Professional Biography

          I was admitted to practice in 1992, having previously clerked for the late James R. Frolik, Esq. in San Francisco, who practiced exclusively in probate and taxation matters.  I have done the same for my 24-plus years of practice, handling decedent estates, conservatorships, guardianships, and trust cases in every Bay Area county and a dozen other counties in California.  I moved to Contra Costa County in 1999 and opened a second office in Concord.  Having my primary practice in probate, with some frequency I also handle related litigation concerning creditor claims, real property disputes, entity dissolutions, tenant evictions, and numerous other civil matters related to and necessary to the final disposition of probate proceedings.  I also serve as private professional fiduciary both appointed by the Superior Court, or in private trust administrations.  I have handled trust administrations involving real properties and portfolios valued at upwards of $8 million, but also efficiently handled tiny court administered decedent estates worth less than $100 thousand.  I have particular skill at preparing probate and trust real properties for sale, solving code and dilapidation issues that will cause devaluation, and dealing with tenants or heirs in possession. 

          I am meticulous, precise, and thorough by nature; more of a compulsion I suspect, than a choice.  I believe in being very well prepared, efficient, and super organized.  I feel I have the demeanor, aptitude, and breadth of experience to resolve conflicts even between hotly contesting parties.  I believe that numerous disputes in probate and trust matters are resolved by building trust, and that the way to build trust is by communicating frequently, answering every question perfectly, and disclosing everything possible.  

Golden Gate University School of Law, JD (1992) emphasis in business and taxation law.  Partial completion of LLM in taxation.

Admitted to State Bar of California December 14, 1992

Court-appointed counsel through referrals to

​Conflicts Program (2010 to present)

Court-appointed fiduciary (1999 to present)

Mediation training , 40 hours certificate program (completed 2013)

Judge Pro Tem, Superior Court, Contra Costa County (2012 to present)

Panel for fee dispute resolution (2012 to present)

Discovery Facilitator (with commencement of program, 2013 to present)

Superior Court ADR Probate Panel (2013 to present) 

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