Your matter, handled personally.
Taken case by case.

If you own real property in California, a will alone almost certainly sends your estate through probate. A will directs who receives what; it does not avoid court. A funded revocable living trust is what keeps the house out of probate. If you rent and your assets are modest, a will plus beneficiary designations may genuinely be enough, and you should be told that rather than sold a trust.

Nine to eighteen months is typical for a straightforward estate, and contested matters run considerably longer. During that time the property generally cannot be sold or distributed without court authority.

Yes. Probate Code §10810 calculates statutory compensation on the gross value of the estate, without subtracting mortgages or other debts. A home worth $900,000 with a $600,000 mortgage is treated as $900,000 for fee purposes, not $300,000. This surprises nearly everyone.

If a child inherits your home and makes it their own primary residence, a limited exclusion may preserve part of your property tax basis. If they keep it as a rental or a second home, it is reassessed at current market value. There are planning options, but most of them must be put in place while you are alive.

Yes. Consultations and document review are available in Spanish.

Yes. Consultations, document review, and engagement agreements are available in Russian.

No. The firm works remotely, appears in federal courts nationwide where admitted, and in other states’ courts pro hac vice with local counsel.

Often. The firm is a general practice and accepts matters case by case, at its discretion. Book a consultation and you’ll get a clear answer.

Often, yes. Banks freeze accounts when they receive a restraining order or injunction, even when the account holder was never named in the lawsuit or notified of it. The remedy is a motion in the court that issued the order, asking it to modify or dissolve the freeze as to your funds. The firm prepares and files that motion, appearing pro hac vice with local counsel where the order was issued outside California. These orders and their hearing deadlines move quickly, so contact the firm as soon as the freeze happens.

The initial consultation is $300 for a full hour of attorney time, in two parts. Part 1 (30 minutes): we speak by phone, and I gather information and ask questions to understand your situation and the scope of work. Then I prepare a short memo for you summarizing what I recommend and a written flat quote. Part 2 (30 minutes): after you’ve reviewed the memo, we reconvene and I answer your questions. If you decide to move forward, the full $300 is credited toward your flat fee — so the consultation effectively costs nothing. Any work outside a flat-fee scope is billed at $300 per hour and is always approved with you first.

Court appearances are made remotely wherever the court allows. When a hearing must be attended in person, travel is billed at $300 per hour from departure until return, unless included in a written flat quote.

One of the firm’s clerks will answer, schedule your consultation, and help gather what the matter needs. Clerks do not give legal advice. Your consultation is with Ivan, by phone.