Estate Planning Lawyers for Los Angeles, California
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Janice K.
Twenty-plus years experience in family law, employment law, public agency law, federal, state and local contracts drafting and review, appellate practice.
"Janice was friendly, kind and efficient. She always held my best interest in mind and was very respectful and helpful at all times. Thank you so much Janice!"
Chris D.
With over 15 years of legal experience, I was admitted to the bar in 2008 and have since cultivated a diverse legal background. My expertise spans family law, estate planning, healthcare regulatory matters, and business law. I have a particular knack for crafting meticulous contracts. My approach is client-centric, ensuring that every individual receives personalized, knowledgeable guidance tailored to their unique situation. Partner with me, and let's navigate the complexities of the law together. www.downslawla.com
"Chris is an awesome and professional attorney! I was in a hurry and it is appreciated that the prenup can be reviewed in a quick time. Strongly recommendation!"
Daniel K.
I graduated from Yale University magna cum laude, served as a Fulbright Scholar in Italy and attended UC Berkeley School of Law. In 2023, I was named a "Legal Visionary" by the Los Angeles Times. I have broad experience in corporate transactions and in serving as outside general counsel to clients. I started my legal career in Silicon Valley and Hong Kong working on large equity and debt financings and matters for private wealth clients. After returning home to Los Angeles, I advised startup companies with formations, acquisitions and day-to-day matters such as sales contracts and licensing. More recently, I have focused on data, IT and SaaS contracts for both providers and customers. My clients include NASDAQ-listed companies, a top ranked children’s hospital and local startups.
"Daniel assisted me with a project that had a relatively quick turnaround and provided thoughtful and thorough feedback. Highly recommend!"
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Laura B.
I received my undergraduate degree from Columbia University and my JD from UC Davis School of Law. I specialize in drafting, reviewing, and litigating contracts, general civil litigation, restraining orders, and family law. I have helped entrepreneurs form their business entities and grow their small businesses. This area of my practice has focused heavily on YouTubers, podcasters, and individuals creating unique online platforms. In the family law context, I have helped my clients petition for and obtain custody of their children and modify existing custody arrangements.
"I had the pleasure of working with Laura B. on some recent legal matters, and I genuinely can’t recommend her enough. From start to finish, Laura was professional, responsive, and incredibly efficient. What really stood out to me was how thorough and proactive she was — she didn’t just check the boxes, she went above and beyond to make sure everything was done properly and on time. Legal work can feel overwhelming, but Laura made the entire process smooth and stress-free. She explained everything clearly, answered all my questions promptly, and stayed one step ahead the entire way. I never had to chase her for updates — she was always on top of it, which gave me a ton of peace of mind. It’s rare to find someone who combines legal expertise with such a down-to-earth, approachable style. I felt like I was in really good hands the whole time. I’ll absolutely be working with Laura again for any legal needs that come up in the future, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a sharp, dependable, and genuinely helpful attorney."
Dawn K.
Dawn K Kennedy has been licensed to practice law since 2015, but has been an entrepreneur since 2011. She uses her extensive project management and business background to support small and mid-sized businesses with contracts, negotiations, and other matters relating to the operation of a successful business venture.
September 6, 2023
Michael C.
40+ years handling litigation matters for employers and employees, defense and prosecution of personal injury matters, CalOsha defense, prepare employment contracts, non-compete clauses, established drug policies and franchise agreements. represented banks in commercial litigation , asset retrieval matters. conducted audits of insurance company claims on behalf of employers, defended contractors in toxic tort cases, handled appeals to the insurance commissioner on workers compensation rate classification matters
September 6, 2023
Peter H.
Haber Law Firm, APC, is a transactional business law firm with a focus on small/mid-market business purchases and sales, outside general counsel, and start-up assistance for businesses in their early stages. Peter Haber started Haber Law Firm, APC after several years as a legal executive at Popcornopolis, a gourmet popcorn brand sold at groceries and stadiums nationwide. In this role, Peter served as the company’s sole in-house legal advisor as it related to all functions of the company’s operations, including dispute resolution, compliance, and employment law, to name a few. With his help and guidance, the company relocated its entire corporate and manufacturing operation, developed a new factory and warehouse, and was successfully acquired by private equity. Prior to this, Peter was a litigator and business attorney with distinguished Los Angeles litigation boutiques. Such matters included the representation of numerous businesses in litigation and in the resolution of pre-litigation disputes as well as the representation of professionals in liability defense matters, including hospitals, physicians, and brokers.
Gina O.
see resume.
