Senior Associate
Trusts and estates attorney advising families and fiduciaries on estate planning and administration from foundational matters to complex tax-driven strategies
Practice Focus
John P. Hannon, III is a Senior Associate Attorney with Murtaugh Law LLP, where he assists individuals and families with estate planning, trust administration, and tax planning.
John’s practice covers the full lifecycle of wealth transfer, from designing estate plans to advising trustees and beneficiaries through administration. He works with a wide range of clients, from those seeking straightforward planning to families with complex asset structures, significant real estate holdings, and estate tax exposure.
His experience in trust administration informs his approach to planning. Having worked through both simple and highly complex administrations, John focuses on creating plans that are not only technically sound but also practical to implement. He regularly advises on estate tax return preparation and strategic decisions that arise during administration.
John also brings particular strength in property tax matters, advising clients on tax-efficient structuring of real estate holdings and handling property tax appeals. His background in real property and taxation allows him to identify planning opportunities that extend beyond traditional estate planning.
He is known for a thoughtful, non-contentious approach to his work. John focuses on helping clients make decisions that minimize the risk of conflict, preserve relationships, and carry out the intent behind the plan.
John advised a client with a $100 million estate whose existing plan minimized taxes at death but created downstream tax issues for the next generation. He reworked the plan to achieve long-term tax efficiency and better support multi-generational wealth transfer.
John advised the trustee of a taxable estate involving multiple irrevocable trusts and real estate assets where prior planning had been implemented inconsistently, creating transfer tax exposure and administration challenges. He evaluated issues including improper trust funding, post-term QPRT compliance and potential §2036 exposure, and coordinated a practical path forward that balanced technical requirements with the realities of administration and beneficiary interests. John also developed a strategy to address estate tax liquidity, obtained valuation discounts resulting in significant tax savings, and handled related property tax issues, including an appeal of assessed values and analysis of prior reassessment reporting obligations.
John advises clients on property tax planning and reassessment issues, particularly in connection with real estate ownership and estate planning. John has represented property owners in assessment appeals to reduce assessed values and ongoing tax exposure.
John advises individuals and families on foundational estate planning and, for over a decade, has designed and implemented plans for clients with primary residences and other core assets, with a focus on clarity, efficiency, and ease of administration.
John speaks on estate and trust topics and most recently presented for BARBRI, Trust Administration: Controlling, Protecting, and Distributing Trust Assets (Jan. 27, 2026), covering core fiduciary responsibilities and practical considerations in administration.
2024 LL.M. Taxation – Loyola Law School
2016 Juris Doctorate – Colleges of Law – Santa Barbara
2009 Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – University of California Santa Barbara
California State Bar
Outside the office, John is active in his community as a board member of Trail Life and as an afterschool chess instructor.
If you have questions or want to explore potential opportunities, we’d be glad to hear from you. Connect with our team to start the conversation, or learn more about what we offer and how we can support your goals.
