Santa Barbara Probate Lawyers

Chris Jones, a longtime resident of Santa Barbara, has practiced law since 1972. His philosophy of making law easy, understandable, clear and comfortable (”making you an expert”) has helped him become one of the most well respected and knowledgeable Trusts and Estate Planning attorneys in Santa Barbara and on the Central Coast.

His areas of expertise include: Wills, estates, trusts and probate, including living trusts, tax planning, business succession planning, irrevocable trusts, advanced direction of health care, generation-skipping planning and avoidance of probate. He is a California State Bar certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law. As his clients'...

After teaching at the college level for over 25 years, Bruce McIver decided to take up the mantle of the law. He was reluctant to give up the security of his position, but took a chance and attended law school, graduating with honors and being admitted to the practice of law by the California Bar. While he enjoyed his years of teaching Shakespeare at Reed College, Union College, UCLA, UCSB, and the University of Ljubljana, he wanted to help people of a different ages, and in different ways, mindful of his clients' needs to manage their estates....

Adam T. Carralejo is a trial attorney with broad expertise and a strong, ethical reputation. Adam started his career handling estate and trust work in Santa Barbara – his first client matter was the infamous case of Butler v. LeBouef, involving an unethical estate planning attorney and successful trust contest in Santa Barbara Superior Court. Adam would go on to spend several years with a Los Angeles firm advising HOA boards and representing HOA homeowners. During this time, he gained invaluable experience understanding the needs of community managers, boards of directors, and, most importantly, individual homeowners. He’s drafted CC&Rs, provided education...

Charles "Chip" Oxton is a Santa Barbara attorney representing clients in all aspects of family law and civil litigation. Chip is a highly-skilled and respected legal advisor and litigator with nearly 40 years' experience practicing law in Santa Barbara. He has represented clients in a broad range of legal matters, including divorce and custody cases, personal injury and civil disputes, conservatorships and guardianships, wills and probate administration, real estate law, and landlord-tenant law. Legal disputes are often intense, emotionally-charged experiences for the parties involved. Chip's approach to practicing law involves providing clients with calm, reasoned advice in an environment devoted...

Mr. Tomlinson's experience in tax planning, tax audits and appeals and international business transactions is unmatched on California’s Central Coast. Mr. Tomlinson's practice also focuses on estate planning, trust and estate administrations, business formations and mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Tomlinson received J.D. degree from Northwestern University. He began his law career as an attorney with the IRS Chief Counsel's Office. He rose to senior trial attorney with the IRS and served for a period as acting IRS Assistant Regional Counsel.

After leaving the IRS, Mr. Tomlinson served as in house counsel for several Fortune 500 corporations over a span of 18 years,...

Philip I. Moncharsh has been a litigation and trial lawyer since his admission to practice law in 1973. Mr. Moncharsh has successfully argued hundreds of cases to verdict in state and federal courts throughout California, and has also appeared before the California Supreme Court. Mr. Moncharsh's practice is focused on complex business and corporate disputes, insurance litigation and coverage issues, trust and estate litigation, real estate litigation, representation and counseling of public agencies and nonprofit organizations, personal injury, product liability, and professional negligence matters. He handles both civil trials and appeals.

Mr. Moncharsh serves as a court-appointed arbitrator for...

Mr. Campbell has been a civil litigator for over 30 years. He has successfully represented individuals, corporations, partnerships, trustees and executors in cases involving a wide range of legal issues, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, will and trust contests, business torts and trade secrets. Mr. Campbell has significant experience and expertise with real estate litigation in particular, including failures to disclose, fraud, quiet title actions, easement disputes, encroachments, trespass, nuisance and safe harbor litigation.

Mr. Campbell has been awarded a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV Preeminent, signifying the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability, for 14 consecutive...

