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07 Nov, 2011 by Anonymous
We used John Keckemet to create our wills and estate planning documents after we used his partner, Albert Lirhus, to finalize our adoption. We were pleased with the work that John did. He was very patient, willing to explain the differences between different facets of estate planning. The documentation he created was very thorough. I would recommend him, especially for those who need a little hand holding (not literally) through this difficult and often tedious process.
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15 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
John represented our family in the area of Estate Planning. He created a Revocable Trust Agreement along with the other necessary documents ie. Wills, Reciprocal Durable Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, etc.
John is patience and has a way of communicating legal jargon in a plain and simple easy to understand way.
We are confident that the thoughtful work that John did for us will not only benefit our family in this lifetime, but also in the life of our daughter Britt life after we pass away.
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09 Jul, 2017 by David
Handled my fathers estate after he passed away. Julie handled all stages involved, and
was very professional the entire 6 months it took from beginning to end.
I would highly recommend her.
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04 Jul, 2017 by Donna
Handled estates of husband and brother. I did not have to worry about anything.
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13 Aug, 2024 by Rick
I reached out to several attorneys for what turned out to be a simple answer. All the others said they didn't have expertise or wanted a retainer upfront. Don explained his logical and legal position in just a few minutes, settling the issue for me completely. He kindly stayed on the phone for a few minutes longer just being a friendly human. The conversation was a delight. The information was invaluable. Thank you, Don!
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15 Sep, 2009 by Teri
Don Gary has been a joy work with - he is always accessible, I can call him anytime on his cellphone if I need to. He is very thorough in explaining what is going on at all times which really alleviates my stress. It's probably not his favorite case, but you would never know it. He has been extremely fair with me regarding his time. If I get something in the mail that I don't understand I usually pick up the phone and hit "speed dial". He does not "nickle and dime" me to death. He's always professional and I am very grateful he was referred to me.I am going to miss him when when the case is over, and hope I get the chance to refer him to someone else!
He's e
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20 Nov, 2023 by Sean dansby
10 Oct, 2022 by Justin miller
30 Sep, 2014 by Robin
We had been receiving threatening letters from the IRS for several years. The notices were frightening enough, but the threats to confiscate property and bank accounts kept us awake at nights. We were 3 years behind on both our private business and our personal taxes. We desperately needed somebody to help us sort it all out. The amount of money we owed seemed overwhelming and we didn't know where or who to turn to for help. The idea of picking up the phone and calling the IRS was terrifying. We located Kevin Sayed from a google search and from the very first point of contact, he took the ball and ran with it. Along with offering us reassurances, he was able to wade through our pile of documents and get the taxes filed for all of the missing years - for both personal and business. He immediately contacted the IRS for us - at both the Federal and State levels. Because we had made a major move within the last few years, our returns involved filing within several states. Kevin and his staff handled it all with ease. Best of all, Kevin negotiated with the Federal and State tax officials and developed a reasonable monthly payment plan for us. During the process, Kevin was very quick to respond to all of our inquiries and kept us informed every step of the way. We plan on using Kevin whenever we need our taxes handled. He is professional, efficient, reassuring and takes control quickly of difficult situations. On top of that, he has a sense of humor (difficult to find with a lawyer, ha!). If you're in tax trouble with the IRS and don't know who to go to - we highly recommend Kevin Sayed. We are finally back to getting a good nights sleep and can live with the agreements Kevin worked out for us. Thank you so much, Kevin!!
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15 Dec, 2013 by Jennifer
My husband & I contacted Kevin's firm after a surprise levy from the state DOR left our bank acct with a $0 balance. From the moment Kevin got on the phone I felt instantly at peace. He was calm, understanding, downright funny at times (helped to break the tension!), and really knew his stuff. I was frantic when I made the call and by the time I was done talking with Kevin I felt like all was right with the world!
