“He Got Off On a Technicality!!” – A Criminal Defense Attorney’s Viewpoint

We have all heard this said at least once in our lives, and I’m sure there is some little part of all of us that cringes when we think of that dangerous “criminal” now running the streets victimizing others, all because of this “technicality”. But I’m going to engage another thought for you to consider when you hear this statement again.

The use of this term is freely applied to a wide arrange of case dispositions for criminal defense matters. It is likely the go to excuse when a case doesn’t receive the disposition the State set out to obtain. So one has to wonder, what is a “technicality”?

Due to its liberal application, the definition could be the result of a wide range of occurrences. But fundamentally, each one of these “technicalities” isn’t just a criminal defense lawyer’s slick use of applicable law. It’s more than that, and far more important to each and every one of us.

We all hope that we will never find ourselves in court needing the services of a criminal defense attorney. However, our criminal justice system is packed with people who never thought it would happen to them. If you find yourself standing before the judge, there is no better feeling than having a good criminal defense attorney standing next to you. It is at this very instance; you wish you could get one of those “technicalities” as well.

A criminal defense attorney doesn’t walk around with these “technicalities” in his briefcase. They aren’t given out to holders of lucky lottery ticket holders. “Technicalities” are something we hold so very dear to our hearts as Americans. They are what many have died to protect. Technicalities, simply, are the rights we enjoy as members of this great nation.

Since criminal defense attorneys are not doling out these “technicalities” to those lucky few, how do they work? Well, conceptually it is quite easy. Criminal defense attorneys are hired for one purpose, to protect your rights. To ensure the government doesn’t overstep those rights and to ensure they adhere to the rules in place to protect our rights.

I don’t have to lecture anyone on the importance of the rights we enjoy in this country. That goes without saying. In fact, in grade school we were all taught the importance of the Bill of Rights at a young age. My kids are going through this now. But to accept the argument that “technicalities” are lesser rights, or second-class rights, would also say they are not worth protecting.

Are there some rights you’re willing to live without? Would you be okay if the government was able to use illegally obtained evidence as long as they don’t search your home without a warrant? My guess is you are probably not okay with that just like the rest of us. But both of those situations have been “technicalities” that got people “off” of criminal charges.

The real question is if it were you, would you want the government to get it done perfectly correct, or would you be okay if you were locked up for a good portion of your life even if there was a small, technical error done by the state? The question is rhetorical because we expect things to be done properly. Substantially right just isn’t good enough when it comes to someone’s freedom.

The value of our freedom has been paid with hundreds of thousands of American lives who fought to protect them from the foreign enemies of our country. But who protects our freedom from our very own government?

Well, for criminal matters, it starts with prosecutors who, after examining the evidence of the case, determine whether there is enough to proceed with charges. However, the ultimate protection comes in the form of a criminal defense attorney. He or she uses the law to protect you against improper acts by the government.

A criminal defense attorney will examine every aspect of your case from start to finish and from top to bottom. He or she will ensure every law, procedure and regulation was properly followed and only evidence authorized by the law is allowed to be presented against you. If something was done improperly, your criminal defense attorney will file motions to have that evidence excluded. This often results in a case dismissal if the evidence was crucial to proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a “technicality”.

For example, let’s say you were driving down the street and were suddenly pulled over by a police officer for a minor traffic violation. First, your criminal defense attorney will ensure the initial detention by the police officer was proper. If not, everything thereafter could likely be excluded because of a legal doctrine known as the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree[1]. This is also a “technicality”.

Next, imagine the police officer searches your car and finds some illegal contraband. Your criminal defense attorney will examine the procedure and legal authority that allowed the officer to conduct the search. If it was improper, anything found from the search could be excluded after your attorney motions the court requesting exclusion[2]. If your arrest was based on this contraband, the case will likely be dismissed since there is no evidence to prove guilt. Again, this is a “technicality”.

If, after your arrest, you were questioned by police about the circumstances of your arrest while in their custody and you made a statement that implicated you in the charged offense, it too will be examined by your criminal defense attorney. If you weren’t given the proper admonishments, or your right to silence was infringed, or request for an attorney was ignored, the statement would likely be excluded as well[3]. This too could lead to your case being dismissed. This, you guessed it, is a “technicality”.

