Top Best Estate Lawyers | 18323 Available

I practice estate planning because I want to help families put in place estate plans that will protect them and their family in the event something happens to them. My practice is somewhat different than the traditional practice of estate planning because we have built in systems to ensure plans will stay up to date after they are put in place. We have met with countless clients whose plans have failed their families because they were out-of-date or because the family's assets were not titled properly. Our goals is to keep families out of probate and out of conflict.. We look forward to serving you.

Misty L. Colwell has practiced exclusively in the areas of estate planning and trust administration since her admission to the California Bar in 1990. She is Of Counsel to Velasco Law Group, APC, and she maintains her own solo practice concentrating on probate, trust administration, conservatorship, and guardianship law. Ms. Colwell earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and she received her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.. Ms. Colwell has a strong record of service to the Long Beach community. She has volunteered for the Long Beach Bar Association’s Pro Per Guardianship Panel since its inception, and she received the Pro Bono Award in 1999 from the Long Beach Bar Association. In addition, she has been an active member of Long Beach Bar Association, Women Lawyers of Long Beach, and the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California throughout her career.

Stephanie L. Ruelas, Esq. is a Partner at Sakamoto & Ruelas, APC. Ms. Ruelas is passionate about probate law and helping families navigate the often complex laws that surround it. Ms. Ruelas is dedicated to counseling her clients regarding their unique estate planning needs, as well as the probate and trust administration process which results after the passing of a loved one. Ms. Ruelas found her love for probate law during law school, where she discovered her knack for understanding and solving estate related problems, and earned the top grade in her class. After graduating, Ms. Ruelas knew Wills and Trusts law was her calling, and committed to finding a position in that field. Since the inception of her legal career, Ms. Ruelas has exclusively practiced in the area of probate law, including estate planning (drafting Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, etc.), decedent’s estates, trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and probate litigation.  Over the years, Ms. Ruelas has gained invaluable experience as to the best methods of administering an estate in order to lessen the strains on familial relationships during the process and strives to avoid litigation whenever possible. Ms. Ruelas firmly believes the best way to protect families and preserve relationships  is by planning ahead, and creating a customized and unique estate plan, tailored to each individual’s distinct circumstances. Ms. Ruelas earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine, not far from her hometown of Laguna Niguel. After graduating and working as an Adoption Assistant, Ms. Ruelas moved to Fullerton and attended law school at Western State College of Law where she graduated magna cum laude. Ms. Ruelas has since moved back to Laguna Niguel to be close to family, and resides with her husband and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. When not in the office, Ms. Ruelas enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dogs on local trails, reading, attending concerts, traveling, and crafting.

Kim S. Millman brings her own unique history and experience to the practice of law.  Her practice focuses on estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration; charitable planning and giving; and business succession planning.. Ms. Millman received her Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2006, and she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge, gradating cum laude in 1982.  She was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2007.. For more than twenty-five years, Ms. Millman was a successful entrepreneur overseeing the daily operations of a thriving family run business with hundreds of employees and literally millions of customers. Along with various family members, Ms. Millman founded the teen apparel mail order catalog Girlfriends LA, which sold apparel, shoes and accessories to millions of teen girls nationwide.  After many years as a successful and profitable operation, Girlfriends LA was sold to a New York based conglomerate.. Ms. Millman utilizes this in-depth understanding of the distinctive needs of the entrepreneur and family business owner in her practice of estate, tax and business succession planning.  Additionally, her many decades of experience in the business world allows her to gain an immediate understanding of the goals and expectations, both personally and professionally, of clients.

Jay Rose is a native of Los Angeles.  He attended U.S.C. School of Business Administration where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1976 in tax and accounting.  In 1980 Mr. Rose was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier College of Law.. Mr. Rose is a former Commissioner of the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging and a former member of the LAPD Community Police Advisory Board.  In the business community, Mr. Rose has served as a Board Member and Past Vice President of the Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce, and is a past member of the State Issues Committee of the Valley Industry Commerce Association (VICA).  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Executive Association of the San Fernando Valley, and is the Immediate Past President.  In 2002, the Executive Association of the San Fernando Valley awarded Jay their “Executive of the Year” award.. In recognition of his community efforts, Mr. Rose has received a Commendation from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles and a Congressional Certificate of Appreciation from Representative Howard Berman.  He was the recipient of the Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence for 1997.  In May of 1997 his law offices received the award for Small Business of the Year from California Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, the United Chambers of Commerce and the Valley Economic Development Center as well as a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Brad Sherman of Woodland Hills.. The Law Offices of Jay A. Rose is an AV rated law office that focuses its practice in the area of Asset Protection from lawsuits, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law and Corporate Law.  In addition, they handle formation and compliance issues for family charitable foundations and nonprofit tax exempt organizations.. Jay Rose has served as Judge Pro Tem of the Los Angeles Municipal Court and a Referee and Mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court Northwest District.  He is a member of the California State and Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the California State, Los Angeles County and San Fernando Valley Bar Trusts and Estates Sections, as well as the San Fernando Valley Estate Planning Council.  He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as well as the United States Federal Tax Court.  He is also admitted to practice in Washington, DC.

Samantha Koopman focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, trust administration, probate (including conservatorships), California business entity formation, and preparation of applications for 501(c) tax exempt status. Her style of practice emphasizes supportive client counseling, particularly in times of loss and grief.. Samantha has been an associate attorney at Gold Law since November 2019. She previously spent three years as an associate attorney for the Law Offices of Thomas Malley. She received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. After college, she moved to Southern California and earned her juris doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2016 and is a member of the Los Angeles County, San Fernando Valley, and Ventura County Bar Associations.