Meeting with him was just the same. He had answers to all my questions, was a complete straight-shooter (no beating around the bush or placating from this guy!), and managed to help us out with a back tax problem that has haunted us for 6 years! By the time Kevin got done playing phone tag with the state DOR, we had a feasible payment plan in place, the levy lifted from our bank account, and a promise that they would leave us alone as long as we held up our end of the bargain! YES! He did such a great job with my husband's state back tax problem that we've even retained him to work on my husband's IRS back tax problem now! He's THAT good!
On top of being a great lawyer, he's incredibly caring- even following up and asking if my husband was feeling better (he had the flu). He's also really quick on turnaround time. I've never called that he wasn't available and he is so quick on email it's ridiculous! I appreciated that he was so honest with me, like letting me know that stuff I was attempting to do myself (i.e. bargaining with the IRS) would have completely not worked because I didn't have all the pieces in place to do so effectively. Once he showed me the parts I was missing, I realized I wouldn't have been effective at all- thank goodness he's there to pick up my slack!
Kevin truly is a miracle worker and I would recommend him to the highest degree. I felt like we were never going to be able to get out from under the spectre of these taxing authorities and with his help I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you need help with taxation issues, he's your man!
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02 Dec, 2023 by Amanda and james
We hired Sean to help us with establishing a will and trust. He was easy to work with, clear in communication (and helped us to understand the legal jargon), prompt, and exceptionally accommodating of our schedules and needs as we coordinated meetings. In areas we were uncertain about, Sean offered suggestions and insight from his professional and personal experience, helping us to make informed decisions that supported our family's needs. We are glad to have worked with Sean and are relieved to have our estate planning complete.
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27 Jun, 2022 by J
I contacted Sean about a will and the proper way to assure my children would be well cared for upon my passing. The free consultation convinced me that I would be able to work with Sean easily. With Sean's guidance, I now have a will and trust that put me at ease about my assets.
We communicated primarily via email. Sean responded quickly and fully to any questions I raised, and changed a few items at my request, no problem. He guided me in several areas with which I wasn't familiar.
I'm pleased to have taken care of this end-of-life planning, and to have used Sean's services.
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10 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
Geoff and Tom created our estate plans. They took the time (over 6 months) to answer all of our questions patiently and guided us very smoothly and pleasantly through a complex process. Our estate is large and has a a high degree of complexity.They devised a clever and creative solution.
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06 Jul, 2010 by Bruce
My relationship with Geoff began in the final weeks before the death of my dad. As a college professor, I'm a professional but not in the way of being a Successor Trustee. That loomed large as a serious undertaking. That's where Geoff came in. I was able to do all the footwork, which was enormous and time-consuming, but at every turn I was able to count on Geoff guiding me through the thicket. Amazingly, he was always responsive...never a time he failed to return my call expediently.
Initially, I was apprehensive about meeting with Geoff because of previous encounters with attorneys, but we connected immediately.
I liked this man! He was gracious, friendly, professional, easy to understand, and came across as a man sincerely eager to help me through the legal exercise he knew I faced at a time I was emotionally strained by my father's demise.
I especially want to note that where other professionals were all business, I was so impressed that Geoff stepped out of that role for a moment to be human enough in my first moment of grief to be one of the only professionals to quickly offer his condolences to me. That was kind and thoughtful. I wasn't just a client, I was a fellow pilgrim on this dusty journey called life, and he wanted to share my pain, my loss.
I should also note that his fees were incredibly fair, far less than I expected.
Bottom line, I would rate Geoff a 10 +... off the charts, really! So if you need an attorney, especially on estate matters, let me encourage you to employ the services of Geoff Garrett. I'm truly confident that you will soon sing his praises as much as I am doing here. Feel free to contact me for further verbal confirmation of all that I have outlined above.
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03 Nov, 2009 by Lisa
Darcy is professional, knowledgeable, honest and level-headed. She provided my family much-needed guidance in working through some estate issues during my father's terminal illness. I am happy to provide Darcy my highest recommendation.
