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11 Mar, 2021 by Monica
I personally hired Amber Rodriquez to assist me in the administration of my parents trust. She also represented me in a civil lawsuit against my parents trust by my sibling. She assisted me in my own personal estate planning as well. She came highly recommended by and I quickly could see why. Amber is a very knowledgeable lawyer who is also very calm and focused. She kept me informed constantly, along with her excellent staff. I cannot thank Amber and her wonderful staff enough for all that they have done for me through such a difficult time.
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01 Jul, 2019 by Suzanne
I was fortunate to be represented by Amber Rodriguez in what
became a drawn out mess with my former husband's daughter.
We had impossible, frustrating months dealing with her refusal
to cooperate in any way. Amber hung in till the very end.
Mediation was required and she hands down won the day as I
am convinced only she could have done. I could not recommend her any more highly.....I trusted her totally and you can too! Just speak to her awhile, and you will understand.
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07 Jul, 2015 by Barbara mcgarr
Amber updated a trust for me by consolidating several complex trusts into one simple trust. After originating a new trust, we placed several pieces of property in it. It was a complicated procedure as we were selling one under the new trust and exchanging for other properties. This process was handled efficiently and everything went smoothly. I have had a lot of experience with lawyers over my career and Amber rates amount the top.
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20 Nov, 2017 by Paul collins
30 Aug, 2016 by Michael disabatino
Need HR help... This is the firm that gets my attention.
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18 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
it was truly my lucky day when I was referred to Amy Dilbeck. She explained the process to us in detail and in terms that we understood. She was extremely professional and had all the knowledge necessary to work through our process. Not only was she informative, she was also very personable and responded to my emails on the weekend! I surely would not hesitate to recommend Amy to anyone. The company is truly luck to have someone like Ms. Dilbeck on their staff.
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05 Dec, 2019 by Zena
Crista Hermance, and her staff, are the perfect choice for putting together your plan when you need estate planning. I consulted Crista on this sometimes difficult topic and she taught me so much I didn't know about the subject - but need to know as the mother of minor children - and had excellent guiding materials to help me make decisions, including a step by step guidebook. She's a mom herself and she gets how difficult this can be. She really cares about her clients.
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04 Dec, 2019 by Sarah
Crista is truly a maven in her field, she prides herself on being a true advocate for the young parents. She is compassionate and caring and is not intimidating which helps her get her clients to protect what is most important to them, thier family. I really enjoy working with her with my clients as she has flexible hours and can even have her team go to the clients homes.
Truly a gift to the community!
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06 Nov, 2019 by Anonymous
I had a great experience here with Crista and her team! They are very knowledgeable and I totally trust them. I know you’ll have a great experience too!
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17 May, 2010 by Doug
Ms. Kvale is the antithesis of lawyer stereotypes. She is caring, compassionate, honest and moral. She is also extremely knowledgeable and hard working. She completed my family's wills and trusts in a timely manner for a reasonable cost.
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28 Apr, 2014 by David
Leslie Slade guided us on a the purchase of an investment property in Santa Barbara, CA in October of 2010. She was a true professional throughout, and I wouldn't hesitate to use her again.
Not an easy sale, due to extreme conditions of the property (disrepair) , and the requirement for multiple inspections and estimates to be coordinated with the seller. She put up with all of our requests for extra visits prior to closing, making certain that everything that needed to get done was completed, on schedule. She has excellent people skills.
She's also a detail person. Leslie was acting in a dual agent role - representing both buyer and seller. There's a delicate balance that has to be struck when acting in this capacity, and I give her high marks for treating both sides fairly. There were compromises in which we, the buyer, and the seller had to meet in the middle, and Leslie made both parties feel like her role was simply to facilitate a fair and ethical transaction. She did this with true professionalism.
I've worked with many lawyers and agents over the past twenty years as an investor and manager of property. Leslie ranks among the very highest.
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14 Dec, 2012 by Virginia
She came to my home made me feel at ease with my decision making. She was very knowlegable, polite, and empathetic to my needs. I would highly recomend her to any one.
