Pacoima Probate Lawyers

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...

You’ve spent your life building your wealth. And no matter how large or how modest – protecting your assets matters. Ivette Santaella understands that estate planning may seem daunting. You might feel uncomfortable talking about what happens after death. Or maybe you’re worried that you don’t understand the laws well enough. Santaella Law Group, APC is here to guide you through your concerns and make estate planning easy. Ivette has more than 30 years of experience talking her clients through their goals, translating and helping them navigate the law, and working with them to come up with a solid plan for...

Lorilee DeSantis is an attorney whose passion for helping families protect their loved ones and their assets shines through to all who work with her. Lorilee’s clients often comment that her ability to deeply listen and understand their concerns makes it very easy for them to talk to her about difficult subjects. Her clients also appreciate that Lorilee explains complex legal concepts in ways that are easy to digest so that clients fully understand their legal options. Lorilee’s dedication to helping people with family-oriented legal issues stems from personal experiences. When Lorilee was growing up, she saw...

Chad practices Business Law and Estate Planning. In his business practice, he represents sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs and corporations (for-profit and nonprofit) across a broad spectrum of industries. He takes particular pride in assisting families with their estate planning needs to execute their wishes for the next generation.

Prior to joining the Perry, Johnson, anderson, Miller & Moskowitz LLP, Chad was an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Jones Day, where he was a part of the firm's international trade and national security practice. In that role, he advised U.S. and foreign corporations on a...

Sheri Hoffman attended UC Davis from 1987 to 1991, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She then attended Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco from 1991-1994, where she graduated Law School as a member of the Golden Gate University School of Law’s Dean’s List. Sheri passed the bar on her first attempt.

After marrying Joseph in 1996, they formed the Law Offices of Hoffman & Hoffman. Sheri is a Certified Estate Planning Specialist and a member of Wealth Counsel. Sheri’s practice includes all elements necessary to draft a comprehensive estate plan, regardless of...

Michael A. Hackard. Michael A. Hackard is the principal attorney of Hackard Law Corporation - a Sacramento, California firm which represents wealthy families with extensive business interests as well as clients impoverished by the wrongdoing of others. Michael and his attorneys are dedicated to clients.

Hackard Law attorneys focus on trust and estate litigation, fiduciary litigation, will contests, trust contests, elder financial abuse, trust decanting, trust beneficiary rights, trustee removal, special needs trusts, supplemental needs trusts, title to assets, family business trusts, dynasty trusts, domestic asset preservation trusts and asset protection.

I am the principal of the Law Offices of James O'Neil, where I focus on delivering top-notch estate planning and estate administration services. While attending law school, I externed for the Honorable A. James Robertson II at the San Francisco Superior Court, was a member of the USF Law Review and the Intellectual Property Bulletin, won the Cali Award for the Secured Real Estate Transactions class as well as awards in trial advocacy competitions, and a was published author. After gaining valuable experience working in various law firms from 2009 to 2019, I decided to establish my own practice, the...

As a litigation attorney, Mr. Loew’s primary areas of practice include trust and estate litigation (including will and trust contests), fiduciary litigation, and financial elder abuse actions.

Mr. Loew is certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization, a title held by less than half of one percent of practicing attorneys in California, and by only about three percent of estate planning attorneys.

In addition to the areas described above, Mr. Loew is the founding President of the San Mateo County Law Library Foundation, helping provide access to...

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,...

Attorney John Martin advises individuals, families, and businesses in the areas of legacy planning, wealth preservation, estate & business succession planning, and estate administration. Our law firm focuses exclusively on legacy planning, wealth preservation, estate and business succession planning, and estate administration. Our trust and estate planning services enable clients to protect their spouse's or child's s inheritance from creditors and predators, maximize control over their assets during their lifetime, benefit charities, and effectively transition their business to the next generation. Through an ongoing client maintenance program, we provide peace of mind that a client's goals will not...

