Pine Valley Estate Planning Lawyers

Sam McGovern is an attorney who was born and raised in San Diego, California. He obtained the degree of Juris Doctor Magna Cum Laude from California Western School of Law in San Diego, graduating in the top 2% of his class. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Sam McGovern worked as a police officer. The unexpected take-away from Sam's time in law enforcement was a unique expertise in problem solving and conflict resolution. Sam’s unique background lends itself to providing excellent representation to clients that results in peace of mind. He’s been there when individuals were first faced with seemingly insurmountable...

T.L. Brown Law Firm was awarded an A+ by the Better Business Bureau. Filing over 300 cases each year, Attorney Tristan Brown remains a leading bankruptcy attorney in San Diego and the Southern California area. Additionally, T.L. Brown’s estate planning and immigration law practices continue to grow. Attorney Tristan Brown obtained his Juris Doctor degree from UCLA School of Law and quickly earned recognition as a leader in bankruptcy law. He was awarded "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Nikki Semanchik is the Founding Attorney of Semanchik Law Group. Nikki started out her legal career advising small businesses and individuals in need of estate planning. An interest in international law and her background in immigration led her to represent multi-national high-net worth individuals with business law, asset protection and tax planning. After assisting clients with tax planning through the formation of private foundations and charitable trusts, Nikki found herself drawn to nonprofit law. She now assists nonprofit organizations with formation, compliance and governance.

Nikki is passionate about nonprofit law and enjoys speaking about nonprofit formation and compliance. Her most recent...

Principal Owner
Jack E. Stephens J.D., LL.M. has been practicing law in San Diego since 1990, helping thousands of taxpayers reduce taxes and homeowners protect their property with Trust strategies. Jack Stephens has been designated as Top Lawyer by San Diego Magazine, Best of the Bar, and Avvo on a consistent basis. He has received annual awards including the AV Preeminent Attorney Rating by Martindell-Hubbell, representing the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. As an active contributor to continuing education in Estate Planning, Jack Stephens has authored and edited quarterly newsletters, pamphlets, and contributed articles to the...

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...

Nicole D'Ambrogi is a distinguished attorney based in San Diego. A “Rising Star” with just over four years of experience, Ms. D'Ambrogi has already built a name for herself in estate planning and probate law and has garnered a reputation as a staunch advocate for veterans. A former member of the U.S. Navy, her practice focuses on comprehensive estate planning, veteran benefits, and asset protection services. Among numerous other honors, Ms. D'Ambrogi has received the Women Resiliency Award by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in 2015 and the Trailblazer Award from the California Department of Veteran Affairs in 2016.

Practice Areas
Will and Living Trust drafting and review
Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directives
Will and Trust Amendments and Updates
Estate, Gift, Income, and Property Tax planning Techniques for avoiding probate
Represent Executors and Administrators in Probate
Represent Trustee in Trust Administration
Advanced Estate Tax Planning: Irrevocable Trusts, Gifting Trusts, Grantor Retained Trusts (GRIT, GRAT, GRUT, QPRT), Life Insurance Trusts
Charitable Planning ? Charitable Trusts (CRAT, CRUT, CLT)

Education
University of San Diego School of Law ? Juris Doctorate in 1977
University of California, Irvine ? Bachelor of Arts in 1974
Personal Philosophy
Roberta helps families plan to transfer assets to the next generation while avoiding probate and miniming...

Ruth Ryan-Cruz is an attorney in San Diego, California with Ryan-Cruz Law, APC. Attorney Ruth Ryan-Cruz practices in the areas of business and corporate law, intellectual property, estate planning, wills, trusts, copyrights, trademarks and more. Contact San Diego Attorney Ruth Ryan-Cruz for a consultation. Ruth is a fluent Spanish-speaking attorney providing counseling and transactional services in Spanish in the areas listed above. Ruth earned her Juris Doctor Degree from California Western School of Law and received a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in High Tech Management from California State...

What makes me unique is that I am both a Business Owner and a Corporate & Business Law Attorney. I actually started my first business at age 8 when I launched “Dan’s Bird Farm.” As the owner of the Kehr Business Law PC, I provide business, corporate general counsel, technology, Internet, e-commerce and tax law, as well as trust, will, estate and succession planning legal services. I founded, managed and have run my own law firm for over 17 years. My experience as a business owner makes me uniquely suited to approach legal representation from the business owner’s perspective. I...

Tina has dissolved Gehres Law Group to focus on building a NFP organization, YesHope.org. She is no longer taking clients. Thank you for your patronage.