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25 Feb, 2011 by Richard
Miss Slade has all the positive virtues one expects from a good attorney. But then she startles you with her best and overriding quality, imagination! She views your situation with fresh eyes and a new perspective that make other, less obvious solutions suddenly apparent. She has advised me on many problems over several years: 1). “A property line dispute with neighbors over the border of my home"; 2). "A Major Studio employment agreement, dealing with creative rights"; 3).“A custody battle being waged by my son over my infant grandson." In these three cases she was able to view the problem with original insight and an imaginative approach to ending the dispute. An additional perk: Leslie Slade is a very pleasant and comfortable person to work with.
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09 Jul, 2019 by Angelica
I hired this guy to help me with a small yet very important eviction and he failed (forgot) to turn in the response to the court which then lead them to give me 1 week to be out of m my house instead of the 4 months Michie said hed get me to find a place! Michie also found an error on the court papers my pervert land lord made (who happens to be on parole) that he said he was going to bring to the courts attention, my lanlord pretty much committed a crime by changing something on court documents and there was proof however when it came time to do all of this MICHIE did NOTHING he said he would do for me, what did i pay him for, so ya he refunded me my money (which proves he knew he was in the wrong) howver it didnt make any difference i still had one week to vacate my house with a 2 yr old baby & a disabled mother! Hes a horrible attorney if u want my opinion!
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13 May, 2016 by Alexis
A family member recommended Doug Michie and we were not initially sure whether we wanted to use a lawyer. Doug fights for you and works hard following-up on your case. My husband and I felt like we finally had a voice and that there was someone sticking-up for us. Doug's hard work paid off and he won our case. We would use him again if needed and highly recommend working with him.
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20 Jul, 2015 by William
Doug Michie is an extremely knowledgeable estate planning attorney whose first thought will always be to serve the best interests of his clients. As an estate planning attorney myself, I would feel very secure in recommending anyone to use his services.
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01 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
Brian has been very helpful to us on several occasions, he is very warm and easy to talk to as well as very knowledgeable and experienced. His response time is terrific.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Trusts Lawyer Can Do for You
A trusts lawyer specializes in creating and managing trusts, which are legal entities that allow individuals to transfer assets to beneficiaries while maintaining control over how and when those assets are distributed. Trusts are used for estate planning, asset protection, tax planning, and ensuring the financial security of loved ones. Trusts lawyers help clients choose the right type of trust for their needs, draft trust documents, and advise on the administration and management of trusts.
Whether you're planning to pass on your assets to your heirs, protect your wealth from creditors, or provide for a disabled family member, a trusts lawyer can help you establish a trust that meets your financial and personal goals.
When Should I Hire a Trusts Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a trusts lawyer in various situations, particularly when you're planning for the future distribution of your assets or protecting your wealth. Common reasons to hire a trusts lawyer include:
- Estate planning: If you want to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, a lawyer can help you create a revocable or irrevocable trust to avoid probate and provide for your heirs.
- Asset protection: If you want to protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, or potential future liabilities, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to shield your wealth.
- Special needs planning: If you have a disabled family member, a lawyer can create a special needs trust to provide for their care without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
- Tax planning: If you're looking to minimize estate taxes or manage tax liabilities, a lawyer can help you create tax-advantageous trusts, such as a credit shelter trust or charitable remainder trust.
- Charitable giving: If you want to leave a legacy through charitable donations, a lawyer can help you set up a charitable trust to ensure your donations are managed according to your wishes.
- Business succession planning: If you own a business and want to ensure a smooth transition of ownership, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to pass the business on to your heirs or chosen successors.
Hiring a trusts lawyer early in the estate planning process ensures that your assets are protected and your wishes are clearly documented, reducing the chances of disputes after your death.
What Does a Trusts Lawyer Do?
A trusts lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help individuals create, manage, and administer trusts. Their responsibilities often include:
- Drafting trust documents: Preparing the legal documents needed to create the trust, ensuring it is tailored to your specific goals and complies with state and federal laws.