The question begs to be asked. Are these “technicalities” okay to be overlooked as long as only those “guilty” defendants are the ones locked up because of them? Are there smaller, inconsequential “technicalities” that aren’t worth any protection? If so, is there a line somewhere that is drawn between the protected and unprotected rights? One where on one side of the line there are rights worth protecting and on the other side, they’re not.

To your criminal defense attorney, there are no rights, or “technicalities”, that aren’t worth protecting. They all matter. If we allow the government to look past a “small” right today, what is to stop a slightly more important right tomorrow? If we allow government to violate the rights of only those “guilty” defendants, what is to stop it from violating your rights tomorrow?

While criminal defense attorneys aren’t going to be honored for their work protecting your freedom like those in our Armed Forces, nor should we be, they do contribute to the protection of our rights nonetheless. Without us, who will stop the government from exceeding their authority?

We often hear members of certain branches of our government talk about checks and balances amongst the other branches of government, but there really isn’t this sort of oversight in our criminal justice system. That is until a criminal defense attorney is brought in to make it happen.

The next time you hear someone mention that someone got away with a crime because of a “technicality”, ask yourself was it a technicality, or was it a criminal defense attorney protecting the rights of us all?

Finally, there has been a theory that has floated around criminal defense attorney circles for over a hundred year. That theory says, “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer”[4]. Whether you agree with this theory likely depends on your own likelihood of being the one innocent person falsely incarcerated. As a criminal defense attorney, I would rather allow one thousand guilty persons go free over incarcerating one innocent person. Our freedoms are far too valuable to allow anything else.

With me as your criminal defense attorney, you won’t be that one without one heck of a fight.  Not on our watch!

Estate planning can be a very difficult process. While it’s not brain surgery, making the decision to move forward with the planning requires us to face the fact that we will not live forever, no matter what magic lotion or special diet you prescribe. This thought can stop most people right in their tracks. Others talk themselves out of seeing a qualified attorney to put together an estate plan based on some of the following common myths:

Myth #1: Only the Rich Need Estate Planning

When we hear about estate planning on the news or read about it on the internet, it is usually in regards to a wealthy businessman or celebrity who made some error, did no planning, or has family members who are angry about the planning that was actually done. The topic catches people’s attention: Rich people have so much that surely they need planning and can afford to have the planning done correctly. By comparison, when the average person thinks about their own property and planning needs, they assume that it is not necessary because they do not have anything close to Bill Gates’ billions. The thought being that since we aren’t trust fund babies, why worry about trusts and estates?

However, this could not be further from the truth. Estate planning is about more than just the money. While proper planning allows you to determine who gets your money and property upon your death, the planning process also addresses what happens if you become incapacitated and someone has to make decisions on your behalf–a far more likely scenario. If you have not done any planning, the court will have to appoint someone to make your medical and financial decisions for you. This can be very time-consuming, expensive, and public. It can also wreak havoc on a family if they disagree about who should be appointed and how decisions should be made. It gets even more ugly if there is a fight over guardianship for minor children.

Even for those of modest means, who gets your hard-earned savings when you die is an important consideration. Without any planning, state law will decide who gets what—and many times, what the government’s best guess as to what you would want is contrary to what you actually want. But, because you did not take the opportunity to formalize your wishes in an estate plan, the state has to step in and do it for you.

Myth #2: I Don’t Have to Plan Because My Spouse Will Get Everything

For many married couples, it is common to own property or bank accounts jointly. If these assets are owned jointly or as tenants by the entirety, when one spouse dies, then the surviving spouse automatically becomes the sole owner. In most cases, this is the desired outcome for married individuals.

However, this approach can be dangerous. While it is convenient for assets to pass automatically to the surviving spouse, this outright distribution offers no protection. What happens if, after your spouse dies, you get into a car accident and are sued? If the assets you owned jointly automatically became yours alone, this money and property are available to satisfy any judgment that could be entered against you resulting from a lawsuit.

Additionally, what if, after you die, your spouse gets remarried? If the brokerage account you owned jointly becomes your spouse’s only, your spouse is now able to spend it all in any way he or she wants without any consideration for your wishes or the next generation. Your spouse’s new spouse could go out and buy a sports car with the money you intended to pass to your children. With blended families being common today, this is a real concern for many people.

Estate planning does not mean that you have to disinherit your spouse. Rather, it means the two of you can sit down and plan out what happens to your joint property and accounts upon either of your deaths, ensuring that the survivor is provided for and that any remaining money and property are gifted in a way that is agreeable to both of you.

