Signal Hill Estate Planning Lawyers

Kevin G. Staker, the principal attorney in the firm, received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah College of Law, and his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation degree from New York University School of Law. Kevin is the founder of the Planned Giving Council of Ventura County. Kevin has three times been a member of the Board of the Ventura County Bar Association, and was the chair of its annual dinner committee 14 of 15 years. Kevin Staker is a member of the Board, and was President for 2016 and the latter part of 2022, of Ventura...

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....

Mr. Kouretchian provides strategic counseling and customized legal service to individuals, families, entrepreneurs, estates and businesses. He specializes in the areas of Wills and Trusts and Corporate/Business Law (Formation, Governance, Finance).

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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,...

Joe Wojcik is a partner in Davis & Wojcik, APLC. Mr. Wojcik has over 25 years of litigation experience in state, federal and bankruptcy courts, and represents prominent corporate clients and executives in prosecuting and defending complex business litigation and transactional matters throughout Riverside County. He represents health care providers, real estate developers, and agricultural companies in a wide range of matters, including commercial, employment, real estate, and compliance claims. He also represents over 2,000 clients in preparing their wills, trusts, power of attorneys, and other matters for their estate planning needs.

If your situation requires experienced and knowledgeable representation from...

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.

Jeffrey Gaffney is a 30 year attorney and retired Navy Captain. Originally from New York, he moved to San Diego in 1985 and has remained here since, military duties permitting. An attorney since 1993, Jeff is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law. He began as a law clerk in 1991, helping aggrieved investors recover from unscrupulous stockbrokers. A former registered representative ("used stock salesman") and principal (licensed manager of registered representatives), he began his own law firm in the midst of a scandal involving Prudential Securities' sales of limited partnerships. Since then,...

Oxnard estate planning attorney Eric Ridley loves helping families and small businesses in Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo and Santa Barbara counties protect their assets through estate planning, Family Asset Protection & Medi-Cal planning. I help seniors preserve their self-determination and their dignity, along with their assets. Attorney Eric Ridley always gives free consultations, and answers his own phone. Agressive and compassionate, Eric Ridley serves clients in Ventura, Santa Clarita, Port Hueneme and all points in between. https://www.ridleylawoffices.com

A Southern California native, C L Farrell, enjoys practicing probate and trust litigation for nearly four decades across Southern California. She assists small businesses, families, and individuals with estate planning and their probate and trust administration and litigation needs. She guides clients through the process of probate administration and trust administration and assists in the preparation of Court required estate accountings. As a trial attorney, she represents clients in disputes concerning the validity of wills or trusts, entitlement to inherit decedent estates, competing petitions for fiduciary appointments as estate administrators or trustees, breaches of fiduciary duties, and cases involving financial...

Arellanez Legal is a respected San Bernardino personal injury law firm dedicated to providing legal services to clients who have been injured due to the fault of another party. Arellanez Legal was founded by Michael Arellanez who has prosecuted and defended personal injury cases throughout California. At Arellanez Legal the client's needs and expectations are of the utmost importance. Michael works with each client to make sure they understand their case and the steps that will be taken to achieve results.

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.

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'...

Mr. Sheffield is one of the top estate planning, tax, and trusts and estates attorneys on the Central Coast. His practice focuses on advising individuals and families regarding tax, estate planning, probate, trust and business succession matters, and advising corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies regarding business and tax matters.

Mr. Sheffield is a Certified Tax Specialist. He has been awarded a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV Preeminent, signifying the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability, for 28 consecutive years. He has also been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer.

Mr. Sheffield is a past Chairman of the...

Lisa Frisella has been dedicated to working with clients, trustees, beneficiaries, conservators, guardians, and heirs, assisting with estate planning, litigating trust-related matters, handling heirship petitions and will contests, advising on trust administration, and pursuing financial elder abuse claims. Before founding Frisella Neilson, APC, she focused on civil litigation, including antitrust, consumer protection, and complex commercial cases, with a San Diego boutique law firm. She also has experience in estate planning, having worked with a firm that offered capital management, accounting, and real estate services. Ms. Frisella is a 2000 graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, where she also...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

We are a firm that listens; understands your business and industry; keeps you informed; provides clear, direct and practical legal advice; asks appropriate questions; clearly explains the relevant aspects of your case; checks egos at the door; empathizes and respects your business, professional and personal situation; maintains a laser focus on your unique legal needs; and practices law with a passion.

Michael's practice areas include: business organizations, corporations, land-use regulation, real estate transactions, estate planning, government regulation, family law, and civil litigation. He has major law firm and in-house counsel experience. He is also a real estate broker...

Family Law Attorney Michael Spiekerman is a highly qualified attorney whose practice is exclusively devoted to dissolution of marriage and domestic partnerships, and all manner of family law related issues. He has represented clients with both complex and simple disputes involving the division of community property assets, the allocation of marital and non-marital debt, obtaining and terminating spousal support awards, setting and modifying child support orders, custody, parenting issues, and much more.

Michael recognizes that the circumstance of ending a marriage or any once intimate relationship is an extremely traumatic experience. In order for people to actually be supported...

As a founding partner at the firm of Davis Wojcik Duarte, APLC, Riverside County attorney Robert A. Davis works on both criminal and civil cases. He has over 22 years of experience in the legal field. Mr. Davis has been involved with the boards of the Hemet Hospital Foundation, the Exchange Club, and the Education Foundation. He is a member of the California Society of Healthcare Attorneys, American Health Lawyers’ Association and Riverside County Bar Association. He received his Juris Doctor from Brigham Young University, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Law and Education. Contact his firm for...

Randall Kaiden is an experienced California Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorney. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated Preeminent Attorney, Past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Southern California District, Estate Planning Law Specialist by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, and a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He has been recognized by his peers as well as the community at large and holds a perfect 10 out of 10 rating on AVVO Legal for estate planning and elder law. His...

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....

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...

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...

Ashley L. Dudley is the owner, president and lead counsel at the Law Offices of Ashley L. Dudley, APC. Her law practice focuses on family law and estate planning. Her family law practice focuses primarily on high conflict child custody cases, child and spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, high value asset division. Her goal is to provide quality legal services not only to those who can afford it, but to all those who need an advocate to navigate the legal system on their behalf. Her first and foremost priority is to figure out the best avenue for helping her...

Braden R. Leck focuses on advising individuals and businesses on real estate and business transactions, intellectual property matters, estate planning and trust administration.

Prior to joining Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell, LLP, Mr. Leck was a partner at the Santa Barbara law firm of Seed Mackall LLP. Mr. Leck began his legal career in Los Angeles at the international law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP. Mr. Leck received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his law degree from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.

Real Estate. Mr. Leck routinely counsels clients with...

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...

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...

Mr. Wansor is an accomplished civil litigator. His practice is focused on personal injury, real estate, land use, hospitality, products liability, business torts, construction, and will and trust contests.

Mr. Wansor's analytical strengths allow for the accurate assessment of potential exposure and liability and the creation and implementation of sophisticated litigation strategies. Mr. Wansor's strategic sense and writing abilities lead to successful results, whether by keen negotiation or motions leading to the disposition of cases.

Prior to joining Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell, Mr. Wansor worked as a litigation partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, where he defended Fortune 500...

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...