Vista Estate Planning Lawyers

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.

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...

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,...

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...

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....

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.

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...

Merwyn J. Miller is an estate planning attorney with an active law office in Encinitas, San Diego County, California. (Encinitas is located in the north coastal area of San Diego County, half way between Del Mar and Oceanside. It is adjacent to the following communities: Cardiff, Carlsbad, Del Mar, La Costa, Leucadia, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Solana Beach, and Vista. (Click here for a map showing the location of Encinitas.)

He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1974 and has been certified by that organization’s Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust,...

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...

J.M. Preston is an attorney with Preston Estate Planning. He graduated from Brigham Young University and obtained his law degree from California Western School of Law. When he’s not answering clients’ questions and creating trust documents, he enjoys spending his free time with his wife and four children. Because of J.M.’s extensive knowledge and years of experience drafting thousands of estate plans, he is able to properly address and solve each client’s unique situation. If you are looking for a California law firm that specializes in estate planning and elder law, Preston Estate Planning is the right choice. We have been practicing...

My vision for creating the Divorce Mediation service was in recognition of the excessive costs and ordeal clients are forced to put up with in the traditional divorce scenario in Court. Everything accumulated by a family can be consumed in the divorce process because there is no insurance policy to cover the legal expense, no business that has a budget for litigation expenses and no government help, so the community estate must bear the costs for both sides. Needless to say, a typical contested divorce can easily exceed $100,000 and what does a family have to show for it?...

John M. Preston is the founder and principal of Preston Estate Planning, a firm dedicated exclusively to the practice of estate planning. He is certified by the California State Bar as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law. Mr. Preston has been practicing law for over 35 years and has developed a revolutionary process called the Life Plan™, which provides protection beyond the scope of a typical estate plan. The program represents one of the most comprehensive systems for planning an estate, keeping documents current, and ensuring that clients are informed and educated. You deserve the peace of mind...

Education
Georgetown University BSBA Int Business and Economics 1967 Cum Laude Distinction
Emory University JD Taxation and Estate Planning 1974 Magna Cum Laude
University of Miami LLM Maritime and International Law 1974 SJD Thesis Two Hundred Mile Exclusive Economic Zone under UNCLOS III 1974 Summa CumLaude

Employment
US Navy Viet Nam veteran 1967-78 LCDR USNR TS SCI Clearance
Maritime and International Counsel US House of Representatives 1977-87
Maritime and International Attorney Adviser California State Senate 1987-98
Lawrence G Mallon & Associates 1987-Present

Admitted to Practice
Georgia 1973
District of Columbia 1978
New York 1987
California 1987
US Supreme Court 1978
Maritime Law Association Proctor in Admiralty 1978

With almost 30 years of experience, Gregory E. Deetman, Esq. is a seasoned attorney licensed to practice law in the state of California. Since 1994, Mr. Deetman has been dedicated to providing his clients with exceptional legal representation and personalized attention. A member of Wealth Counsel, the leading membership organization and drafting platform for estate planning attorneys, Mr. Deetman brings his dedication, experience, and passion for his clients, to the field of estate planning.

Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration UCLA Juris Doctorate UCLA Law LLM (in taxation) NYU Served 25 years as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association Admitted to: California Supreme Court United States Tax Court United States District Court for the Southern District of California Broad experience in Probate & Estate Planning, We give client's a free 1/2 hour consultation. Very competitive fees. Probate fees are statutory. For a single person we prepare a Trust, Certificate of Trust, Will, Health Care Directive with Hippa Release, Assignment of Assets to the Trust and Quick Claim deed to put the house into the Trust...

Attorney Robert Miller has a 10.0 Avvo rating, and has been designated a “Client’s Choice DUI Attorney.”

He was named by clients as a top Orange County DUI Lawyer on Yelp, receiving Yelp’s highest rating award, based on reviews.

Mr. Miller has 23 years practicing law in Orange County, including at other criminal defense and DUI firms and practices with his own firm.

Robert Miller has been the author or co-author of three books on DUI defense and has appeared on television and radio as a legal commentator.

He has successfully handled thousands of cases and has many positive...

Are you a small business owner? or thinking about starting a business? Or do you have an existing business that now has a business, contract or employment issue?

With business disputes, we first try to keep a dispute from become a lawsuit. If we can find a way that protects our client and serves their best interest, then we always try that first. If, however, you are already in a lawsuit, then we immediately go to protect our client, keeping in mind what is best for you.

With starting a company, we look at what our client ultimately wants to accomplish....