Myth #3: A Will Avoids Probate

Many people believe that once they have created a will—whether drafted by an experienced attorney, or using a DIY solution or online form— they have avoided probate. Unfortunately, they are completely wrong.

While a will is a great way to designate a person to wind up your affairs once you have passed, determine who will get your hard earned savings and property, and, if necessary, appoint a guardian to care for your minor children, this document has to be submitted to the probate court to begin the process of distributing your money and property. The level of involvement by the probate court can vary depending on the circumstances, but this process is not private, as the will becomes a matter of public record.

Summary Proceedings: In some states, if the value of your estate (i.e., what you own at your death) is below a certain monetary threshold, then anyone who is entitled to inherit from the decedent can file a petition and have the property distributed outside of the traditional probate proceedings. The filing may require a court appearance and formal legal notice to anyone who might be interested before allowing your property to be distributed.

Affidavit Procedure: Some states allow for an affidavit to be used to collect and distribute a decedent’s money and property. In some states, this affidavit can be self-executed, while others require that the document be filed with the court. Generally, affidavits require the passing of time from the date of a decedent’s death—ranging from a few days to a few months. After that, a “successor” to the decedent (a spouse or heir) signs the affidavit and presents the affidavit to collect the decedent’s assets for distribution to his or her rightful heirs.

Supervised Probate: With this type of proceeding, the probate judge oversees every step of the administration process and has to approve of the Personal Representative’s actions. During supervised probate, all pleadings and required documents have to be filed with the probate court and then served on interested persons or parties. This can be a very time consuming and expensive process. Each time the Personal Representative has to take an action, a legal pleading has to be filed and served on the interested party, which, in contentious situations, opens up the possibility for disagreements and attorneys’ fees. All of which chips away at the assets in your estate.

Unsupervised Probate: In cases where there are no controversies and the parties all get along, an unsupervised probate administration may be the best option. In this situation, although the administration is not supervised by a court, there are still actions the Personal Representative needs to take, but the Personal Representative may not be required to file petitions and documents for each of those steps. However, a Personal Representative may be required to file some steps, such as the preparation of the inventory, with the court and the interested parties, but no corresponding hearing is scheduled. While this is less complicated and possibly less expensive than supervised probate, it can still be time-consuming and your financial and personal affairs would become a matter of public record.

We are here to help answer any questions you may have about estate planning, the estate planning process, or probate. Together, we can craft a one-of-a-kind plan to ensure that you and your family are properly protected. Give us a call today!

Filippi Law Firm, P.C., provides legal services in estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust litigation, and personal bankruptcy in the greater Sacramento area, with a focus in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and Granite Bay. Give us a call at (916) 333-7910 or fill out the contact form to get in touch with our office. Consultations are free, and they can be done over the phone, via Zoom, or in person at our office in Rocklin. Prepare for your future and work with the best estate planning attorneys today.

In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Since we weren’t able to celebrate it in October, we plan to do so this week instead.

According to a 2019 survey carried out by Caring.com, 57% of adults in the United States have not prepared any estate planning documents such as a will or trust despite the fact that 76% viewed them as important. Many of the respondents said this was due to procrastination, but many others mistakenly believed that it was not necessary because they did not have many assets.

Why should you have an estate plan?

An estate plan can provide significant peace of mind by ensuring your assets are protected, plans are in place in the event you become ill, and your property is passed down according to your wishes.

What key topics should you consider?

  • Do you have a last will and testament and/or a trust? If you do not have these important documents, state law will determine who will inherit your property—and thus it may not occur in the way you would have chosen. In addition, someone appointed by the court, instead of a trusted person of your choosing, will be in charge of caring for any children or pets. Spelling out your wishes in a will or trust will also prevent unnecessary confusion, anxiety, and expense for other family members when you are gone.
  • Have the proper powers of attorney been prepared? A financial power of attorney will allow you to designate an individual to make financial and property decisions for you should you become unable to handle your own affairs. A medical power of attorney enables you to designate a person you trust to make medical decisions for you when you are otherwise unable to speak for yourself.
  • Make sure that you have an advanced directive, also called a living will, which memorializes your wishes concerning your end-of-life care, such as whether you would like to receive life support if you are in a vegetative state or terminal condition.
  • Do you have insurance? If you become incapacitated or die, it is important for your family or loved ones to have information about your insurance (such as life, health, disability, long-term care, etc.) so that claims can be filed.
  • Compile a list of all of your accounts and other important information, including bank and investment accounts, titles to vehicles and homes, credit card accounts or loans, digital accounts (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter) and passwords, Social Security cards, passports and birth certificates, which may be needed to manage your property when you are incapacitated or settle your estate once you are gone. This information should be kept in a safe place and shared only with trusted family members or loved ones.
  • A list of legal, financial, and medical professionals who have performed services for you is also important. The list should include their contact information so your family can easily reach them in the event their help is needed if you become disabled or die. If desired, you should also ensure HIPAA authorizations are in place with medical professionals to ensure your family members are able to obtain needed information.

