James Creighton, Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Professor James B. Creighton has been in private practice for over 16 years. Fall 2011 is his first year as an Adjunct Professor at UC Hastings College of the Law.

Throughout his legal career, Professor Creighton has specialized in the practice of estate planning, trust, and probate law, having seen first hand—while in law school deciding in which area of law to practice—the tragedy that occurs when one dies or becomes incapacitated without an estate plan in place. He has been interested in estate planning, trust, and probate law ever since.

Since July 1997, Professor Creighton has been the owner of Creighton Law Offices in San Mateo, California, which specializes in providing estate planning, trust administration, probate, and long-term care planning services to its clients. Prior to founding Creighton Law Offices, Professor Creighton worked for several years as an estate planning associate with a law firm in San Mateo.

Professor Creighton is certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law. In 1994, he earned his J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law. Professor Creighton earned his B.S. degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles in 1988. In 1979, he is a graduated with Honors from Phillips Exeter Academy, located in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Professor Creighton is a frequent speaker to local professional and non-profit organizations on various estate planning topics, including Estate & Income Tax Planning for Same Sex Couples, the Administration of Trusts upon Incapacity or Death, and Long-Term Care Planning for the Elderly or Disabled. He currently authors the Estate Planning Blog, Estate Planning Defined (creightonlaw.com/blog/).

Professor Creighton is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for Northern California, and all State Courts in California.

Professor Creighton has served on the Boards of Directors and subcommittees of several San Mateo Area professional and nonprofit organizations, including the Rotary Club of San Mateo, the Peninsula Estate Planning Council, and the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Creighton is married to Frank A. Baldanzi, a CPA with over 35 years of experience (the couple’s friends often refer to them as “death & taxes”). He enjoys travel, especially throughout Italy. Professor Creighton is fluent in Italian and a lover of all things Italian, especially Italy’s food, wine, and the Italian way of life.