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03 Nov, 2009 by Matthew ellis
I have recommended Darcy to many people who have retained her. NO ONE is as good as Darcy, she is hands down the best attorney I have ever worked with.
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24 Feb, 2015 by Mike
We were referred to Craig from our corporate law firm. He was very responsive in returning our call. He spent a generous amount of time on the initial consult and was clearly knowledgeable about the subject matter. If a friend were to ask me for a reference to an elder law attorney, I would be comfortable suggesting they call Craig.
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06 Feb, 2010 by Anonymous
My family received Craig's name from 3 different sources. We needed a very experienced lawyer to handle a complicated guardianship. We ended up finding a lawyer for life. Craig was thorough, available, compassionate and did an outstanding job. He is a true professional, and an asset to his field. I couldn't recommend him more highly.
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02 May, 2017 by Jennifer scrivano
20 Apr, 2012 by Mitchell
Raley created a much needed will for me. What i enjoyed is that Raley wrote my will where i don't need to change it every life event. It's fluid with the typical circumstances someone like me would go through. I'd refer Raley to my friends, family, and clients for wills/elder law work.
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13 Feb, 2017 by Holly
We are Extremely satisfied with the service we received from Nick. He was honest, and efficient he spent quite a lot of time doing research in the writing of this a letter for my landlord along with contacting the landlord by phone, like a mediator between us . which turned out very well; we got to extend out the date of termination of tenancy , a whole month, just by notifying our landlord of our rights as tenants. I would recommend Nick to anyone who wants an honest, dedicated, persistent and very detailed oriented Lawyer!
I will defiantly call him again, if I need a lawyer again!
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12 Jan, 2017 by Christina
I called Nick on a weekday evening to inquire about the best way for my dad to get a power of attorney in order. Since my dad is on the lower end of the economic scale, Nick said he would be very flexible with the fee. During our whole conversation, he emphasized that he wanted to be sure my dad was taken care of and that he didn't want this process to be an added burden to the stresses of having a sick parent.
The following day, I learned that Nick had gone the extra mile and found a free reliable online source for power of attorney documents that could be notarized. He took the time to review the paperwork, and sent it to me with detailed explanation on terms and how it all works.
I am so grateful for his help, and when my husband and I are ready to have our legal affairs handled we will definitely be working with Nick. He is awesome!
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18 May, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr. Cusack should be the example that all lawyers, not just probate and trust lawyers, are measured against. From start to finish, this attorney conveyed supreme competence, knowledge, and professionalism. He or his staff answered phone calls and emails promptly and thoroughly. Mr. Cusack and his team made this process as easy as it could be. I'm forever grateful to this team for their hard work, professionalism, and efficiency. I strongly recommend this attorney to anyone.
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13 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
He handled my case well. I couldn’t ask for better.
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24 Dec, 2020 by Tara
We have worked with Steve and his firm for several years. Steve is responsive and provides a great and professional guiding hand through all aspects of estate planning and execution.
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20 Dec, 2020 by Cody
I'm the administrator of my mother's estate. It's a very small matter and it was his opinion that I could handle most of it on my own. Along the way I ran into some issues, mainly trying to navigate the state website, especially for the time line and the forms. What some attorneys might think was a waste of their time he was patient and explained everything. I always know that when I have an issue I can count on the Jaeger Firm.
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11 Mar, 2010 by Karen
Attorney Fey was more than extremely helpful to me. After my husband's death, she handled the estate. The estate included various CD's, stocks, personal property, real estate and a very old Trust from the 1950's with husband as beneficiary and his now adult children as beneficiaries at his death. This meant she had to deal with numerous adult children from his first marriage, plus his present wife. Things went south between the parties and Emily had much work to do to keep all informed and satisfied with her progress. With the short delays experienced, due to the client's and children's bickering, and the fact that she had to have various CD's and stocks combined into the Estate Account to later be appropriately distributed, it is my opinion that she has a lot of knowledge and experience and is well thought of by the court.