How should you encourage your family members to create an estate plan?

Estate Planning Awareness Week is a great opportunity not only to take steps to make sure your own estate plan is in place, but also to talk to your family members, especially elderly parents, about creating an estate plan. Estate planning is often a difficult topic to broach, as it brings the unpleasant topics of aging and death to the forefront of our minds. Here are a few tips to help you start the conversation.

  • Be sensitive to your family members’ feelings. Put yourself in their shoes, and keep in mind that few people are eager to dwell on the subject of their own death. One way to begin the conversation is to talk first about the need to plan for an illness and to provide instructions in the event they become too ill to communicate with doctors or handle financial matters for themselves. The conversation can then naturally progress to the importance of having an estate plan that will enable their assets to be transferred in the way that they wish, provide for the care of any dependents or pets, and minimize any taxes, court costs, and legal fees. Communicate that you are not trying to control their decisions, but only want to ensure that their own wishes regarding their medical care and their property are known—and that all their instructions are in writing to guarantee they are carried out.
  • Involve other family members in the conversation. If you are planning to speak to your parents about the need for an estate plan, it is important to try to include any siblings in the discussion to avoid giving the impression that you are trying to influence or control your parents’ choices. You and your siblings should emphasize to your parents that none of you are asking about what you will inherit, but just want to make sure that their wishes are carried out if they become ill or pass away.
  • Consult an estate planning attorney. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you and your family members create an estate plan tailored to meet each of your unique needs and carry out your wishes—or help you update a pre-existing estate plan. We can provide each family member with guidance and information about the options available to them. We can help each of you put a plan in place that will prevent unnecessary stress, legal expenses and taxes, uneven inheritances, disputes between family members, and delays in passing life savings on to loved ones. In addition, it will provide you and your family members with the peace of mind that comes with knowing there are plans in place for your care if any of you become ill and that your wishes will be honored once you pass away.

Failing to plan is a plan to fail. But that won’t happen with us, not on our watch! Call us today to set up a consultation to discuss your options.

Filippi Law Firm, P.C., provides legal services in estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust litigation, and personal bankruptcy in the greater Sacramento area, with a focus in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and Granite Bay. Give us a call at (916) 333-7910 or fill out the contact form to get in touch with our office. Consultations are free, and they can be done over the phone, via Zoom, or in person at our office in Rocklin. Prepare for your future and work with the best estate planning attorneys today.

Perhaps you have had “too much for the road,” and you end up getting a DUI offense by driving while intoxicated. Consequently, you could find yourself staring at hefty fines or even long sentences, especially if you caused personal injuries. Your first step to get out of that mess is to hire a DUI Attorney to represent you confidently in court.

Our legal firm has professional and experienced DUI defense attorneys located throughout Northern California, including, Rocklin, CA, Sacramento, CA, & Fairfield, CA. We will work hard to ensure your DUI arrest does not translate into a DUI conviction with huge criminal liability. We have successfully defended DUI cases in California, and we promise to fight for you skillfully as well.

Once we deploy our DUI defense strategies, you can rest assured that you won’t have to be subjected to the harsh California DUI penalties, which includes hefty fines, jail or a long suspension of your driver’s license.

Winning DUI charges

There are many defense methods that you can rely on to win a Californian DUI case or get your penalties and fines reduced. A good defense should also protect your license, your job as well as your driving record.

The following are some of the legal defenses you and your DUI attorney can use in case you are facing California DUI charges.

Reckless driving is not always a result of DUI

You can convince the court that you were only driving poorly and not under the influence of alcohol. In this case, the Northern California prosecutors have the task of proving that your driving pattern was consistent with the driving of a person under the influence.

A DUI attorney can work to debunk this theory. The attorney should manage to elicit testimony from the arresting officer that driving violations are not always the result of people under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He or she should argue that most of the violations are committed by sober drivers as well. Your attorney should keep reminding the court that driving patterns cannot always be reliably used as a predictor of DUI.

