Why do I do what I do?
I consider it an honor to help people and their families find peace of mind knowing that no matter what the future brings, their wishes and rights are protected by a legally binding plan.
Prior to launching my own estate planning firm, I served as court-appointed counsel on the Los Angeles Mental Health and Probate Court Panels. For years I guided my clients through very complex legal systems and thought I was making a difference – helping vulnerable and marginalized people and their families – but when it came down to the most essential issues, including life and death decisions, I was actually helpless. Once you are in these court systems you lose control of your ability to make your own decisions and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
After witnessing the financial, emotional, and even physical devastation (I fought for the right to die with dignity for a few clients, but our efforts were frustrated by the realities of the bureaucracy of the legal system and the clients suffered needlessly for weeks) resulting from the unpredictability of court, I changed course. Rather than fight the system, I set out to help people completely avoid the system.
I decided to trade my time arguing in front of judges for time educating people and providing counseling in estate planning.
Now I work collaboratively with my clients to create personalized financial and health care plans that will keep them out of the courts and keep their private matters private.
As a team, you and I will delve into your goals, concerns, and dreams and build your unique plan to speak for you when you can no longer speak for yourself.
I want to make it easy for you to discuss challenging topics and make difficult decisions. No one likes talking about the possibility of incapacity or their own mortality – but once you do and we get your plan in place, you will keep control of your ability to make your own decisions about your financial and health care choices. This is when our clients tell us they finally get that peace of mind knowing that no matter what happens, they have a legally-binding plan that will carry out their wishes and leave a legacy of love and compassion for their families.
My education:
I graduated from The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1998. While at Cardozo, I participated in their Bet Tzedek Legal Clinic where I represented indigent elderly and disabled people. I was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1998 and the California State Bar in 2012.