Attorney Fey also helped me in necessary wordage to be put into the real estate contract when I put my house up for sale. Since I was going to be leaving the state, this wordage was so necessary, but would not have been thought of by realtor or myself. I am so thankful for all of her help. She is a true lady.
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19 Feb, 2010 by Eric
Emily handled the complexities of my father's probate perfectly, keeping in mind the special needs of our entire family. What really made a difference for me was her willingess to go above and beyond to accomadate things right. I highly recommend her as a attorney, you will not be dissapointed.
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08 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
I engaged Maureen Wicker for an estate/Elder care issue in 2012. She proved to be very trustworthy, and determined to find a solution to a problem which endangered a family member. She always kept me informed and answered questions that I had promptly. I was very happy with her service to myself and my family member and I recommend her.
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20 Oct, 2014 by Esther
Maureen has assisted me in many legal matters over the past few years. I have referred many older friends and family to her and all have been more than pleased with her professionalism and knowledge. She is extremely patient, making sure that her clients fully understand what they are signing even if it means repeating herself until she is sure they comprehend. She makes you feel comfortable even when the issues and decisions that need to be made are extremely difficult. I would highly recommend her for your legal needs.
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05 Jan, 2019 by Maria
A friend, who worked with Ms. Simmons, highly recommended her. Trusting my friend, who spoke highly of Ms. Simmons, I changed attorneys, driving to Sacramento from San Francisco. I was in awe watching Ms. Simmons handling my case. The attorney I previously worked with was so incompetent, Ms. Simmons had to fix a lot of his mistakes. From the very beginning I knew I could trust her and that my case is in excellent hands. Her work ethic, diligence, attention to details, thoroughness, knowledge of law, people skills, communication skills and perseverance are among many other qualities that make her an excellent professional, a pleasure to work with and a wonderful being. I am so grateful!
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02 Nov, 2018 by Anonymous
Mrs. Simmons wasn’t my first attorney during the custody process But she was the only one that truly watched out for the benefit of all parties involved. There are many attorneys that only want to take the easy cases Cheri took my case which was so entrenched in the courts That I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and turned it around in a short period of time I have learned through this process that the attorneys hands can be tied if they don’t know how to present the right information. She has knowledge that one needs to get through the system without having delays. I was loosing hope until Cheri took over and the outcome was fair for all parties involved.
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26 Jun, 2024 by Elisa
Estoy Eternamente Agradecida y Felicito a la Abogada Stefany Rogers por su trabajo en Defensa de mi Hijo, Es una Abogada de verdad!.Demuestra que su Labor es la Justicia ha sido muy paciente y Profesional en su Defensa, comunicativa, paciente e incansable en su trabajo,
Es Insuperable ella
Dios la Bendiga
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13 Mar, 2019 by Chelsea
Stephanie Rogers was by far the best state provided lawyer that I have ever had! She was in my opinion harder working than any private lawyer I have ever paid for! She always kept in contact with me and was always available to talk. She always responded promptly to emails, phone calls and text messages. She truly had my side! She also paid attention to everything that I said. She went above and beyond to make sure I was heard and got custody back of my beautiful son! I can't thank Mrs. Rogers enough for the help she gave me, the advice and best of all helping me to win back the custody of my baby boy!
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13 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
Will has been a Godsend in a very complicated issue. He has worked through the toughest circumstances and guided us through a very difficult time.
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07 Jan, 2015 by Ben
Mr. William shaffer was extremely attentive professional ; he also worked my case out quickly and was the best deal! He is amazing please hire him!
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16 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
He took care of my husbands probate. I was out of state and this could of made things
very difficult. It was not. I have nothing but praise for him.
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06 Jun, 2013 by Judy
Tom handled the probate on a two-state will involving real property in Florida. I was the listing Realtor on the Florida property and had the privilege of meeting with this attorney along with one of the co-personal representatives of the estate. He was very open and honest in sharing his knowledge of the probate process and handled that portion of the sale of the property in a very expedient manner. Tom was quick to respond to phone calls and emails and very patiently kept us informed of the process as it progressed through the courts. He was highly recommended to me by an excellent title company and I will have no qualms in recommending him to my buyers and sellers in the future. He is top notch in my book!
