Top Estate Lawyers Near Me in South Pasadena Area

My goal is to make estate planning simple, approachable, and transparent for families and individuals of all walks of life. After starting my career at the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, I moved to a boutique estate planning firm in Beverly Hills. I now help clients with living trusts, wills, and other estate planning related matters as well as probate and trust administration. My background includes degrees from MIT and the UCLA School of Law, but what clients value most is that I listen, explain things clearly, and provide transparency that bring peace of mind. Whether you’re starting a family, preparing for retirement, or caring for loved ones, I’ll guide you through the process with clarity and compassion.

Lydia Mendoza Mosser is a graduate of Columbia Law School, a lawyer, mom and native of Los Angeles.  She spent the first decade of her legal career as business litigator and trial attorney for one of the largest firms in Los Angeles where she was named as a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine several years in a row. As a former litigator, she knows that the best way to avoid legal disputes is to implement proper legal planning from the beginning.  She uses her experience to help her clients avoid costly litigation and probate by creating customized estate and life plans for individuals, couples, and families that provide peace of mind.. Lydia is a member of Wealth Counsel, a national organization of trusts and estates attorneys, as well as other business professionals, who collaborate on creating the most up to date estate plans. This network provides her with access to the latest developments in estate planning, trust, probate and tax law which means that her clients can be assured that they are getting the best product available.

An entrepreneur himself, "Scotty" designed and marketed a strategy-meets-trivia board game that was named a Top 100 Board Game by GAMES Magazine, along with teacher Kris Harter, attorney Alicia Vaz, and graphic designer Roy Ice.  He is currently working on a book, tentatively titled “Prefix”. When he is not working, Scot enjoys travelling (especially to Sedona, Arizona), reading, football, military history, cooking, and gardening.

About William K. Hayes. As an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles County, California William Hayes provides extensive estate and tax planning services to individuals and businesses in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and surrounding communities. Attorney Hayes’ primary focus is to help clients avoid probate, protect their assets, and provide for the security of their loved ones with a well-crafted estate plan. He believes in giving each client the time needed to explain his or her needs and wishes and then dedicates his efforts toward making the client’s desires clear in their final estate plan.. Clients of The Hayes Law Firm have often commented upon the warmth and friendliness they experience while at the firm because Attorney Hayes strives to provide an office environment where clients feel comfortable as they go through the very personal process of planning for the care, maintenance and distribution of the assets which they have spent a lifetime accumulating. Indeed, the proper, custom-tailored planning and administration of his clients’ estates is just as important to him as it is to the families it affects.. Attorney Hayes is aware of the growing importance of estate planning and as an active member of the Los Angeles County and Pasadena community, dedicates part of his time to educating the public about the importance of planning for when they’re gone or unable to care for themselves. Consequently, Attorney Hayes speaks throughout Los Angeles on the topics of estate planning, business planning, and asset protection on behalf of many civic and community organizations, non-profits, churches and social groups. In addition, he has had speaking engagements sponsored by well established banking institutions, insurance companies, and financial services groups.. Professional Experience. In addition to his busy practice helping clients secure the peace of mind that comes from having a well-crafted estate plan in place, attorney Hayes is an authorized speaker throughout the Los Angeles area for the California State Bar on estate planning subjects. He is the author of the Contracts, Business Entities and Trusts section of the book, "Wealth Is Possible" by financial planner and church bishop, Rick Johnson and a member of the exclusive American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.. Education. Attorney Hayes earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a member of its prestigious and selective Law Review as well as a member of the Moot Court Honors Program. As a Senior Editor of the Law Review, he published a well-received article entitled, "Jury Selection and the Equal Protection Clause.". While in law school, he also gained national recognition for a private interview that he conducted with the late United States Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall.

A native southern Californian, Emily graduated from Scripps College in Claremont with a B.A. in Honors Economics and Psychology. After three years working in Washington, D.C. for an economic expert witness, Emily returned to California to attend law school at University of Southern California. While in law school, Emily served as vice president of the Public Interest Law Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of the Interdisciplinary Law Journal.. After graduating from law school and being admitted as a member of the California Bar, Emily began practicing estate planning and tax law at McDermott, Will & Emery, where she catered to high net worth individuals and families. While practicing at the firm, Emily counseled clients on income, estate, generation-skipping transfer, gift, and property tax issues.  She also provided advice on all phases of planning from creating and implementing an initial plan through probate and administration.  Emily additionally assisted clients in more complex planning matters involving the formation and ongoing operation of tax-exempt organizations and LLCs as well as the strategic use of various estate planning tools such as intentionally defective grantor trusts, GRATs, QPRTs, insurance trusts, fictitious name trusts, and property leases.. After starting a family, Emily opened her own estate planning practice in South Pasadena where she lives and works with her husband and young children.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in South Pasadena and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in South Pasadena and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in South Pasadena and surrounding areas.