Confidential, independent, and trustworthy advice
No matter what your age today, it has taken you a lifetime to acquire the assets you have now. Deciding what will happen to those assets when you die or are incapacitated is a matter that deserves the most professional, knowledgeable and independent assistance available.
Call Michelle to discuss, in confidence, your range of estate planning issues. Her integrity, knowledge and independence will assist you in developing an effective plan to secure the future of your financial holdings. Michelle will walk you through the estate planning process with friendliness and professionalism. You will be placed at the center of her attention.
International Experience
Michelle’s legal experience as a lawyer has been international in scope, having worked in the United States and Canada.
She graduated magna cum laude from the historically-renowned Osgoode Hall Law School in Canada in 1999. Osgoode Hall Law School was founded in 1889 and remains as one of Canada’s top law schools.
She became a Barrister and Solicitor in Ontario, Canada in 2001; an Attorney in California, United States of America in 2002; and a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2003.
As a solicitor in England and Wales, Michelle is able to represent clients in Hong Kong. She is a lawyer to clients with assets in California, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China.
While working as a corporate lawyer at international law firms, Michelle traveled extensively, practicing mergers and acquisitions and securities law in the United States and in Canada for many years.
In broadening her international law experience, she also studied the Chinese Rule of Law in Beijing, China at the prestigious Renmin People’s University of China School of Law in 1998.
Her ability to practice law in different jurisdictions and network of professionals around the world enables her to provide seamless legal services to clients with real estate and other assets in the United States and abroad.
Professional and Community Affiliations
Legal Industry:
Attorney, Member of the State Bar of California
Solicitor in England and Wales
Solicitor and Barrister in Ontario, Canada
Real Estate Industry:
Licensed Broker #01841337, California Department of Real Estate
Law Firm Experience
Lawyer, Shearman & Sterling (900-lawyer firm with 20 offices)
http://www.shearman.com
Lawyer, Stikeman Elliott (500-lawyer firm with 7 offices)
http://www.stikeman.com
Top 10 Reasons to Choose Michelle for Your Trust and Estate Plan
While Michelle has experience in many facets of the law, she currently exclusively practices estate planning and has done so for over fifteen years. She does not just happen to practice estate planning, she has long-standing experience in this field.
2. Michelle has Practiced for Over Twenty Years
Before her estate law practice, Michelle has practiced mergers and acquisitions and securities law in Canada and the US as a corporate lawyer.
3. Michelle is a Recognized Leader in Estate Planning
While there are many estate planning lawyers and firms, few offer the innovative Personal Asset TrustSM and IRA Inheritance Trust to properly protect your assets. Michelle’s clients are not just left in the dark after the trust is signed, but have Successor Trustee manuals so the estate plan can be properly utilized.
4. Michelle Speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese Chinese
我们会说普通话和广东话
我們會說普通話和廣東話
5. Alongside the Estate Plan Documents, Michelle Provides Valuable Items for Utilizing the Estate Plan
Michelle offers the previously mentioned Successor Trustee Manual, healthcare emergency cards, and a detailed schedule of assets. All Clients also receive free notarization services and witnessing on legal documents. Clients that opt for the Personal Asset TrustSM will also receive a manual on its proper use and administration, as some complexity is unavoidable in providing both flexibility and protection.
6. All Clients Receive the Free Service Package
Alongside the estate plan, all of Michelle’s clients receive a Free Service Package which include a regular three-year checkup meeting and other services. For more information, see Free Service Package.
7. Michelle Offers Asset Protection Beyond a Standard Living Trust
Any sizeable estate can and will benefit from protection beyond what is offered by a standard living trust. You may need protection from not just creditors, but even potentially the folly of your own beneficiaries. Michelle’s specialized trusts, such as the Personal Asset TrustSM and IRA Inheritance Trust can provide you with the protection you need for your estate.
8. Michelle has International Experience
Michelle not only has experience practicing in California, but is admitted and practiced in Canada, New England, and Wales. Michelle is also a licensed real estate broker and has represented international clients on their real estate in California.
9. Michelle offers both Estate Planning and Real Estate Expertise
As a licensed broker and estate planning expert, you can expect integrated quality real estate and legal advice and representation from Michelle. She can advise you on your trust and estate plan and more importantly, integrate her service seamlessly with your residential and commercial real estate purchases and sales, tax deferred 1031 exchanges and leases.
10. Extensive Professional Network
Michelle’s multinational experience in legal practice has allowed her to build up a large portfolio of professional contacts not only in California and the United States, but also in Asia and worldwide. As a client you are not only getting access to Michelle, but to her network of contacts as well to prepare your trust and estate plan.
I highly recommend Michelle and her firm for your estate planning needs. She helped me update my living trust that was originally drafted over 15 years ago by a now-retired attorney. During the entire process, she was extremely helpful in suggesting areas that my wife and I should change given that our family has grown (2 children). I would not hesitate to send my friends and family to her (and I have)!
I had a fantastic experience working with Michelle as her signing agent. She has a keen attention to detail and is highly knowledgeable and thorough. Highly recommend her services for all your estate planning needs.
I would give Michelle Yu more than a 5 star review if possible!! She helped me with “My Will” and went into detail in order to help me understand this legal portfolio! My family is forever grateful for the attention she gave me in explaining the legal documents and for making me comfortable with the entire process!!
She is a very professional and expertly knowledgeable attorney! I will use her services again if ever needed.
I worked with this firm to help me and my family with our estate planning needs, and they were very professional and timely. A problem I have had with other firms is turnaround time, however, that was not an issue with Longevity Law. I will definitely be recommending to my friends and family.
My grandmother was having a hard time with her healthcare documents for Kaiser and Michelle and her team helped me resolve the situation in a professional/ timely manner. Going through legal hoops is always such a hassle. It’s nice to meet a lawyer that will help.
Michelle is an excellent lawyer, professional, thorough, responsible and very knowledgeable of all the state planning laws, wills and trusts.
She has prepared my will and she is always available to hear concerns or make changes as appropriate as circumstances change.
I highly recommend Michelle’s services.
Michelle has been very helpful in preparing the Trusts for my family members. She has spent time to understand our needs and address various aspects of our estate planning. I will recommend Michelle to my friends and whom we know to use her quality service.
We have worked with Michelle for over past 15 years, dealing with initially parental, and later personal estate issues. It goes without saying, that Michelle is very knowledgeable on the ever-changing estate tax laws and regulations. What sets her apart is her skill in being able to explain them in a direct, logical, and patient manner, so we can understand their impact on our estate….to help us make the best decisions for our personal and family needs. It helps that her strong family values, integrity, and financial priorities mesh well with ours. We have since recommended Michelle to many of our friends and family members, who have also been very happy with her professional service – we would recommend her highly, without reservation, to anyone in need of estate planning and management.
I had the pleasure of working with Michelle from Longevity Law to assist my parents in preparing their estate plan, and we couldn’t have been more satisfied with the experience. Michelle demonstrated exceptional professionalism and expertise throughout the entire process.