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19 Mar, 2018 by Eric
Pamela did a sensational job handling a few complex legal issues we had with some real estate we own in Florida.
I would not hesitate to use her services in the future and will definitely recommend her to anyone who is in need of legal assistance. Pamela was professional, courteous and knowledgeable. A pleasure to deal with!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Eric
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23 Feb, 2018 by Bruce
Pam Buff assisted my wife and I on several key needs including estate planning, post nuptial documentation, and establishing an LLC. Pam's knowledge, thoroughness, flexibility, and advice was invaluable in arriving at the right legal position on all three requirements. Pam spent the time to thoroughly understand our requirements, outline considerations and options, and ultimately put the most appropriate legal documentation in place for a complex situation. I would highly recommend Pam's expertise to assist you in addressing you legal needs. We plan to use Pam for future requirements.
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22 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr. Snow is a gentleman who provides individualized services to each of his clients. His good humored nature added to his expert knowledge of the field is coupled with his integrity and creativity of providing legal services to individuals.
He has provided my family and me with expert legal advice and representation for many years. Each time he has proven that his advice is well thought out, concise, and accurate.
I recommend him highly.
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28 Oct, 2016 by Alan bresloff
While many attorneys are looking at you and only seeing dollar signs, this one, is a caring individual, who only has YOUR best interests at heart. Martin took extra good care of me and my kids as well. If you are planning for the future and want to make sure you have something to plan with, trust him- he will be better than a family member.
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12 Jun, 2017 by Michelle
Mr. Lechman helped my husband and I create trusts. He was patient and walked us through the entire thing, answering all of our questions thoroughly. He was available in Westlake Village as well as Camarillo which was convenient for us.
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17 Feb, 2011 by Linda
Joe is a very patient lawyer who explains everything to you. He is not like an average lawyer in a fancy business suit. He is down to earth and is very fair. He is looking out for your best interest and can tell he cares about what is best for each individual.
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5.0
2 Reviews
31 Jul, 2017 by Jan
Irene de Jesus is assisting us with our estate planning and will. She is much more thorough than any of our previous attorneys. She carefully explains each aspect and keeps communication lines open. We are happy we've engaged her services and have complete trust and confidence in Irene.
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17 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
I just want to share my experience with de Jesus Law Group... IF YOU ARE EVER LOOKING FOR AN ESTATE LAWYER OR BUSINESS LAWYER, GO WITH THEM!!! Here's why: Irene is NOT your average lawyer. Her law firm takes a really unique and personal approach. My husband and I went to her for business planning law, but then we signed up for the family planning. They offer a lot of "features" with their package... yup I said package (can't remember what she actually called them) because they don't do hourly billing which is such a relief for us. Plus, she checks-in and reviews our documents every three years free of charge! I am SO impressed, not only by her knowledge, but by her attention to detail. The whole process is INCREDIBLE!!! She did a LIFT program for my business, which was awesome. Currently we don't have kids, but they also offer some pretty important information and planning for them (keeping this in mind for future reference)... IF YOU HAVE KIDS, TALK TO IRENE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT!!! She does talks, seminars, and workshops. I'm not sure about the first two, but I do know that the Guardian Nomination workshop is FREE (all you need to do is get a group together, get a location - it can even be your living room - and schedule a date with her). Everything is personalized for us... plus she has a couple of surprises for her clients (I'll keep them a surprise and not share what they are) :) She is such a blessing!!!
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09 Jun, 2016 by Jeff
John has helped me on multiple tasks including but not limiting to probating my parents estate, setting up wills and estate planning for my wife an I as well as setting up trusts for my children. I am completely satisfied and happy with his work.