- Choosing the right type of trust: Assisting clients in selecting the most appropriate type of trust for their needs, whether it's a revocable trust, irrevocable trust, living trust, or special needs trust.
- Trust administration: Guiding trustees through their legal responsibilities, including managing assets, making distributions to beneficiaries, and filing tax returns.
- Modifying or terminating trusts: Helping modify or terminate trusts if circumstances change, such as changes in tax laws, family situations, or personal preferences.
- Protecting beneficiaries' interests: Structuring trusts to protect the interests of beneficiaries, especially if there are concerns about financial management, disability, or dependency issues.
- Minimizing estate taxes: Assisting clients in structuring their trusts to minimize or avoid estate taxes, ensuring more of the estate passes to beneficiaries.
- Handling disputes: Mediating or representing clients in court if disputes arise among beneficiaries or between trustees and beneficiaries.
How Are Trusts Lawyers Paid?
Trusts lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the trust and the type of legal work involved. Common payment methods include:
- Flat fee: For drafting basic trusts, such as revocable living trusts or special needs trusts, many lawyers charge a flat fee. This can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the trust.
- Hourly rate: For more complex trust planning, ongoing trust administration, or resolving disputes, some lawyers charge by the hour. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: For long-term trust administration or complex estate planning cases, some lawyers may require a retainer, an upfront payment that covers ongoing services.
- Contingency fee (rare): In rare cases, particularly in disputes involving the administration of a trust, lawyers may work on a contingency fee basis, getting paid only if they successfully recover funds or resolve a legal dispute in your favor.
Always discuss the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the total cost of services.
How Much Does a Trusts Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a trusts lawyer depends on the complexity of the trust, the lawyer’s experience, and the fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Basic trust creation: For simple trusts, such as revocable living trusts, fees may range from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Complex trust creation: For sophisticated estate plans involving multiple trusts, tax planning strategies, or special needs considerations, legal fees may range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Trust administration: If you are serving as a trustee and need ongoing legal advice, hourly rates for trust administration can range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Dispute resolution: Costs for litigation or mediation in trust disputes may range from $5,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case.
Be sure to get a detailed cost estimate from your lawyer during the consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask a Trusts Lawyer
Before hiring a trusts lawyer, consider asking the following questions:
-
What experience do you have with creating trusts?
Ensure the lawyer has experience drafting trusts and managing trust administration for clients with similar goals or asset structures. -
What types of trusts do you recommend for my situation?
Ask the lawyer to explain the different types of trusts available and which ones best suit your needs. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify the fee structure and request an estimate of the total cost. -
What are the tax implications of the trust?
Ensure the lawyer can explain how the trust will affect your taxes and strategies to minimize tax liability. -
How long will it take to set up the trust?
Ask for a timeline for creating and finalizing the trust documents. -
Will you handle the trust administration?
If ongoing management is required, inquire whether the lawyer will assist with trust administration or if you'll need a separate trustee. -
Can you help resolve disputes if they arise?
Ask about the lawyer's experience in resolving trust disputes.
How to Check the Credibility of a Trusts Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable trusts lawyer, take the following steps:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and has no disciplinary actions.
- Look for trust law experience: Review their website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in estate planning and trusts.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for feedback on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google.
- Ask for references: Request references from past clients who can speak to their experience with the lawyer.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications such as Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) or memberships in organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with a trusts lawyer, bring the following:
- List of assets: Prepare a list of all your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and personal property.
- List of beneficiaries: Provide names and contact information of individuals or organizations you want to name as beneficiaries.
- Existing estate planning documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, or other estate planning documents.
- Financial information: Bring financial statements, tax returns, and other relevant financial documentation.
- Questions for the lawyer: Prepare a list of questions about the trust creation process, fees, and how the trust will protect your assets and beneficiaries.
- Goals for the trust: Clearly outline your objectives, such as asset protection, tax minimization, or provisions for beneficiaries, so the lawyer can tailor the trust to your needs.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation effectively and receive the best possible legal advice for creating and managing your trust.