Mr. Sowards is an estate planning and wealth transfer attorney. He sets ups estate plans, including living trusts, to help to avoid probate, minimize taxes and limit conflict. He also helps to settle out and administer trust and probate estates. He represents trustees to help them comply with the terms of the trust agreement and the California Probate Code. He minimizes conflict and lawsuits between trustees and beneficiaries or legal heirs. He also represents small and family owned businesses. He has saved his clients millions of dollars in probate fees and has successfully resolved several family conflicts that likely would...

Gina focuses her legal practice on estate planning, probate, and trust administration. She is dedicated to helping families from the devastating legal effects of disability and death. With proper planning, individuals and families can avoid unnecessary court proceedings, protect their assets, continue their legacies through strategic charitable giving, and provide for the security of loved ones. Gina learned firsthand the effects of failing to plan when her rancher father was killed in a vehicle accident without any planning documents in place requiring her to probate her father’s extensive estate, including business and cattle operations. As a result, she...

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...

Van Dyke & Associates, APLC is a boutique probate litigation law firm providing sophisticated legal services to clients nationwide facing complex trust, estate and related tax matters in State or Federal Courts in the Southern California area. The firm is based in San Diego, CA and appears regularly in courts throughout California.

N. Mauricio Reznik, Esq. is the principal and an attorney at Reznik Law Group. Mr. Reznik has extensive experience in the areas of civil and business litigation, corporate formation and cross border disputes.

Mr. Reznik has successfully represented a wide array of clients from inception of a case through trial. He has extensive experience in motion practice and has resolved numerous matters through motions for summary judgment and other dispositive motions. He has also negotiated complex settlements of litigation and has moved cases to resolution through mediation. With Mr. Reznik’s vast experience as to common corporate issues and pitfalls, he...

Mr. Ofseyer is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and his practice focuses on Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate Court proceedings involving Trusts, Estates, and Conservatorships. Since 2012 he has had the highest available peer-review rating, AV® Preeminent™, from Martindale-Hubbell and the highest available Avvo™ rating, 10.0 Superb. Palm Springs Life magazine has selected him as one of its “Top Lawyers” every year since it started rating lawyers in 2011. He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School (magna cum laude 1990). He began his...

Janet L. Brewer is the principal of the Law Office of Janet L. Brewer, which has its headquarters in Los Altos, California. Janet serves clients throughout the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. She is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as an estate planning and probate specialist – one of fewer than 100 practicing in Santa Clara County and fewer than 1,100 practicing in California (out of over 250,000 lawyers statewide). Janet has deep experience with complex estate planning situations. In her international estate planning practice, she helps non-resident aliens, visa holders, “green card” holders and other international...

Matthew Roy graduated with a degree in Government from CSU, Sacramento and his J.D. from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. While living in Sacramento, Matthew has participated in various community groups and organizations. He has served on the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges after his appointment by Governor Gray Davis as well as the Board of Directors for the Camellia Symphony Association of Sacramento. Mr. Roy volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Women Escaping a Violent Environment (W.E.A.V.E.), the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Project, as well as oversees domestic violence prevention workshops...

Trust Litigation Attorney The Law Office of Malachowski and Associates provides trust dispute litigation services to clients in California Superior Courts and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Mark Malachowski is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States Bar. We recognize that lives and fortunes hang in the balance when a client seeks our legal services, and we work closely with you to develop an individually designed action plan to achieve your goals. Mark Malachowski has a Juris Doctorate in Law and Master’s and Bachelor's Degrees in Science. Mark Malachowski...

A graduate of McGeorge School of Law, Daniel A. Hunt is lead attorney and owner of the Law Offices of Daniel A. Hunt. As a State Bar of California Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, he has been named Best of the Bar by the Sacramento Business Journal and a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers. Mr. Hunt is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Sacramento Estate Planning Council. He has served as President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Probate and Estates Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association. He has...