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02 Jun, 2016 by Grace
I have used John to probate my husband's will and settle the estate and also to handle the selling of my retail business. He has executed both with extreme professionalism. He kept me informed all through the process and answered all questions quickly. John looked out for my best interest in both situations, making me feel comfortable about decisions. I highly recommend the legal services of John Reeves.
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22 Jan, 2020 by Crystal
I wish that mr. Teen could do more legal stuff like help mentally ill people like me where I can get a place to live and somewhere safe in murphysboro Illinois and that I can also do you like my medical stuff and you know what I mean that he can help me more that would be really good
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02 Mar, 2019 by Crystal
he is at court with you and he dresses nice ! and he helpd you and so anyways why call the doc king ????
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25 Feb, 2015 by Mike
Mr. Ticker has been our corporate and personal attorney since 1995. He has always been very responsive to a variety of legal needs over the years. His fees are very reasonable and we consider him to be an asset to our company.
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25 Feb, 2015 by Trina
Neil is to say the least a "diamond in the rough". He is the best attorney that I have ever done business with and would recommend him 1000%. He is honest, trustworthy and just an all around nice guy!
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10 May, 2020 by Louis
It's always great when you hire a professional for a task and the experience is better far above what is expected. I am late in my review and just realized when I looked up Juliana's contact information that I never put in a review which is long overdue & warranted.
Just that, professional, knowledgeable & made our experience a wonderful one. We used her services for immigration and recommend her highly. We have a referral for her now and know she will handle it excellently as she did for us. Thanks again!
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11 Jan, 2012 by Chris
Juliana is very knowledgeable and helpful. She works well with the immigrant community and is able to interact seamlessly with Chinese. (she speaks both Chinese and English very well.) I needed some immigration help and she helped me get all of the necessary paperwork in very quickly. She's very respectable, kind, understanding and well composed. I would recommend her to anyone, but especially Chinese.
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28 May, 2014 by Sheila
Words are inadequate to thank you for your help and kindness. A special thank you for your help with the civil matter, it provided great stress relief. We are forever grateful for your help and kindness. Best wishes for all of the coming years.
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26 Jan, 2010 by Ron
I used Attorney Willis for my estate planning, will, trust, powers of attorney for health care and finance. He explained everything and even helped to organize my assets and handled funding my trust as well. I was so impressed I asked him to be the trustee of my estate.
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07 Jan, 2015 by Fancyrou
I emailed Ian a question on a weekend & assumed if I got a reply it would be the next business day. Imagine my surprise when Ian not only replied to my email inquiry immediately but gave a very detailed response as well. He was very polite & professional and he even answered a follow up question I had as well. I truly appreciated him taking time out of his weekend to answer my question as I was stressing quite a bit over my issue. Awesome, professional! Lisa~
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09 Aug, 2011 by Jim
Ian took our probate case and did a GREAT job. The judge was located in another county from where we live and seemed to be going out of his way to make things difficult. Ian kept his cool and managed to wined his way through all of the barriers placed in his way. He kept us up to date on what was going on and we would use him again if we have a need for an atty.
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09 Jan, 2020 by Michael
I inherited an art collection, my two partners were both thieves. I was terrified of dealing with these two evil people. Autumn Engles was an amazing representative. She was able to make my abusive partners, back down and when we distributed the art collection I was able to get the best of the collection. Autumn Engles was the reason it all went so smoothly. I was so worked up the day we dissolve my partners trust, but Autumn Engles made it a walk through the park. She kept all the emotions under control and in less than an hour we were done. Thank you Autumn Engles was my savior. Than you for making this really hard situation for me an easy process.
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30 Oct, 2010 by Mike
I had Autumn Engel develop my trust. During the initial visits, she answered all of my basic questions expertly. Later, I had more detailed questions in email, which she responded to very promptly. She has a friendly, yet professional, demeanor and was always easy to talk to -- never rushed. I would recommend her to anyone looking at establishing a trust.
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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:
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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.
