Stephanie Lauren Ruelas

Stephanie L. Ruelas, Esq. is a Partner at Sakamoto & Ruelas, APC. Ms. Ruelas is passionate about probate law and helping families navigate the often complex laws that surround it. Ms. Ruelas is dedicated to counseling her clients regarding their unique estate planning needs, as well as the probate and trust administration process which results after the passing of a loved one. 

Ms. Ruelas found her love for probate law during law school, where she discovered her knack for understanding and solving estate related problems, and earned the top grade in her class. After graduating, Ms. Ruelas knew Wills and Trusts law was her calling, and committed to finding a position in that field. 

Since the inception of her legal career, Ms. Ruelas has exclusively practiced in the area of probate law, including estate planning (drafting Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, etc.), decedent’s estates, trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and probate litigation.  Over the years, Ms. Ruelas has gained invaluable experience as to the best methods of administering an estate in order to lessen the strains on familial relationships during the process and strives to avoid litigation whenever possible. Ms. Ruelas firmly believes the best way to protect families and preserve relationships  is by planning ahead, and creating a customized and unique estate plan, tailored to each individual’s distinct circumstances. 

Ms. Ruelas earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine, not far from her hometown of Laguna Niguel. After graduating and working as an Adoption Assistant, Ms. Ruelas moved to Fullerton and attended law school at Western State College of Law where she graduated magna cum laude. Ms. Ruelas has since moved back to Laguna Niguel to be close to family, and resides with her husband and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. 

When not in the office, Ms. Ruelas enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dogs on local trails, reading, attending concerts, traveling, and crafting.