Nancy E. Miller has been an attorney in California since 2015. Nancy practices law in the areas of Probate, Trusts, Wills, and Estate Planning. Nancy serves clients at her office in Sacramento County as well as virtually throughout Northern California. After graduating in 1991 with her Bachelor of Arts in French, Nancy spent several years teaching elementary school in Northern California and Oregon. In 1996, Nancy began her second career in Human Resources and Payroll when she was hired at Paychex, Inc. Even though she was also a busy single mom during her 14-year course of employment...

Attorney Gary D. Sparks is an accomplished lawyer who has successfully provided legal services and representation to families, husbands, wives, parents, military service members, and same sex partners for nearly two decades. Gary was a regular guest for several years on the former Ronn Owens Program on KGO-AM 810 in San Francisco, and has been interviewed by local and national publications in addition to publishing several of his own legal guides.

Gary graduated first in his class from John F. Kennedy University School of Law, where he was awarded magna cum laude honors for excellence in academic achievement and received...

Here at Klosek Law Offices in Sacramento, California, we want to help you protect yourself and your assets for the future by creating comprehensive estate plans that will help you preserve and pass on your wealth to your heirs and loved ones.

Serving clients throughout Sacramento County and all the surrounding areas of Northern California, our law firm is one of the area's premier estate planning practices, and since this is our sole area of focus, we can provide you with a level of representation and support other law firms simply cannot match with regard to any of the following:

1.) Basic...

I began my legal career in general civil litigation in Sacramento focusing on real estate, business and employment law. I shifted focus to the areas of estate planning, trust and probate administration, opening LifePath Law in late 2006. My practice evolved to include litigation regarding trusts and estates, such as will contests, financial elder abuse, care custodian issues, and trustee fiduciary duties.

Tiffani Aanestad is an estate planning attorney and focuses her work on trust administration, trust and estate mediation and litigation, and probate matters. Tiffani graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, cum laude, and was a member of Law Review during law school. Like her husband, Erik Aanestad, Tiffani is also licensed in California and Nevada. Additionally, she is licensed in Florida and got her start as a young attorney there while Erik attended law school. For the past several years she has spent her career defending her client’s interests in civil litigation. ...

Kristina Porcar is the owner/attorney of Porcar Law. She founded her firm to develop personal, collaborative relationships w/ clients, offering legal counsel that supports them both personally & professionally. Kristina practices exclusively in the areas of Estate & Business Planning, Trust Administration, & Probate. Kristina began her law career more than 17 years ago as an administrative professional at an AmLaw 200 California-born firm. Over the years, she has honed her skills in her areas of expertise, progressing from a paralegal to a law clerk, and eventually to an attorney. At UC Davis, Kristina focused on philosophy courses in logic, & art...

Business and International Experience
Wayne started in Auckland New Zealand, graduating after completing a challenging combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws in just 4 years, achieving top marks at his law school at Auckland University made up of 11,000 students where he was elected Student President in a landslide victory in his last year. Then recruited by a leading Merchant Bank, MARAC Corporation, Wayne moved to Citibank before becoming the founding Company Secretary for New Zealand's first publicly listed Investment Bank, founding Company Secretary for NZ’s first publicly listed Venture Capital company and a Director of a...

Moore & Moore provides General Counsel services to private and public companies, including both domestic and multinational enterprises. The firm handles a vast array of business needs ranging from simple formation, to complex financings, to M&A events. The firm handles clients’ labor and employment issues, as well as both personal and business immigration needs. We provide an aggressive and modern service comparable to that of larger law firm, but with the speed, efficiency, and flexibility that only a personal practice can offer.

Page Allinson’s practice focuses on general and complex commercial litigation and business law, structured finance and distressed investments, and trust and estates litigation as well as conservatorship matters (both contested and uncontested). Mr. Allinson joined Perry Johnson Anderson Miller & Moskowitz LLP in September 2017 as part of its structured finance & distressed investments practice group. Through his practice, Mr. Allinson represents clients in the financial services industry in both Sonoma County and around the country as well as businesses and start-ups. Mr. Allinson also represents individuals and families in probate matters including conservatorships and trusts and estate disputes. After graduating cum...