Gina S.
Experienced business attorney in the field of real estate, construction, and design.
October 5, 2023
Melissa T.
Having more than ten (10) years of experience in commercial law, I have garnered both relevant in-house and law firm experience. With more than a combined seven (7) years in-house experience, I have gained valuable insight in balancing the business needs with the legal risks and applying the legal skills I have acquired to various fields. I have specific experience with SaaS, vendor contracts, customer contracts, and general marketing agreements. Moreover, my law firm background has taught me to be detail-oriented and to be an effective negotiator in all types of commercial dealings.
October 12, 2023
James D. F.
Unique Hybrid Background ➲ Deep Legal, Tech & Commercial Experience More by pure chance than design, I arrived late in life to pursue a career in law. My background spans more than 3 decades across Information Technology, entrepreneurship & the legal profession supporting my claim to being a 'Deep Generalist'. What is a 'Deep Generalist'? 'The professionals who develop into really great client advisors are deep generalists.' Quote from Warren Bennis. From 2013 I worked for established boutique property, finance & commercial law firms + an award-winning #newlaw firm of senior lawyers (formerly Nexus Law Group, now merged with Arch.law) before founding my digital law firm Blue Ocean Law Group in 2017. I also worked part-time for 2 years as a freelance online expert across all aspects of Australian Law with JustAnswer (H.Q. in San Francisco) and volunteered at the Caxton Legal Centre to give back to the community. Now I offer pro bono (free) legal assistance at my discretion. My achievements in the law are best reflected in the high number of settlements where civil litigation has been avoided, court judgements (incl. successful appeals) in my clients' favour & [90+] testimonials which can be seen on the blueocean.law [700+] page website which offers tons [585+] of both free & paid innovative legal products & resources. My personal experience as a client on the other side of legal matters affords me a unique perspective and goes some way to explaining my passion for the reinvention of the delivery of legal services. I am an early adopter of technology + gadgets, an avid reader and an animal lover. In January 2023, I joined the IAPP – International Association of Privacy Professionals and became a Certified Information Privacy Professional – United States by gaining the highly valued gold-standard ANSI-Accredited CIPP/US credential. I followed this up in August 2023, by obtaining the Certified in CyberSecurity qualification form ISC(2). Pre-Law Background From 1992 to 2002, I worked for Accenture as an IT Project Manager across APAC (including long-term project assignments in New Zealand & Singapore). I started a small business side hustle in 1997 and in 2003 I left Accenture to become a full-time entrepreneur in the transport industry. I later expanded into the mezzanine property development finance market as well as venturing into small-scale property development.Unique Hybrid Background
November 7, 2023
Boris K.
With over 10 years experience as a Real Estate Broker and an attorney, I can help you with all your residential real estate needs such as For sale by owner transactions and drafting grant deeds
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Browse Lawyers NowEstate Planning Legal Questions and Answers
Estate Planning
Last Will and Testament
California
Can I create an estate plan without the help of a lawyer?
I am in my mid-fifties and have recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I have a large estate that I would like to be distributed to my family and friends when I pass away. I have done some research and understand the importance of having an estate plan, but I am not sure if I am able to create one without the help of a lawyer. I am looking for more information that will help me make the best decision for my family and myself.
Philip M.
You can certainly go ahead and fill out simple forms to complete some easy estate planning documents like wills, but for more complicated documents like a trust (which is required if you want to avoid probate) it can get a little trickier. Further, anyone can fill in the blanks, but an experienced attorney will be able to explain what the document does and how it meets your wishes best. Hope this helps.
Estate Planning
Fee Agreement
California
Do I need to provide my personal and assets info to an estate planning attorney before signing a fee agreement so they can begin prepping a living trust
Looking for an estate planning attorney to prep a living trust and all other necessary docs
Jane C.
No. You do not need to provide any information until you agree to work with the attorney.
Estate Planning
Last Will and Testament
California
What happens if I die without a will?
As I have gotten older and accumulated assets, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of having a will in place. However, I have not yet taken the steps to create one, and I am curious about the potential consequences of dying without a will. Therefore, I would like to seek the advice of a lawyer to understand what would happen to my estate and how my assets would be distributed in the event of my death without a will.
Matthew S.
If you die without a will your assets will be distributed to your heirs pursuant to the intestacy statute for your state. However, if you use a will, you can control who gets your assets and can give assets to non-blood related persons who wouldn't otherwise be an heir.