As a former business owner myself, my goal is to help other business owners and entrepreneurs with their legal issues. It's important to have someone in your corner who understands what it's like to be in your shoes. Advice is only helpful if it makes sense in the real world, and my prior experience allows me to see the real world implications. Before law school, I opened a small coffee shop that I grew into a full-fledged restaurant within four years. In the beginning, I was able to use marketing to help grow the business over 200% from year to...

May Harris (she/her) serves as CEO and Managing Attorney at FPLG. She chairs the firm’s transactional practice group, working with an outstanding team of FPLG attorneys and professionals in service to clients of all sizes, including museums, schools, churches, medical organizations and other charitable tax-exempt entities. Serving in the roles of nonprofit founder, board member, corporate counsel and executive director over the course of her career, Ms. Harris has been instrumental in the development of each of the organizations she has led, and she understands the challenges facing nonprofit executives every day. Over her two decades of legal practice, Ms. Harris has...

Mr. O'Connell leads a small firm of professionals specializing in real estate issues, business, corporations, limited liability companies, estates, and trust administration. He has more than 30 years of experience in these areas and is fully equipped to advise clients regarding their options and risks in these troubling economic times.

Mr. O'Connell speaks frequently at continuing education seminars on topic including the emerging issues in limited liability companies and legal ethics.

Mr. O'Connell served in the U.S. Army Security Agency from 1968 to 1972, serving in Turkey and Germany.

Paul Hilton is committed to the idea of “service to country” which translates into the work he does for his clients. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Magna Cum Laude, Paul Hilton began his practice in the San Diego area and is licensed to practice law in California’s state and federal courts.

A retired Marine, Paul finds that his law career allows him to pair his passion with his purpose within his home community. During his time in law school, he was awarded the Veterans Assistance scholarship and served as the Executive Editor of Law Review. As a lawyer,...

Dayn Holstrom, leading a distinguished family law firm in Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino, boasts a team of highly skilled attorneys committed to guiding clients with expertise and determination. His academic prowess at Western State University College of Law includes receiving the American Jurisprudence Award 17 times, serving as Editor in Chief of the Law Review, and graduating as Valedictorian with summa cum laude honors. Admitted to the bar in 1990, Dayn founded the Law Office of Dayn Holstrom, evolving into the renowned Holstrom, Block & Parke firm in 2008. Widely respected in Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino...

Professional Life: California State Bar member, Asaph Abrams represents individuals, families and businesses in obtaining federal bankruptcy protection. He has filed over 650 successful bankruptcy cases in San Diego and has been co-chair of the San Diego County Bar's Bankruptcy Law Section. He has parted ways with the large law firm sector to focus personally on clients in need. He offers sliding-scale rates to make bankruptcy an affordable solution for all San Diegans. Asaph volunteers and is active in the legal community through the San Diego County Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer...

The Law Office of Donald R. Oder was founded on the principle that client satisfaction is more important than short term financial gain. We believe that our commitment to client satisfaction has led to long and rewarding associations. Attorneys can and should provide the highest quality legal representation at affordable rates, and they should do so in a way that does not intimidate clients. After fifteen years in the litigation trenches, attorney Donald R. Oder has seen first-hand the impact involvement in legal matters has on individuals and business of all sizes. Too often attorneys caught up in the pragmatic...

I am an experienced Employment and Consumer Law attorney. I fight for employee, consumer, and investor rights throughout San Diego County.

I provide comprehensive and effective legal advocacy. For over 15 years, I have dedicated myself to aggressively protecting my clients' rights and interests. Having recovered millions of dollars, my focus is always on achieving the best possible results.

Contact me for a free consultation to see how I can help you.

Bill helps business owners achieve financial freedom through legal strategies that maximize and protect their assets. As Chief Counsel at Sollertis, Bill works with his clients in the preparation of a Master Asset Protection Plan™ and, once created, manages a team of strategically selected Private Practice Attorneys who work with him to implement the plan and ultimately, to help his clients protect their assets and obtain financial freedom. Bill brings a business perspective to everything he does. As co-founder and managing partner of San Diego Law Firm, he guided the firm in its ascent...

Kevan P. McLaughlin is an award-winning San Diego tax attorney whose practice focuses on civil and criminal tax litigation and controversies. Kevan defends taxpayers and resolves all types of tax disputes with the IRS, FTB, EDD, U.S. Tax Court, CUIAB, and Department of Justice. In 2009, Kevan formed a boutique law firm with special emphasis on civil and criminal tax preparation. The firm has since grown, adding estate planning, tax planning, trust administration, and tax preparer and CPA defense practice areas. The firm is dedicated to representing taxpayer in these concentrated practice areas, and today helps individuals and businesses with...

