Testimonials From Our Business, Tax, and Estate Planning Clients

“We own a substantial family business. John is our business, tax and estate planning attorney. When our son was getting married, John prepared for our son a premarital agreement coupled with a confidentiality agreement and asset protected separate property trust. We wanted to protect our family business, in which our son was a part owner and also protect our son’s assets which were substantial. Our son is a successful medical doctor. Years later, our son went through a divorce in Texas. His ex-wife did contest the agreement and went after my son’s assets and his interest in the family business. The judge and even the attorney on the other side of the divorce commented in court how strong and detail oriented the Premarital Agreement was, which was fully withheld. Thank you, John!”

“I was referred to John Goralka by a business associate of mine. What I found out was that Attorney John Goralka is certified by the State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization in both Taxation Law and Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law. There are only a handful of attorneys within the state who have earned these dual certifications, which means that John and his team are able to handle any tax-related questions. He was great to work with and we didn’t know until we met him how much help we really needed.”

“John and his team were great. They helped us navigate our way through this process of settling the estate of my parents who have multiple properties. We live in Florida, and he was very helpful remotely for us. We would highly recommend his services. Great communication and made this process go smooth. Thank you again for all your help John. It is very much appreciated.”

“Mr. Goralka's professional yet personal demeanor assures clients that their best interests are protected. Mr. Goralka has handled my legal affairs for the past few years. He was a source of comfort and serenity at a time when emotions were running high. He is trustworthy, thorough, and dependable. He is very personable and takes a personal interest in the health and well-being of his clients.”

“My mother and I have appreciated the care, and respect, we have received with each and every appointment. You feel welcomed when you walk in and realize you are not just another client to them. Quick responses when needing answers with extra steps to ensure you understand and that the outcome is truly the one you want. We had complex tax issues that had arisen from my father's estate, and I can't imagine a better person to deal with these issues other than Attorney Goralka and his team. Thank you to the entire staff!”

“I needed some advice on a business tax matter and found John. After looking at his online reviews I could tell that he was going to be the right person for the job, and I was right. John knew exactly what needed to be done and how to move forward with the structure of our estate and business. I couldn’t have asked for a better advisor! I would definitely recommend John and his team for any business or estate planning in the Sacramento area.”

I recently came into quite of bit of money and Attorney Goralka helped me figure out what the tax consequences might be. Attorney Goralka was incredibly thorough during the process of settling the incredibly large estate and I will be forever grateful. He is brilliant and his staff was always on top of everything.”

"To anyone in need of a good trust attorney, I share my personal experience with the John Goralka Law Firm. I am the recently widowed 85-year-old father of a multi-handicapped, legally blind, neurologically impaired adult son and two professional social worker daughters who are severely dysfunctional in our family matters. My trust needs are difficult. Several years ago, after disappointing experiences with trust attorneys, I read in the newspaper an advertisement for a free trust seminar by Mr. Goralka which my wife and I attended. Mr. Goralka spoke for two hours on a variety of life situations and legal ways and maneuvers to avoid and/or protect from those circumstances. We found his knowledge of potential situations and legal solutions astounding. As we left seminar, my wife asks what I thought, and I told her "After listening to this guy for two hours I think I can pass the bar exam, and this is the attorney we need to work with." We hired Mr. Goralka in 2016 to rewrite an existing, problematic, special needs trust for our son and a living trust for ourselves. My wife died January 1, 2021, and those trusts served me flawlessly. I have currently hired Mr. Goralka to write two new trusts, a special needs trust for my son, and a living trust for me, that will, upon my death, combine to ensure the continued support and protection of my 50-year plus son. In this for me, difficult time, I have found Mr. Goralka to be not only legally intelligent but patient, sensitive, and understanding of my situation. He continually strives to ensure the new trust accomplishes my wish wishes and needs and that my son's interests are well represented and protected. I extend my personal thanks to Mr. Goralka and to anyone needing a trust attorney I, without reservation, recommend the Goralka Law Firm."

"My younger brother had a horrific work-related accident back in the mid 1980’s. My parents worked with a group of attorneys to settle his case. A very large monetary settlement was paid which would have been subject to probate fees, costs and estate tax. A part of that group was an estate planning law firm that employed John Goralka. John worked closely with my parents as he created a trust to avoid conservatorship during my brother’s life. John’s trust also prevented probate costs and estate tax upon his death. John was able to create that despite the fact that my brother lacked the capacity due to the accident. My parents later hired John to advise and help them oversee and administer the trust at his newly created law firm. It’s been about three years since all parts of the trust have been completed and I am so glad John was able to put a plan in place to prevent any estate tax being due upon my brother’s death. My father and John worked through a very tough time for our family and Dad came to think of John as a part of the family because John was so protective of my brother’s trust. When my father passed away, my mother became the trustee, and I accompanied her to meetings that involved the trust. I had never met John, but he earned my respect through his manner, sincerity, and knowledge of every situation we encountered. He always listened and addressed all concerns we had. He fought for us when insurance companies attempted to take advantage of my mother as she acted as trustee. The insurance company tried to avoid payment of a substantial amount due upon my brother’s death. John sued, forced the release of the financial information and obtained another very large payment for the family. John has always been there for us, and I am forever grateful for all he has done for my family."

John has a very strong ethical sense and his knowledge in the areas of tax and estate planning is quite sophisticated.

John is a superlative lawyer and I am surprised, frankly, that he has not yet been provided an AV rating. He has my strongest possible endorsement. James J. Banks