Our firm handles legal matters in the following practice areas: Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills and Probate Administration.

Unlike many law firms or practices which offer estate planning services along with a wide array of other broad legal services in unrelated areas (such as real estate, commercial, corporate, family law et al.), which in many circumstances results in unintended estate planning consequences since that is not their specialty, I specialize exclusively in estate planning (including drafting of wills and trusts) and probate administration of estates, as I have since I graduated NYU School of Law with a Masters in Taxation in 1984 (NYU Law School is by many considered the premier Graduate Law School Taxation Program Masters of Laws Degree in Taxation). It is always important to consider a lawyer's so-called area of expertise and legal background when considering who to hire for specialized legal services, such as estate planning, due to tax, trust and other important legal considerations.

I find it quite surprising, but unfortunately commonplace, for individuals with savings, insurance, and/or real estate not to even have the most basic of estate planning tools - a Will, which results in his or her Estate being distributed by way of "intestate succession" (as determined by the State, and not the individual), and the need for a Conservator of the person if the individual becomes incapacitated. In fact, the Los Angeles Times recently reported that over 70% of individuals do not have any Will (or Living Trust).

Today I recommend for most Clients the preparation, with the assistance of a qualified and specialized estate planning attorney, of both a Will and a Living Trust which may eliminate the need for any expensive probate administration (which likely will exist with or without a Will), and in many cases a Conservatorship (if the need should arise), and an Advance Health Care Directive. As part of our services, we also prepare necesary Deeds and assist in the proper funding of your Living Trust which is of equal importance. Our initial consultation to determine a new client's needs and preferences is always complimentary.

For those of you who have an Estate that needs to be administered and distributed through probate (as opposed to a Living Trust), I have been practicing this area of law since the commencement of my practice. It is important to consider an attorney's background and experience in this area of law also since it is very intricate and specialized, and experience typically will negate common pitfalls encountered by those who only occasionally practice in this area.