responsible Attorney: Steven F. Bliss, California Attorney (Bar No. 147856).
Local Office:
San Diego Probate Law
3914 Murphy Canyon Rd
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 278-2800
San Diego Probate Law is a practice location and trade name used by Steven F. Bliss, Esq., a California-licensed attorney.
About the Author & Legal Review Process
This article was researched and drafted by the Legal Editorial Team of the Law Firm of Steven F. Bliss, Esq., a collective of attorneys, legal writers, and paralegals dedicated to translating complex legal concepts into clear, accurate guidance.
Legal Review: This content was reviewed and approved by Steven F. Bliss, a California-licensed attorney (Bar No. 147856). Mr. Bliss concentrates his practice in estate planning and estate administration, advising clients on proactive planning strategies and representing fiduciaries in probate and trust administration proceedings when formal court involvement becomes necessary.
With more than 35 years of experience in California estate planning and estate administration, Mr. Bliss focuses on structuring enforceable estate plans, guiding fiduciaries through court-supervised proceedings, resolving creditor and notice issues, and coordinating asset management to support compliant, timely distributions and reduce fiduciary risk.