Challenge use of physical symptoms of intoxication as evidence

A reasonable attorney should fight California DUI charges by challenging the prosecutor’s strategy of relying on physical signs of intoxication to prove that you were driving under the influence. The prosecutor will be relying on your physical appearance at the time of the arrest to determine whether indeed you were under the influence of alcohol.

The prosecutor will use your physical appearances, such as red, watery eyes, flushed face, slurred speech, and the pungent smell of alcohol on your breath. These signs and symptoms are listed on the DUI arrest form used by local law enforcement when processing DUI arrests.

Your DUI attorney will defend you against the use of the mentioned physical symptoms as evidence of driving under the influence, by giving an elaborate explanation to the cause of these signs.

The DUI attorney could argue that the symptoms mentioned could be a result of allergies, eye irritations fatigue, or a cold and doesn’t necessarily mean that you were intoxicated. A prudent DUI attorney should also argue against the prosecutor’s use of the smell of alcohol on your breath as evidence of intoxication. Alcohol has no odor. What is usually referred to as alcohol breath, could be the smell of other non-alcoholic beverages.

Field sobriety test could be inaccurate

The most crucial evidence that the prosecutor will use to prove your DUI case in California is the results of the Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) administered prior to your arrest. With the help of your attorney, you should manage to challenge these results. The NHTSA gives the accuracy of FST at 91%; a criterion used to predict alcohol impairment in a person correctly. This percentage depends on other factors, such as the level of training and experience of the administering officer, as well as your balance and coordination at the time of FSTs.

You and your DUI attorney can argue on the reliability of FSTs as a form of evidence by casting doubts on the experience and training of the administering officer. Your attorney should also argue against the use of FSTs as evidence because your balance and coordination could impair the results during the test. The argument should be based on how your natural physical coordination, fatigue and nerves could have affected the results of the test.

No proper observation was done

Your attorney should question whether the arresting officer conducted an appropriate 15-minute observation test before giving you the DUI breath test as required by the law. In most cases, officers ignore this observation criterion. If your attorney could prove that indeed, the officer failed to conduct a proper observation process, then it could form a solid ground for your case to be dismissed.

How to Select the Best DUI Attorney for your DUI Case

The million-dollar question is: what should you consider in an Attorney? Well, here are 3 factors that you must consider when hiring a DUI lawyer:

Credentials – It won’t help your case if you hire a DUI Attorney with weak credentials. Ensure that your lawyer has all the necessary certifications and licensing. A lawyer with all the essential certifications has the legitimacy to represent you in court and most possibly to win your case.

Experience – Always ensure your attorney has the necessary experience in DUI court cases. Look at his practice history; consider the years of experience and the number of similar court cases won before you decide on bringing them on board.

Legal cost – Legal representation can be sometimes costly. Experts recommend hiring an attorney who offers affordable services, and can assure you quality services. It’s always presumed that the higher the experience, the higher the cost. Go for lawyers with many years of experience, but one that doesn’t overcharge for their services.

Finally, a DUI offense should not be taken lightly. In case you are facing a DUI case, always seek to know a little bit more information before hiring a DUI Attorney to help you in your case. We have both the qualifications and experience needed to win your DUI case. Our services are also very affordable. If you need a DUI attorney, speak with us today. We have you covered throughout Northern California, including, Rocklin, CA, Sacramento, CA, & Fairfield, CA!

Filippi Law Firm, P.C., no longer practices bankruptcy.

Before we get started with filing, let’s touch upon Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. What is it? In simple words, a chapter 7 bankruptcy case doesn’t include the repayment plan which is seen in a chapter 13. Instead of that, It will discharge all of the debtor’s debts after the bankruptcy trustee collects and sells the non-exempt assets of the debtor and uses the proceeds to pay off claim holders.

However, the Bankruptcy Code allows the debtor to retain some property under several exemptions. Therefore, if you are considering a chapter 7 bankruptcy, you should be aware that it may result in the loss of property if it doesn’t fall within one of those exceptions.

Filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Now if you are willing to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, then here is a list of things that you will have to do.

Debt Analysis

While a chapter 7 will eliminate the debts of a debtor, there are some debts which cannot be wiped out. These include student loans, child support obligations, and certain tax debts.