San Diego Attorney Joel Weissler (619-281-1888) has practiced law for over 25 yrs. Early on, his personal experiences focused his career on Estate Planning, Elder law, Asset Protection & Probate. Joel has been recognized for the past 3 years by Martindale-Hubble & Lawyers.com receiving their “Client Distinction” award as being in the top 1% of attorneys in client service & satisfaction. A 2008-2013 recipient of San Diego Magazine’s five star award program, in 2010, Attorney Weissler was selected through a peer nomination process as a "Top Attorney" in the Estate Planning Category by the San Diego Daily Transcript. Attorney...

California Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law
Master of Laws in Taxation

Practice Areas
Will and Living Trust Drafting
Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directives
Estate Planning Review
Will and Trust amendments and updates
Estate, Gift, Income, and Property Tax planning
Techniques for avoiding probate
Probates - Represent Executors and Administrators in Probate
Represent Trustee in Trust Administration
Email: DanielWilson@TrustLaw.us

Professional Associations and Memberships
Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, Board Member
Rancho Bernardo Business Association
Probate Bench?Bar Committee
San Diego County Bar Association
North County Estate Planning Council
San Diego North County Bar Association
Personal Philosophy
Daniel has a passion for working with people and assisting them achieve their goals. He provides clear and simple...

Attorney Milda Goeriz is skilled with all estate planning matters and experienced with tax audits and representation before the Internal Revenue Service and state and local tax authorities. In reaching the best results, Attorney Milda Goeriz applies modern methods and an honest approach to law. She employs creative strategies when forming revocable and irrevocable trusts and handling other estate planning matters. Ms. Goeriz has a unique ability to explain the complex planning devices in a simple fashion and is valued by her clients for effective asset protection. A multilingual tax lawyer with a background in international business transactions, Ms....

James F. Sexton first worked as an attorney for the insurance companies he now opposes. Having worked this side of personal injury and worker’s compensation cases, James understands the goals, motivation, and tactics employed by the insurance companies and the lawyers who protect their interests. He uses that knowledge to better serve and protect his clients’ interests. As CEO of a company and owner of his own law firm, James Sexton’s success reflects the positive experiences his clients have had and continue to have at The Sexton Law Firm. His expertise is extensive and includes California bankruptcy law, California...

Omid John Afati started Afati Law Firm in 2019 with the goal of providing the Southern California community's estate planning and trust litigating needs. Mr. Afati directs his focus on addressing his clients' concerns and desires when planning for life’s unexpected twists and turns. His experience goes beyond trust and will formation, providing his clients with a secure and manageable estate as well as formidable litigation services.

Kevin Forrester has more than 20 years experience as a trust and fiduciary lawyer, arbitrator, and mediator of civil, securities, and real estate disputes; and more than 30 years real estate practice experience as a Realtor® and licensed real estate broker.

I have worked at the Lawyer in Blue Jeans Group for eight years. I received my Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2016.

I have extensive knowledge of estate planning and asset protection and I take personal accountability in ensuring that each client’s needs are met. I am committed to carrying out the Lawyer in Blue Jeans Group’s philosophy of delivering sensible and reliable service.

In addition to helping clients with their estate planning needs, I also host a weekly legal show on the radio. I can be heard on Sunday’s at 9 a.m. on 760 KFMB AM with...

Darshan Patel is an entrepreneur as well as an attorney. He has deep knowledge of the hospitality industry, gained through his work as an owner and manager of independent and franchised hotel properties.

Leading a team of hospitality attorneys at DPA Law Group, Darshan combines his operational insights with an understanding of federal and state law when resolving disputes involving hotels, restaurants, and other businesses across the state of California.

He understands the practical business need to minimize employment litigation through management training and other preventative measures. As a defense lawyer, he focuses on the efficient and timely resolution of employment and...

Juanita Guillen-Mellman is a co-founding partner of Mellman & Mellman LLP, a law firm that has represented clients in various legal matters, including estate planning and probate, family law, real property, civil litigation and estate litigation. As an attorney licensed to practice in all California state and federal courts, Ms. Guillen-Mellman has gained extensive litigation experience by conducting and successfully arguing hundreds of motions, trials, and other hearings. Attorney Guillen-Mellman is well versed in what it takes to obtain results, both in and out of court. At Mellman & Mellman, LLP attorney Juanita Guillen-Mellman is an integral part of the...

