I have practiced law in California for over 47 years and have represented hundreds of clients in creating their estate plans, administering and litigating their estate plans, and in crafting effective business succession plans. Unlike most estate planning attorneys, I have an extensive litigation background, which allows me to assist my clients in anticipating and avoiding problems before they occur in transactional matters, and to ensure my clients are well-prepared and well-represented in trust and probate litigation matters. Having seen hundreds of estate planning “mistakes” over the years has uniquely positioned me to help my clients avoid making such mistakes.

I chose to concentrate my practice in estate planning, trust and probate administration and litigation, and business succession planning because it is extremely gratifying to see my clients experience the peace of mind that comes with having proper plans in place, and to assist them during difficult times of grief and loss after a family member has died. I pride myself on taking the time to listen to my clients compassionately and carefully, and to develop a deep understanding of each client’s unique needs, before suggesting legal advice and strategies. I am also committed to ensuring that my clients understand complex legal concepts in plain language they can understand.

If you need to create or update your family’s estate plan, or have experienced the death of a loved one and are navigating trust or estate administration or litigation, or are a business owner needing to create an effective business succession plan, please call me for a free consultation.

Services Offered:

Basic Estate Planning

I create comprehensive, highly personalized estate plans for individuals, families, professionals, and business owners. I craft revocable living trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney for financial management and personal care, advance health care directives, HIPAA medical authorizations, certifications of trust that are carefully tailored to meet the unique needs of my clients; and guide my clients after their documents are completed to ensure that their trusts are property funded, and that their non-trust assets (such as pension and retirement accounts, and life insurance policies) are also considered and complement the estate plan. I also create more complex estate plans for high-net-worth individuals and families, and have a well-established network of trusted advisors to advise and assist my clients in those cases.

Advanced Estate Planning for High Net Worth Clients

I also create and implement more advanced estate planning techniques for high net worth clients, who are often subject to federal estate taxes. If you are a high net worth client, your goals are to minimize federal estate taxes, ensure sufficient liquid assets are available if estate taxes are due, and reduce the current and future value of your estate for tax purposes; and there are several techniques involving irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, and limited liability companies that I can assist you with in meeting these goals.

Trust and Probate Administration & Litigation

When the time comes, I guide my clients as trustees, executors, and beneficiaries through the process of trust and probate administration, including litigation matters. The time following the death of a loved one is often a highly fraught, emotionally charged time for everyone involved. Most cases involve straightforward trust or probate administration. In other cases, extreme family dysfunction reveals itself after a loved one dies, and fiduciaries and beneficiaries can find themselves in litigation. In either case, I come alongside my clients and personally guide them step-by-step through whatever legal process they face, all the while striving to keep my clients out of Court whenever it is reasonably possible to do so.

Business Succession Planning

When it comes to business owners, I have found that they have often neglected business succession planning as a part of their estate plan, and in this context, I guide business owner clients in developing such plans. Business succession plans may take the form of a buy-sell agreement between business owners, a family limited partnership, or some other plan; but whether a business owner wants the business to continue or be sold after death, it is essential a plan be made, especially if there are multiple, non-related owners involved. I craft effective business succession plans for business owners, in close consultation with any accountants, financial planners, life insurance brokers, and related professionals needed to ensure the plan is also effective for tax purposes.

Areas Served

  • Los Angeles County (San Fernando & Conejo Valleys, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, West Los Angeles, South Bay)
  • Ventura County (Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Simi Valley,
  • Camarillo, Ventura, Oxnard, Pt. Hueneme, Santa Paula, Ojai,)
  • Santa Barbara County (Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Carpenteria, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Santa Ynez)

Licenses

  • Supreme Court of California (1976)
  • United States District Court, Central District of California (1977)
  • United States District Court, Southern District of California (1977)
  • United States Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit (1977)

Education

  • University of Utah, Bachelor of Science, Psychology, cum laude (1973)
  • Pepperdine University School of Law, Juris Doctor (1976)

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

  • State Bar of California 
  • Estate Planning Council of Ventura County
  • Provisors – 
    • Westlake 8 Home Group
    • Valley Estate and Succession Planning Affiliation Group
    • Westlake Village Estate and Succession Planning Affiliation Group
  • Centers for Spiritual Living – Chair of Legal Committee, Parliamentarian, Former Trustee
  • Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club – former Member, Board Member, and President
  • Ventura County Financial Planning Association – former Member, Board Member
  • Conejo Valley Masonic Lodge – Master Mason
  • Scottish Rite of Los Angeles – 32° Degree

Honors and Awards

  • Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary) – Ernest Holmes Institute
  • K. A. Turner Laity Leadership Award – Centers for Spiritual Living
  • American Jurisprudence Award – Constitutional Law
  • American Jurisprudence Aware – Conflicts of Law