Property Exemptions

There are a specific set of exemption laws in every state which dictates the type of property you can keep after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In most cases, you can keep your household items, retirement accounts, and a car of reasonable value. There are other exemptions based on where you file your chapter 7 bankruptcy, so you should consult with a bankruptcy attorney so a complete analysis can be made to ensure those assets that can be exempted are protected from the liquidation.

Eligibility

Not everyone can qualify to file for a chapter 7 bankruptcy. First, you must pass the means test in accordance with Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The first step of the means test involves an analysis of the debtor’s income for the six months prior to the filing. If it doesn’t exceed the median income of a family of your size in your particular location, then you qualify. The median income levels are different for every state and are defined by the bankruptcy code. Second, if the income does exceed the median income for your location, it will require an in-depth analysis of your income and liabilities to determine if you qualify for a chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy Forms

There will be several dozen pages or more that will inform the court about the aspects of your financial condition which has resulted in your filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy. The forms include information about your property, gross income, expenditure, and previous transactions. These forms can be very technical and will be the basis of your request for a discharge. For that reason, it is wise to not do it on your own as you may unknowingly make a mistake that may prevent the discharge order by the bankruptcy court.

Credit Counseling Course

If you are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the bankruptcy code requires that you finish this course either before you file or shortly afterward. The course can be completed online and is offered by several different providers authorized by the bankruptcy court.

Filing Forms

Once you file your petition, your chapter 7 bankruptcy case will officially begin. The filing is often done electronically by digitally sending the petition to the bankruptcy court. It is typical for a debtor to submit all the forms at once, however, if you are short on time, you can opt for an emergency filing option that requires you to filing only particular documents now while finishing the remainder of the petition later.

Submitting Documents

Claim holders may oppose your bankruptcy petition which will result in an extended hearing with the trustee. This may require you to prove credibility of the information you provide in the forms. For this reason, you should be prepared to submit relevant documents to the bankruptcy trustee upon request. However, before submitting anything to anyone, you should have a licensed chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney review the documents to ensure you provide only the proper documentation.

Wind Up Secured Debts

While you are filling out the bankruptcy forms, you will have to indicate how you will manage the secured debts. Before your case closes, you will have to make a determination prior to wind up. There are many repercussions in making this decision, which is why it is wise to consult with a bankruptcy attorney to understand the effect of these decisions and to protect your property rights.

Debtor Education Course

After finishing your paperwork, there is a second course that you will have to complete. It is called the debtor education course. The course must be completed before you receive the discharge. In case you fail to submit your certificate, the court holds the right to close your case without a discharge. It is imperative that the course is completed as soon as possible to avoid any delays or dismissals.

Filippi Law Firm, P.C., provides legal services in estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust litigation, and business law in the greater Sacramento area, with a focus in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and Granite Bay. Give us a call at (916) 333-7910 or fill out the contact form to get in touch with our office. Consultations are free, and they can be done over the phone, via Zoom, or in person at our office in Rocklin. Prepare for your future and work with the best estate planning attorneys today.

Satisfied Client Stories

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The team of Filippi Law are kind, sincere and thorough in their work. They helped us work through our trust administration of our family member, to create our own trust, and any other issues that came up along the way. We appreciate their time and their willingness to explain the process in the detail. They also helped us with needed referrals for anything else. We would highly recommend their insight to anyone.

Elizabeth G. | Sacramento, CA
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Jen helped us figure out the nuances of the different state laws to help with setting up the will and distribution to family members. She found issues with our previous will/trust that were corrected and offered updates to the new laws. We are very pleased with the final product and my mother feels that her wishes have been heard and met.

Susan S. | Roseville, CA
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I worked with a few different people throughout the trust distribution process and everyone was very helpful and pleasant to work with.

Nicole H. | Fort Collins, CO
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Best firm I’ve ever had represent me both personally and professionally. Jim and the team lead the way!

Brandon M. | Rocklin, CA
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We found the Filippi Law Firm in Yelp and we were so lucky to have found them. Both Jen and Jim were kind and patient, explaining the process and addressing our concerns with a cost we felt was appropriate for the quality of the work. At all times we felt supported in the process and it could not have gone better. If you need this kind of work do yourself a favor and reach out to these folks for help. You won’t regret it.

Ron G. | Sacramento, CA
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Jenn helped us with a trust account for my parents. She is very polite and thorough at doing her job she answered every question. My parents had and made them feel very welcome there. If we ever had to use the office again, we would .

Mark L. | California