Estate Planning
Last Will and Testament
Georgia
I had an Alabama elder care lawyer create my POA, will, etc. Now I am living permanently in Ga. Is my paperwork still good or do I need to get it reviewed and updated in Ga.
widowed and living alone
Allen L.
The short answer is: your Alabama documents are most likely still legally valid in Georgia, but a Georgia attorney review is strongly recommended — especially given your situation living alone and widowed. Here is the breakdown: Will Georgia recognizes a will validly executed in another state as long as it was properly signed and witnessed under that state's law at the time it was made. Alabama and Georgia both require two witnesses, so your will should be fine. That said, if your Alabama will names your spouse or references Alabama-specific assets, accounts, or property that has since changed, it absolutely needs updating for that reason alone. Power of Attorney Georgia adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act in 2017. Georgia will generally honor a POA validly created in another state. However, Georgia has specific statutory language that banks, hospitals, and other institutions are accustomed to seeing. If your Alabama POA does not track Georgia's statutory form, some institutions may resist honoring it or ask for additional paperwork, which can cause serious delays in a crisis. Having a Georgia-compliant POA dramatically reduces that friction. Healthcare Directive / Advance Directive This is the most important one to update. Georgia has its own Advance Directive for Health Care form that combines a living will and healthcare proxy. Georgia medical providers are trained on this specific form. An Alabama healthcare directive may be legally valid here, but you may encounter real-world resistance from hospitals and doctors who are not familiar with it. A Georgia-specific advance directive is highly advisable. Practical Concerns Given Your Situation Living alone and widowed means your agent under your POA and your healthcare proxy are your first and only lines of protection if something happens. You want zero friction when those documents need to be used. This is not the situation to test whether an out-of-state document will be accepted in a moment of urgency. You should also confirm that whoever you have named as your agent, executor, and healthcare proxy is still the right person, still willing, and still able to serve. Bottom Line Your documents are not void, but getting them reviewed and updated for Georgia is genuinely worth the time and cost. At a minimum, a new Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care and a Georgia-compliant Durable POA should be strongly considered. While you are at it, confirm your beneficiary designations on any life insurance, IRAs, and bank accounts, as those pass outside your will regardless. Next Step The easiest way to get this handled is to open a project on ContractsCounsel at www.contractscounsel.com. You can post your document review and drafting project there, receive competitive flat-fee bids from Georgia-licensed attorneys who handle exactly this type of elder law work, and get everything updated without having to search for a lawyer on your own. It is a straightforward process and puts you in control of the cost upfront. Given your situation, this is one of those things that is well worth getting done sooner rather than later.
Estate Planning
Power of Attorney
Ohio
Can a Power of Attorney be revoked if the person who granted it is now capable of making decisions?
Can a Power of Attorney be revoked if the person who granted it is now capable of making decisions? I have been granted Power of Attorney for my elderly mother who was deemed mentally incapable of making decisions due to dementia. However, her condition has improved significantly, and she is now able to make decisions on her own. I want to know if it is possible to revoke the Power of Attorney and return decision-making authority to her.
Michelle M.
A power of attorney does not take away the decision-making authority of the principal. It appoints someone to act on behalf of the principal as provided in the document, but not to the exclusion of the person granting the power. If your mother granted power of attorney to you it allows you to act on her behalf, but she can also still act on her own. If she wants to revoke the power of attorney she can do so at any time, but given her diagnosis that may not be wise. It's likely the document will be needed again at some point in the future. The only proceeding that removes decision-making ability is a guardianship, which is done in the Probate Court (this is different than a power of attorney). Hope that helps!
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Estate Planning lawyers by top cities
- Austin Estate Planning Lawyers
- Boston Estate Planning Lawyers
- Chicago Estate Planning Lawyers
- Dallas Estate Planning Lawyers
- Denver Estate Planning Lawyers
- Houston Estate Planning Lawyers
- Los Angeles Estate Planning Lawyers
- New York Estate Planning Lawyers
- Phoenix Estate Planning Lawyers
- San Diego Estate Planning Lawyers
- Tampa Estate Planning Lawyers
Estate Planning lawyers by nearby cities
- Antioch Estate Planning Lawyers
- Concord Estate Planning Lawyers
- El Monte Estate Planning Lawyers
- Fullerton Estate Planning Lawyers
- Oxnard Estate Planning Lawyers
- Rancho Cucamonga Estate Planning Lawyers
- Richmond Estate Planning Lawyers
- Sacramento Estate Planning Lawyers
- San Francisco Estate Planning Lawyers
- Santa Maria Estate Planning Lawyers
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