Sherman Oaks, CA
Estate, Trust, & Probate Law Firm

Whether you need help preparing for the future through a customized estate plan, help protecting your business and rights during an internal investigation, or strong advocacy because of an action by the DMV, Law Office of Rodney Gould is here to serve your best interests and walk you through any legal process.

Based in Sherman Oaks, California, the firm handles a wide range of legal matters in the areas of estate planning, trust creation and administration, probate administration and litigation, contesting a will, compliance investigations for businesses and DMV representation. While the firm primarily assists Southern California residents with estate planning and probate matters, attorney Rodney Gould also is equipped to help people statewide with compliance investigations and DMV representation matters.

Rodney Gould has impeccable credentials. More than that, he is a caring person, genuinely interested in helping you plan for your future and that of your loved ones. His 30 years of legal experience have given him a comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the law. Beyond that, he has retained his sense of personal concern for every single client.

Estate Planning

Law Office of Rodney Gould is well-suited to meet all your estate planning needs. Dedicated to combining clear and direct communication with our clients with the use of cutting-edge technology, Rodney Gould is committed to treating you with respect and individualized care. He recognizes that each client’s case has unique elements and takes time to understand precisely what your needs and goals are, so he can meet them effectively. He also arranges to review your estate plan with you on a regular basis to make sure you update documents to align with recent events, such as births, deaths, moves and changes in employment status.

Rodney Gould is both detail-oriented and able to take in the whole picture. He will understand and address your concerns, including:

• Whether you need a will
• How to avoid probate
• How to protect your assets
• How to plan for your retirement, business succession and potential future incapacity
• How to prepare the necessary health care and end-of-life documents

He will provide all of these services efficiently and carefully, always sensitive to the fact that you are trusting him with your future and the future of those you love.

One of the advantages of using a California estate planning attorney is that he is familiar with all aspects of California estate planning law and how it may differ from other states’ laws.

Wills And Trusts

Drafting a will gives you the opportunity to name your beneficiaries and to appoint an executor, someone you trust to manage and distribute your assets according to your stated wishes. It also allows you to name a guardian for any minor children you will leave behind if your spouse has predeceased you. In your will, you can also state any wishes you have concerning your funeral or memorial. If you die without a will (intestate), your beneficiaries will be decided by the state according to their biological relationships to you. If no relatives exist, the state will take your assets. Writing a will gives you control in how your assets will be distributed after you pass away.

Probate And When It Is Necessary

If you die with all your assets owned jointly, as in community property with your spouse or in a living trust, your assets won’t need to go through probate, the legal process of validating a will. This is also true if your assets are held in a revocable living trust and accounts which have a payable-on-death beneficiary. While probate can be fairly simple if you have a small amount of accumulated wealth, probate will still delay asset distribution. If you have a large estate, probate can be lengthy, complicated and extremely costly. This is why you need an experienced wills and trusts attorney like Mr. Gould to help you streamline the inheritance process.

Revocable Trusts

Establishing a revocable trust has a number of advantages, particularly if you have a large estate or a family member with special needs or problems managing money. Trusts also benefit those with who have minor children or grandchildren for whom it is inappropriate to leave a large, unsupervised inheritance. In addition, trusts are private, not open to public scrutiny the way wills are. There are many types of trusts available, so it is crucial to have an astute trust attorney like Rodney Gould to guide you.

Law Office of Rodney Gould is well-prepared to draw up any of the following trusts for you and will carefully consider which ones best meet your financial and personal needs:

• Generation-skipping trusts
• Irrevocable trusts, such as charitable trusts, trusts for minors and spendthrift trusts
• Revocable trusts (sometimes known as living trusts)
• Pet trusts
• Qualified personal residence trusts (QPRT)
• Qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trusts
• Special needs trusts
• Testamentary trusts

You can rest assured that our practice will establish trusts that best suit your purposes and make sure that each trust is legally sound.

DMV Hearing Representation

Another important legal service provided by Law Office of Rodney Gould is representation before the DMV. Hearings and examinations before the DMV, presided over by a hearing officer rather than a judge, can be life-altering because they determine whether or not your driver’s license or other driving privileges will be suspended or revoked. While the hearing officer does not have the ability of the judge at a civil or criminal trial, he or she will decide whether you will be able to drive legally for a period of time.

Fortunately, you are entitled to have an attorney represent you during DMV proceedings. Rodney Gould is a sharp, knowledgeable DMV hearing attorney who will assist you by:

• Preparing you to testify on your own behalf
• Reviewing and challenging the evidence presented
• Subpoenaing, presenting and cross-examining witnesses

For further information, visit www.beatdmv.com.

Compliance Investigations

Law Office of Rodney Gould also conducts compliance inspections which are in-house workplace investigations. Compliance investigations are conducted when there is credible information that a workplace has been compromised by significant wrongdoing, misconduct or unethical behavior. Because businesses are aware of the high cost, both financially and in terms of reputation, that such allegations can lead to, they are eager to have the situation investigated and resolved as quickly as possible.

The purpose of a compliance investigation is to protect the company’s interests and the interests of any shareholders. Rodney Gould takes his position as a compliance investigator very seriously, working to detect misconduct, ensure that corporate activities meet the legal standards and identify areas in which internal business operations should be improved.

Law Office of Rodney Gould Can Help

If you require the services of an attorney proficient in any of the above-mentioned areas, please get in touch with us. We can be reached by phone, 818-981-1760 or by filling out one the convenient contact forms on our website.