I was born and raised in Napa, California, and now live in the Los Angeles area. I pursued my undergraduate studies at Occidental College, where I earned a BA in Politics. Following that, I attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, graduating in the top 10% of my division.
Currently, I am licensed to practice law in ten states and have dedicated my entire career to litigation, with a significant amount of experience in probate court.
My philosophy revolves around not just providing outstanding legal services but also being accessible to my clients. I understand that people seek legal assistance because they face issues that are difficult and they require clear and timely solutions to these issues.
To ensure that I am available and can communicate clearly, I take on only a limited number of cases each month. Clients who retain my services receive my personal cell phone number, ensuring they can reach me anytime.
My practice is now exclusively focused on probate and trust administration, as well as probate and trust contests. I do not work on an hourly retainer basis; instead, I operate solely on statutory probate fees or on a contingency fee basis. I do not charge for initial consultations.
My goal is to get to know my clients and have my clients get to know me. An attorney-client relationship is one that must be built on trust. I view my cases as a partnership with my client and I look forward to finding creative solutions to the issues presented. Please feel free to give me a call or email and let me know what I can do to help you in your particular situation.
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
- Trust Litigation
- Trust Administration
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Free Consultation
Probate administration fees are statutorily set. -
Contingent Fees
If there is a dispute over who is entitled to what assets in a probate or trust, then a contingency fee can be arranged where no retainer would be paid up front by the client.
- California
- State Bar of California
- ID Number: 220361
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- Florida
- The Florida Bar
- ID Number: 692158
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- Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers
- ID Number: 672226
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- Michigan
- State Bar of Michigan
- ID Number: P81724
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- Minnesota
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- ID Number: 0505937
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- New Jersey
- New Jersey Courts
- ID Number: 312092022
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- North Carolina
- North Carolina State Bar
- ID Number: 60538
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- Ohio
- Supreme Court of Ohio Office of Attorney Services
- ID Number: 0102767
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- Tennessee
- Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee
- ID Number: 042659
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- Texas
- State Bar of Texas
- ID Number: 24064192
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- English: Spoken, Written
- Founder and Managing Member
- MiltonLaw
- - Current
- Managing Partner
- Milton and DeKruif
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- Founding member and managing partner
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
- J.D. (2001)
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- Honors: Order of Coif; St. Thomas More Honor Society; Multiple American Jurisprudence Awards; Graduated in top 10% of division
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- Occidental College
- B.A. (1993) | Politics
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- Activities: Football, Rugby, Lacrosse
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- Beverly Hills Bar Association
- - Current
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- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- - Current
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- Q. How to contest a possibly fraudulent will in CA probate court?
- A: Step 1: Hire a probate litigator. Attorneys will work either on an hourly basis or on a contingency basis. Hourly retainers can range from $250 to $750 an hour. Contingency fee agreements mean that you are giving up a percentage of the net estate that you recover. Typically you would give up 33.33% to 45% of the estate that is recovered on a contingency fee basis.
Step 2: Work with the attorney to gather documents to support your case. You need a theory as to what is fraudulent about the will. How was it defective? Was it not properly witnessed? Was the signature forged? Did your mother lack the mental capacity to sign the will? Was there undue influence or coercion forcing her ... Read More
- Q. How can I add myself to a deed with my mother in CA after my father's passing?
- A: The easiest way is to have your mother add you on to the deed. For something like this, I would go to a service like Legal Zoom or a paralegal service that can draft documents cheaply for you.
On the other hand, if you mother decides that more complicated estate planning is necessary due to tax issues, beneficiaries with special needs, or foreseeable disputes after her death with other potential beneficiaries, simply transferring the asset over during her lifetime to you may lead to claims of financial elder abuse or theft down the road. Document everything. Reach out to other beneficiaries and have them waive any interest in the property or her estate. There are a multitude of issues ... Read More
- Q. Can I sell estate assets under IAEA authorization before probate valuation?
- A: The clear answer is yes. However, you need to make sure that you document both the basis for the sale price and your choice of buyer when you sell the property, ultimately you owe a fiduciary duty to the estate and to maximize the value of any property in the estate.
Anytime you are dealing with issues such as this, an experienced attorney should be by your side. Failure to properly notify other interested parties as to the actions you are taking could lead to liability on your part. The procedural steps you take are important.