Elizabeth Yang has been practicing law since 2007 and specializes in Intellectual Property Law, including Patent, Copyright and Trademark Prosecution and Litigation; Business Law, including corporate entity formation, contract drafting, contract disputes, litigation; and Family Law, including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, and asset division. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Elizabeth was admitted to the United States Patent & Trademark office in 2007. At the age of 19, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley in two and a half years. In 2011, Elizabeth founded Yang & Wang, P.C., a boutique...

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.

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...

Amy L. Gostanian Esq., Attorney and Founder of The Estate Lawyers, formerly known as Gostanian Law Group, PC. “Amy was able to take over handling my parent’s estate from another attorney and I am very grateful for all of her and her staff’s support and help. Amy is very kind and caring and helped me through some tough spots in the process. Billing was very fair and accurate. Communication was timely and greatly appreciated. I’ll be returning to have my own trust done. Thank you, Amy!” — Lisa

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...

Shadi Shaffer focuses her practice on Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate and Trust Administration. Prior to her legal career, Attorney Shaffer had an extensive and diverse work history, which helped her gain skills that have proven invaluable to her legal practice.

Attorney Shaffer opened her own firm so she could protect families, children, and businesses from the CA Probate system and serve as an advocate to prevent clients from the court system. She started the Asset Protection & Elder Law Center over 15 years ago with her best friend (25 years and counting!) Patrick P. Phancao. We wanted to build a...

Four law school degrees and certificate, along with graduate degree. Long time law professor and dean. Professor. Love helping folks. Doing Living Trusts for twenty-one years!

Mr. Bardwell’s practice focuses on all aspects of wealth transfer planning, including estate planning, charitable planning, business succession planning and post-death administration.

Mr. Bardwell routinely assists individuals and families in efficiently minimizing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes through the creation of wills, trusts, business entities and charitable organizations and the use of gifts, sales and other wealth-transfer strategies. He works closely with each client's team of advisors, including accountants, investment advisors and insurance agents, to ensure the client's personal planning and wealth preservation goals are accomplished in a coordinated manner. In addition, he advises clients on estate and trust administration,...

Mr. Blevins is a graduate of the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (JD, 2007) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (BA, 2002).

Mr. Blevins has over a decade of legal experience providing estate planning services to families and strategic business counsel to small corporations and Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Blevins' unique background of serving as both corporate in-house counsel for various corporations and as a private litigation counsel makes him uniquely poised to quickly and effectively resolve your legal needs. Our clients include individuals, families, start-ups, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

Mr....

Ben Schwefel practices in the realm of trusts and estates, encompassing estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorships, and fiduciary litigation. His clientele encompasses a diverse spectrum, spanning high-net-worth individuals, families, trustees, beneficiaries (both individuals and charitable organizations), entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and professional fiduciaries. He routinely collaborates with his clients to implement advanced estate planning strategies aimed at minimizing income, gift, and estate tax implications. Additionally, Ben provides guidance to clients regarding the establishment and operation of both for-profit and nonprofit business entities, such as limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, family limited partnerships (FLPs), private foundations, and public charities. Beyond his professional...

My journey as an estate planning attorney was driven by my desire to assist families. The complexities and intimidation of the legal system can be overwhelming, but I firmly believe it doesn't have to be that way. My approach involves communicating in plain English, ensuring that you fully comprehend your options, and aiding you in making informed and astute decisions. Through effective planning, we can circumvent future headaches and expenses while securing a lasting legacy for your family's well-being, even beyond your lifetime. My commitment lies in providing personalized attention to each client, offering one-on-one counseling, and maintaining open and responsive...

California Attorney David L. Crockett has been providing comprehensive legal representation for over 40 years in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation, Trust and Probate Administration, and Estate Planning including preparation of Wills and Trusts. As these areas all overlap, his experience with the courts and litigation has given him unique insight in the preparation of wills and trusts. Mr. Crockett is dedicated to the careful preparation of documents to meet the specific needs of his clients.

As a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and Real Estate Broker, Mr. Crockett prepares all types of estate, trust and real estate documents including...

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.

I am an accomplished attorney with extensive experience in Business, Estate Planning, Tax, Probate, Immigration Planning, Charitable Planning, and Entities Law matters. Based in California, I represent multi-national individuals and businesses across the world.

A Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, I provide experienced, knowledgeable and skilled counsel. I am dedicated to personalized service and exceptional advocacy, focused on meeting my clients' legal needs.

Visit my website for more information, or call to set up a consultation and see how I can help you.