Erik Aanestad was raised in Nevada County and is a graduate of Nevada Union High School. He is an estate planning attorney licensed to practice in both California and Nevada. Erik counsels and finds solutions for his clients in all areas of estate planning, trust and probate law and also assists clients through the process of trust administration. These are Erik’s areas of legal expertise and he focuses his work on these specific areas of law. During his legal career, Erik has spent time volunteering as a guardian ad litem (also known as a CASA) representing...

My practice is focused on individuals and small businesses and helping them to create estate and business succession plans that address the client's concerns and needs. I represent consumers in chapter 7 bankruptcies, as well as probate, trust administration, guardianship, conservatorship and adoption cases. I represent individuals throughout Lake County (including Middletown, Lakeport, Clearlake, Kelseyville, Lucerne, Clearlake Oaks, Glenhaven, Nice and Upper Lake) and surrounding counties. Prior to practicing law, I worked in Banking, Community Development and Education.

Douglas A. Wright has established a reputation as the go-to attorney for estate planning matters, succession planning, living trusts, wills, probate, and business law matters.

Doug holds a Juris Doctor from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and was awarded the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Professional Responsibility (Ethics). Doug also spent a summer studying in the prestigious International Legal Studies program in Salzburg Austria with United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. Doug completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Doug is admitted to the California Supreme Court,...

I’ve practiced law in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years and focus my practice on Estate Planning, Probate, and General Civil Litigation. I also represent injured individuals in personal injury claims.

Anthony Franceschi is California estate planning attorney who focuses his practice on assisting seniors and their families prepare for the future. Including empowering seniors with strategic estate plans and drafting customized wills that honor clients’ final wishes, During law school, Tony was an intern for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office, where he handled misdemeanors, traffic, and juvenile detention hearings. Before coming to MacFarlane Legal, Tony represented clients with Social Security Disability/SSI and personal injury cases.

I am a dedicated Estate Planning, Probate, Trust, Tax and Charitable Planning attorney, serving clients throughout Coachella Valley. As a CPA and Certified Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist, I provide comprehensive legal representation focused on estate planning, probate & trust litigation, and complex tax and charitable planning matters.

With 20 years of experience, I am dedicated to attentive service and exceptional counsel based on the unique needs of my clients. I am committed to achieving their goals and objectives in a fast and reliable manner. I have been recognized by my peers with an AV Preeminent Rating, and...

Local Estate Elder Law Planning Attorney
Long term Pleasant Hill resident, Jeffrey Hall, didn’t follow the traditional path to the practice of law. Indeed, attorney Hall grew up in central Los Angeles, and in a time when there was no expectation that he would attend college; and law school was simply not an option. However, after completing his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Saint Mary’s College, he volunteered with the Air Force in 1981 and served for 9 years, both reserve and active. Upon returning to California, he and his wife made Pleasant Hill their home and have...

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...

I represent individuals and small to medium sized businesses in bankruptcy, foreclosure defense and debt consolidation matters. For individuals, I represent clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings, including adversary proceedings, including 2nd home mortgage lien stripping, redemption of vehicles and student loan reductions. For businesses, I provide services related to the winding down of a business, board and management consultations and bankruptcy debt consolidation in Chapter 11. In conjunction with my bankruptcy practice, I also provide estate planning, probate and trust administration representation. The best way to avoid probate is to plan properly by drafting...

Michael Fischer is a licensed California attorney licensed to practice in both state and federal court. Mr. Fischer has handled hundreds of contested and uncontested family law matters. He is known for his ability to guide his clients through the tumultuous processes of family court in an aggressive yet compassionate manner. Mr. Fischer graduated Cum Laude from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensellaer Indiana with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and a minor in Political Science. For twenty-two years he oversaw the growth of his photography studio and photo processing laboratory in Soldotna, Alaska as well as owning and...

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...