Business Details
36 Years
experience
Experienced Legal Guidance for Every Stage of Life
Since 1990, our firm has been dedicated to guiding families through estate planning and elder law matters with compassion and expertise. Our founder, Richard M. Seff, brings a unique perspective from his prior work as a social worker and hospital administrator, allowing us to approach legal solutions with deep empathy for family dynamics. We specialize exclusively in California estate planning, asset protection, and elder law, staying current with evolving regulations to provide tailored strategies. Our practice focuses on creating comprehensive plans that protect loved ones, preserve assets, and ensure clients' wishes are honored. With decades of experience navigating complex probate processes and Medi-Cal planning, we combine technical proficiency with personalized care.We prioritize clear communication, explaining legal concepts in accessible language while maintaining the highest professional standards. Our commitment extends beyond documentation - we aim to build lasting relationships with clients during critical life transitions. Located in Woodland Hills, we serve families across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties with in-person and virtual consultations. Our proven track record demonstrates our ability to transform legal complexities into actionable, family-centered solutions.
Services
Foundational Estate Planning
Advanced Estate Planning
Prop 19 Planning
Elder Law Planning
Probate & Estate Administration
Details
- Year established: 1990
Highlights and features
- Our attorney has 30+ years of specialized experience in California estate law
- We combine legal expertise with compassionate, personalized service
- Founder's background in social work provides unique family-centric perspective
- We offer practical free resources including estate planning guides
- Proven track record with hundreds of satisfied client families
What people say
Extremely knowledgeable
Fantastic attorney
Complete assistance
Patient and kind
Best of the best
Services
Estate Planning
We create comprehensive estate plans tailored to California families' needs. Our services include wills, living trusts, and powers of attorney that protect assets and ensure your wishes are honored. With over 30 years of experience, we guide clients through complex legal requirements while explaining options in plain language. Our approach focuses on preventing family conflicts and minimizing probate challenges through carefully crafted documentation.
Asset Protection
Our firm specializes in strategies to safeguard assets from unnecessary taxation and creditors. We implement irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, and other legal tools tailored to individual circumstances. Clients benefit from our deep understanding of California's unique property laws and tax regulations. We help families protect inheritances while maintaining flexibility for changing life circumstances. Our solutions balance legal security with practical accessibility.
Elder Law
We provide specialized planning for aging individuals and their families. Our services include Medi-Cal planning, long-term care strategies, and veterans benefits assistance. Our team understands the emotional and financial challenges of elder care transitions. We help clients navigate complex healthcare regulations while preserving family resources. Our approach emphasizes dignity, independence, and quality of life for seniors.
Probate Process
We guide families through California's probate process with compassion and efficiency. Our services include will validation, asset inventory, debt settlement, and property distribution. We help executors fulfill their legal obligations while minimizing delays and conflicts. Clients receive clear explanations of court requirements and timelines. Our goal is to streamline the process while maintaining compliance with all legal standards.
Prop 19 Planning
We help California homeowners navigate complex property transfer regulations under Proposition 19. Our strategies preserve property tax benefits while transferring real estate between generations. Clients receive clear guidance on eligibility requirements and documentation procedures. We help families maintain valuable tax advantages while ensuring smooth property transitions. Our solutions address both current and future ownership needs.
People
Richard M. Seff
Attorney & Founder
With 30+ years of California estate law experience, Richard M. Seff brings unique perspective from his social work and healthcare administration background. He focuses on practical, family-centered legal solutions while maintaining deep technical expertise in estate planning and elder law.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I need?
Every family should have a will, durable power of attorney, and healthcare directive. More complex situations may require trusts or tax planning strategies tailored to your specific assets and family dynamics.
How does your firm differ from others?
Our unique combination of legal expertise and personal care comes from the founder's dual background in social work and law, allowing us to address both legal and family needs simultaneously.
Can I update existing estate plans?
Yes, we regularly help clients update outdated documents to reflect new laws, family changes, or evolving financial circumstances while maintaining continuity in your estate planning goals.
Do you serve clients outside the office?
We offer phone and Zoom consultations, as well as home visits for clients with mobility challenges, ensuring access to our services regardless of location or circumstances.
What resources do you provide for families?
We offer free downloadable guides including the 'Sandwich Generation' resource and 'Kids Protection Plan' to help families organize their planning process before scheduling consultations.
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Reviews (5)
Yuriy M.
Dec 17, 2021
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Attorney Richard Seff provided us with the excellent service. He set up two living trusts for us and a power of attorney for my elderly mom. Richard explained everything to us, we received lot of useful information related to our not very simple case, everything was done on time and for comparably moderate price. I would highly recommend Richard as the perfect estate planning and elder law attorney.
Gladis K.
Jul 12, 2021
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A comprehensive approach to trust creation! Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm created a detailed trust tailored to exactly meet our needs. Richard Seff provided a high level of expertise and created a trust that detailed the appropriate support for the beneficiaries without ambiguity. He provided clear explanations and guidance, addressed our concerns, and went through all the documents thoroughly answering our questions. We would highly recommend Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm services to anyone looking to establish a well-written, thorough living trust that addresses your specific needs
Jessica M.
Apr 05, 2021
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Very thankful to have found Richard Seff. We were able to have an in person meeting during this time of Covid in which masks were work and social distancing followed. Not only was his demeanor pleasant, his knowledge in his area of expertise was impressive. He took the time to thoroughly respond to our inquiries and helped us gain understanding and clarity regarding our concerns. We highly recommend Mr. Richard Seff and look forward to meeting again.
Helane K.
Mar 04, 2021
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I am 68 and for a very long time I have wanted to make sure my life and end of life was organized. The greatest gift you can give your children is the gift of everything spelled out and organized. I shopped it hard because I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars to achieve this goal. I really feel sooooo lucky I found
Richard Seff and his firm. I found it on line and I am not an easy customer. The bottom line is I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. The fee is competitive if not a little better than most firms and I contacted at least 6. Not only was it
Painless he provides
Richard Seff and his firm. I found it on line and I am not an easy customer. The bottom line is I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. The fee is competitive if not a little better than most firms and I contacted at least 6. Not only was it
Painless he provides
Daisy M.
Feb 05, 2021
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I'm very pleased with the service Attorney Richard Seff performed. He was able to come up with a plan to save my family from the effects of Prop 19. Since this prop is time sensitive, I appreciate how he was able to work as fast and efficiently as he did.