I am a California native originally from the San Joaquin Valley. I graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1970 where I studied Political Science. In 1975, after 3 years of world travel I formed an import clothing business. It included a Santa Barbara retail store and for 25 years operated as a national wholesale outlet. I took part in the management of the business and the design and distribution of the products. My duties included national and international travel, meeting with customers and vendors, as well as dealing with international banking and import/export requirements. The company...

Annette Dawson-Davis, B.S., M.Ed., J.D.

MY STORY:
After my father, Howard Q. Dawson, Sr.-Major USAF, died, I found his trust was not well-written. My dad was sold an estate plan by a large corporation based in another state. These corporations are called "Trust Mills," which give accountants and financial advisors large referral fees to recommend their services to clients. The attorney that prepared the trust did not take the time to make sure all of the important details and contingencies were covered. The attorney did not stand behind the product and was not available to help when problems arose....

I was born and raised in Ventura, California and lived here a majority of my life. I majored in business management at San Diego State University and soon there after started working for Citigroup in Jacksonville, Florida. I worked as a project manager for Citigroup and traveled extensively throughout the world. I even ended up relocating to the Philippines for a year which was an opportunity of a lifetime. After living in the Philippines, I moved back to Ventura and began my legal career.

I started by volunteering at the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and the Coalition to End Family...

Mr. Hultgren is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of California and is certified as a specialist by the State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization in the area of Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law. Mr. Hultgren crafts comprehensive estate plans for his clients. He also provides legal advice and assistance in the administration of Trusts and Wills upon a person’s death and advises businesses and non-profit organizations in transactional matters. Mr. Hultgren earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from University of California, Davis and his Juris Doctorate from...

A recognized leader in the field, John Andersen is a partner at Ferguson Case Orr Paterson. A Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar since 2008, John is also an Executive Committee Board Member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California State Bar that advises the California legislature on laws effecting estate planning and a “Top Lawyer” Super Lawyer in Estate Planning and Probate.

John guides couples, families, individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and public figures of all means, in all aspects of estate planning, trusts and probate and creates a custom plan...

JD, Northwestern Univ School of Law (1978)

Ventura private civil practice since 1984. Name partner in MYERS, WIDDERS, GIBSON & LONG, 1995 through 1999. Opened Law Office of Robert I. Long January 1, 2000. Office conveniently located across the street from the Ventura County Government Center and Main Courthouse.

Eric Smith received his bachelor’s degree from UCSD in 1995 and his law degree from Pepperdine University in 1997. Eric holds the Certified Financial Planner(TM) designation. He has been a securities dispute arbitrator for FINRA and taught retirement planning classes for Cal Lutheran’s MBA program. He is a member of the California Bar, the Ventura County Bar Association, and the Financial Planner’s Association of Ventura County. He is co-owner of Lifetime Planning, Inc., a financial planning firm in Camarillo. He resides in Ventura with his spouse, Jamie King, and their children, Kell and Leif.

Formerly with the Law Offices of Alex Hernandez, Mr. Hernandez is now CEO of ARH Consulting LLC a National Law Firm; A multi area litigation practice; Federal and State matters in New York, New Mexico, and California Pro Hac Vice (immigration nationally) With over 20 years of legal experience, Alex R. Hernandez Jr. has represented thousands of clients. Economist, Author, and Attorney, Alex has worked for several decades getting justice for his clients. Alex comes from a family of legal professionals, his father was the first Hispanic County judge and is currently the sitting County Court at Law Judge, his mother has been...

Alice A. Salvo in Woodland Hills, California, offers quality representation in estate planning, trust, probate, elder law and conservatorship cases. Our firm is dedicated to helping elders and families throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley effectively plan and protect their future. As we age, there are going to be a number of choices we have to make that involve our well-being and our family's financial security. These are tough choices, but with our guidance, together we can better understand what options fit your needs. We offer compassionate representation, preserve assets and inheritance, create Living Trusts, Special...

