Steven D. Penrose is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, focusing his practice primarily in estate planning, estate and trust litigation, probate and trust administration, and business succession planning. Mr. Penrose has extensive experience assisting clients with the initiation and review of estate plans, including simple wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and complex estate tax planning. He has substantial experience representing executors, trustees, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries in a range of matters before the Superior Courts of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties. He is a skilled litigator with significant expertise in probate court matters, including estate, trust, financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, health care agent, and conservatorship disputes. Mr. Penrose also routinely handles the probate of estates as well as the non-probate post-mortem administration of living trusts. In the business succession planning arena, he has successfully assisted generations of families in planning for the successful transition of their closely held businesses and assets from older to younger generations. He has the knowledge and experience needed to provide business succession planning assistance to businesses and families in a range of industries.

Mr. Penrose has been practicing law for over forty years. Prior to co-founding Penrose Chun & Gorman LLP, he co-founded predecessor firm Atack & Penrose, LLP with Charlene Atack. Previously, he practiced with Bosso Williams in Santa Cruz, and with Lombardo & Gilles in the Monterey area for over 16 years. Mr. Penrose earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Santa Clara University.

Mr. Penrose is a member of the Monterey County Bar Association, the Santa Cruz County Bar Association, and the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California. Mr. Penrose is also a member of the Dominican Hospital Foundation’s Professional Advisors Council. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Long Marine Lab, and former Chairman of the Planned Giving Committee for the National Steinbeck Center. Mr. Penrose is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Central Coast Continuing Professional Education Forum.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Litigation, Business Succession Planning, Probate Litigation, Estate and Gift Tax Planning, Estates and Trusts, Fiduciary Law, Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, Real Estate Law, Entity Formation, Civil Litigation

Bar Admission

  • California

Education

  • J.D., University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
  • B.A., Santa Clara University

Memberships

  • Trusts and Estates Section, State Bar of California
  • Monterey County Bar Association
  • Santa Cruz County Bar Association
  • Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association

Certified Legal Specialist

  • Certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law

Attorney Experience

  • Bosso Williams, APC
  • Lombardo & Gilles, LLP