Mr. Mellman provides clients with a full range of legal services including estate planning, estate litigation, family law, divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, civil litigation, business transactions, business law, intellectual property, real property, and asset protection. Mr. Mellman received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he graduated in the top four percent of his class with honors of Magna Cum Laude. While in law school, Mr. Mellman served as the Managing-Editor of the Thomas Jefferson Law Review...

My practice focuses on estate planning, trust administration, and probate and estate litigation. I have diverse experience in the areas of wills, trusts, business formation, federal and state taxation, and estate litigation. His litigation clients include individual and professional trustees, beneficiaries, surviving spouses, care givers, and omitted heirs. Prior to joining Albence and Associates, APC, I practiced at a major securities litigation firm headquartered in San Diego. I was involved in a variety of complex litigation cases, including mortgage backed securities cases and post-merger derivative suits. This diverse litigation experience in multi-party, national scale cases, blends...

A’ja began her career in the entertainment industry with TV Guide and Lions Gate but soon found her true passion in law. She joined a leading Los Angeles litigation firm, focusing on family law, civil rights, personal injury, and criminal defense. A’ja has been a compassionate advocate for fathers' rights and has represented high-profile clients, including the Estate of Michael Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, DMX, Keyshia Cole, Freddie Gibbs, Faith Evans, and Christopher Wallace Jr. (the late Notorious B.I.G.'s son). Her achievements include a $1 million wrongful termination verdict, multiple six-figure settlements, a not-guilty verdict in a murder trial, and successfully handling...

Scott C. Soady, Esq. is admitted to practice in California as well as the Southern and Central Federal District Court. He is an active member of the Trust and Estates section of the State Bar of California and the San Diego County Bar Association.

Scott C. Soady was born in Toronto, Canada and raised in Los Angeles. He attended the University of California, San Diego and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He went on to obtaining his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 2005.

Attorney Soady has focused his...

Giovanni A. Correa is an estate planning, probate, and trademark attorney with more than 10 years of legal experience, including 6+ years as a California licensed attorney. Giovanni has extensive experience in estate planning and trademark registrations. His passion for his profession is evident in his commitment to providing exceptional customer service while always keeping costs at the forefront.

I enjoy many thing in San Diego including sailing, off roading and time with my kids, wife and friends. Our firm only handles estate planning and related matters. We Help Parents Make Sure Their Assets And Children Are Protected When The Unthinkable Happens To Them. Avoid Probate. Keep the government out of your affairs. Estate Planning is accessible for all and necessary for most. Yet, nearly 2/3 of all adults have no planning in place. Ask yourself: 1) Do you have an estate plan in place for your family (Will, Trust, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directive, etc)? (2) If you have an estate...

Ms. Solomon began her legal career working at a mid-size law firm in downtown San Diego, where she had the opportunity to work as part of a sophisticated team of business lawyers. Ms. Solomon is a member of the Probate Attorneys of San Diego and currently serves on the Probate Handbook Committee. Passionate about efficiency in all things, Ms. Solomon co-founded Broaden Law LLP so she could combine her entrepreneurial spirit with the law business. Ms. Solomon is dedicated to identifying a variety of strategies based on the client’s situation and unique goals to ensure her clients are involved in the...

Rivka Israel, Esq. is an experienced and knowledgeable internationally licensed attorney who has been practicing law for over 20+ years. Attorney Israel is admitted to practice in: State of California U.S. District Court - Central District State of Israel Rivka was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2000. In June of 2009, after years of working for large law firms, Rivka opened her own law office and redirected her focus to self-help assistance, uncontested divorces, Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, individual assistance and personal guidance in the area Family and LGBT Family Law issues. Rivka also provides document drafting services...

Hi... My name is Ralph Charles Busch. Please call me Chad. I have been providing state & local (SALT) corporate income/franchise and capital tax technical consulting and controversy assistance for the past two decades.

?I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Arizona State University in 1989 and my Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Western State University School of Law (now Thomas Jefferson School of Law) in 1993. After a short period running a sole practice, I attended University of San Diego School of Law and obtained an LL.M. in taxation in 1999.

?For the past 16 years I have provided...

Encinitas Probate Attorney Services Mr. Cornell has spent over 25 years emphasising trust administration and probate with the goal of producing value and providing a personal touch for each client. Areas of Practice Estate Planning Incapacity Planning Guardianship? Conservatorship? Trust Administration and Probate? ?Special Needs Planning Richard Cornell After spending his childhood in Oceanside and graduating from Oceanside High School, Richard Cornell went on to attend Loyola Marymount University graduating Cum Laude and then recieved his Juris Doctorate from the University of...