Zaher Fallahi, Attorney At Law, CPA, is a Tax Law Firm, licensed in California and Washington D.C. as Attorney and CPA. We practice as an Orange County Tax Attorney and Los Angeles Tax Attorney. We advise clients with undisclosed Foreign Accounts; the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), Foreign Gifts, Tax Audit Representation, Federal Tax Liens/Levies, Employment Taxes, Innocent Spouse Relief, Non-Filed Tax Returns, Offer-In-Compromise, Estate Planning and Probate. Zaher Fallahi testifies before the court as an expert witness on tax...

Mr. Schorr is a Los Angeles Real Estate Attorney and who manages Schorr Law, APC. Schorr Law is an active real estate litigation firm based in West Los Angeles, California. We represent a wide array of clients, including businesses and high net worth individuals for all of their commercial and residential real estate needs. Our attorneys are uniquely positioned to provide an energetic, results-oriented, system of dispute resolution designed and proven to achieve the end results our clients desire. Litigation experience includes the representation of businesses, property owners, landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers of real estate, residential and...

Adele graduated from Monterey College of Law with a Juris Doctor while raising two children with her husband, architect Jeff Schneidereit.

Ms. Schneidereit has founded Adele Schneidereit Law Offices and practices there as the Principal Attorney.

Before she became a lawyer, Adele worked in Silicon Valley as a software consultant at CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc. Later Adele worked as part of a small team which designed the Online Medical Record System which is the charting system for inpatients used by the vast array of Kaiser Permanente hospitals and physicians.

Adele founded Inspire The World Foundation, which promotes awareness about...

Calvin A. Slater has been a lawyer since 1981, with over 30 years of experience with helping clients, such as entrepreneurs, physicians, business owners and real estate investors. His legal expertise includes real estate matters, tax-deferred exchanges, trusts, estate planning, asset protection, as well as business matters such as formation, planning, and succession. He emphasizes a personal connection with each client to understand their needs and provide effective solutions. He encourages a team approach by collaborating with a client’s other professionals such as accountants and investment advisors. Mr. Slater is a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by...

Shawn S. Kerendian is the founder and Principal of Keystone Law Group, P.C. Shawn has managed, supervised and litigated hundreds of Probate, Trusts and Estate matters. Shawn received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. He has appeared before judges throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties on matters related to Trusts, Estates and Probate. Shawn is a member of the Trusts & Estates Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and also a member of the Trusts & Estates and Litigation sections of the State Bar of California.

Mitchell A. Port is an attorney in Los Angeles who represents individuals, families, and businesses offering services in probate, trust administration, estate planning and IRS tax controversies.

In addition to administering a decedent's estate as well as identifying and distributing assets to beneficiaries, Mitch also offers services for other issues that may require the attention of a probate court, including the following:

Lost wills

Will contests

The removal of executors and trustees

Petitions for probate

Trust administration

Probate litigation

Other legal matters that must go through the California
probate court, including conservatorships
(a court proceeding for incapacitated and incompetent adults)
and guardianships (a court proceeding for...

RMO LLP resolves contests, disputes and litigation related to trusts, estates and conservatorships, creating a welcome peace of mind for clients. We represents heirs, beneficiaries, trustees and executors, utilizing our experience to develop and implement strategies that swiftly and cost-effectively address the financial issues, fiduciary duties and emotional complexities underlying trust contests, estates conflicts and probate litigation. Driven by a commitment to provide relief to people grieving the loss of a loved one, RMO collaborates closely with clients. We pursue and defend claims involving incapacity, incompetence, undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, and other similar areas of dispute. Our advice and counsel...

Beti Tsai Bergman is the principal shareholder of the law firm, Peninsula Law, A Professional Law Corporation. Her firm specializes in probate, trusts, estates, conservatorships, and financial elder abuse. Ms. Bergman has extensive experience in representing conservators, trustees, and executors, as well as, heirs and beneficiaries in uncontested and contested trust and estate matters. Before specializing in probate, Ms. Bergman was a Deputy City Attorney for City of Los Angeles and was a business litigator in private practice.
Ms. Bergman is certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization in estate planning, trust and probate law and has earned a...

