Charlotte K. Ito

Charlotte (“Chaz”) Ito designs plans that allow individuals to achieve their estate, gift, tax and philanthropic objectives in a thoughtful and meaningful way.  Her practice ranges from domestic cases to those involving complex international issues. 

Chaz’s practice includes planning for the orderly succession of businesses to the next generation or to new owners.  She identifies planning options for her clients and helps them evaluate and determine appropriate and tax efficient strategies.  She accomplishes this in close collaboration with her clients and their advisers.  

In addition, Chaz handles asset structuring for privacy, multigenerational planning, and probate and estate administration.

Chaz is a Certified Specialist in Estate, Trust & Probate Law and has received the highest honors that can be granted to a trusts and estates attorney. She has been inducted into The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Both organizations conduct rigorous peer reviews using strict criteria that evaluate professional reputation, abilities and valuable contributions to the trusts and estates field.

Education

LL.M. (Tax), Golden Gate University, San Francisco, 1993
MBA (Finance and International Business), Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, 1986
JD, Hastings College of the Law, University of California, San Francisco, 1983
BA, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1980

Bar Admission

California
Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Central and Northern Districts of California

Recognition

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating
Super Lawyers: Most Recent Listing, 2014 (Estate Planning)
The Best Lawyers® in America 2014 Trusts and Estates - San Francisco

Memberships

Academician, The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
State Bar of California, Executive Committee, Trusts & Estates Section (Chair, 2012-13)
Member, Bar Association of San Francisco
Member, San Francisco Estate Planning Council

Language

Japanese