Diane Park specializes in estate and trust administration, as well as estate, trust and conservatorship litigation. In administrative matters, Diane is respectful of her clients’ grief, helping them navigate the many decisions that ultimately bring them peace-of-mind. In litigation matters, she is sensitive to the stressful nature of disputes in general, maintaining focus on achieving resolution as quickly as possible. With a background in civil litigation, Diane is well-versed in the litigation process, contributing to her efficiency.

Diane is on the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. In this capacity, she collaborates...

Megan Ferkel Earhart is an associate with the JMBM's Taxation and Trusts and Estates Groups. JMBM’s Trusts & Estates Group is recognized by U.S. News & World Report / Best Law Firms® with a National First Tier ranking in Trusts & Estates Law. Her practice includes estate planning, probate, trust administration and related income, gift and estate tax matters.

She has authored and co-authored articles on estate planning in the Los Angeles Daily Journal and Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine and lectures to audiences on estate planning, including the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the Jewish Community Foundation and USC Trusts and Estates...

Ramon is a Spanish-speaking attorney with the firm of Jakle, Alexander & Patton, LLP in Santa Monica. He practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Trust Settlement, Legal Entities, Probate, and Conservatorships. In 2011, Ramon graduated cum laude from the University of La Verne College of Law. He earned his B.A. from the University of Southern California in Spanish and Political Science. He is a graduate of Loyola High School, Los Angeles. Ramon is member of the Santa Monica Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association (Trusts & Estates Law Section), State Bar of California (Trusts & Estates Law...

Versatile trial attorney offering a solid track record of litigation success and experience in various facets of the law. Motivated and articulate professional who thrives in courtroom settings, excels at client rapport, discovery and deposition. Exceptional skill in drafting, reviewing, and analyzing pleadings, motions, responses to summary judgments, opinions, briefs and other legal documents. Recognized as leading defense attorney in Southern California, particularly skilled at “connecting” with and building rapport with jurors, resulting in positive verdicts in vast majority of nearly 20 jury trials, and hundreds of misdemeanor cases. Reputation as a “no nonsense” attorney and aggressive litigator among the...

At Acorn Law PC, Nikki Hashemi helps clients achieve peace of mind. Nikki received her B.A. from the University of British Columbia with a Major in Political Science and an Honors Degree in Germanic Studies. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, where she was also invited to join the Moot Court. Nikki was admitted to the California Bar in 2005 and has since represented hundreds of clients in the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Central and Southern District. She is admitted to all Courts within the State of California. Nikki is determined to deliver...

Jessica Babrick applies a broad background in litigation to resolve disputes involving trusts, estates, probate and conservatorships. She represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries and financial and charitable institutions in a wide variety of contested trust and probate matters. Jessica is a fervent advocate for her clients, and works closely with them to efficiently and effectively resolve claims concerning breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence, lack of capacity and the validity of wills and trusts.

Jessica serves as Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, which keeps her at the forefront of recent developments...

Sussan H. Shore designs and implements multi-generational estate plans for high net worth clients, and oversees the administration of estates and trusts. For over 35 years, she has helped clients fulfill their goals to care for their families, meet charitable giving objectives and reduce estate taxes. Sussan has great compassion for her clients, quickly earning their trust through her patient approach, practical advice and straightforward communication. She is non-judgmental and creative, resolving the unique needs of clients in complex alternative and blended family structures as readily as those in traditional families.

As a certified specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust...

Michael Avanesian, the group’s president and managing partner, has developed a reputation for being an assertive lawyer who is fearless and committed to winning. Michael represents the face of Avian Law Group and never hesitates in accepting the challenge of defending his client’s rights. Michael’s leadership is founded on the principles of ethics and justice. In his tenure as a lawyer, Michael Avanesian has taken heavy responsibility by handling challenging cases of real estate fraud, contested probate, partnership disputes, and trust disputes. With his skillful negotiation skills and grasp of the system, he has achieved the best results for some of...