$ 250-425 per hour
Christopher B. Johnson
About Christopher
Biography
Chris Johnson serves clients in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties in trusts, wills and probate. He brings extensive experience in drafting estate plans for small to the largest estates, as well as years of reaching successful outcomes for clients in disputes involving wills, trusts or elder abuse.
He is a Dean's Scholar graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Wheaton College in 1991.
Prior to his work at U.S. Trust as a Senior Vice President with ultra high net worth clients, he was a founding partner of Russakow | Ryan | Johnson, P.C. He also founded his own estate planning and probate practice in Pasadena, and worked as a civil litigation attorney for the Law Office of Errol Berk in Ventura. He has appeared on NBC-TV news and radio programs to discuss estate planning and probate issues, as well as interviews for local and national publications, and is a frequent lecturer regarding trust, probate and elder law issues.
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Contingency
25%-40%
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 31 years
State: California
Acquired: 1994
No misconduct found
Location
Law Offices of Christopher B. Johnson
527 South Lake Avenue, Suite 105, Pasadena, CA, 91101
Law Offices of Christopher B. Johnson
5861 Pine Avenue, Suite A-1, Chino Hills, CA, 91709
Law Offices of Christopher B. Johnson
77564 Country Club Drive, Suite 150, Palm Desert, CA, 92211
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Christopher B. Johnson's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 6 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | June 14, 2024 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Abysmal
Don't expect any sort of real communication for over a year of your loved ones passing. This attorney has an unreasonable delay in services performed. They never answer the phone and you can leave all the voicemails and emails you want, it will go ignored. I would never want my loved ones to feel the...
Posted by anonymous | May 29, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Professional and helpful
Mr Johnson and his staff have assisted our family in estate planning. His entire organization is professional and easy to work with.
Posted by Christian | April 30, 2020 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Very Knowledgeable and Thorough
Chris Johnson is excellent. He created the Trust for my mother and stepdad. Every part of the process was professional, detailed and informative. Chris is trustworthy and very thorough in his work. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to create a Trust or anyone in Probate.
Posted by Mark Stebbins | March 2, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Fantastic From Start To Finish
I hired Chris to create my father-in-law's trust. He has terminal cancer and wanted to make sure his daughters were taken care of when he passed. Chris went above and beyond not only with my father-in-law but with me (his power of attorney) in answering all of our questions thoroughly and compassio...
Posted by Paula | January 10, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Best estate planning/trust/probate attorney
Mr. Johnson has handled a few probate matters and Heggstad Petitions for our office. They were all handled in a professional and timely manner, and we were well informed throughout each proceeding. I would highly recommend Mr. Johnson for any estate planning/trust/probate matter.
Christopher B. Johnson's Lawyer Endorsements
"Chris and I have worked together in the past and have continued to work on many cases together. He is always very professional and truly cares about his clients. I endorse this lawyer."
"Chris is a very competent attorney who takes excellent care of his clients. Chris pays very close attention to detail to ensure that things are done correctly. Chris' demeanor and level of care for his clients is top notch. This, along with Chris' advanced level of knowledge regarding estate planning make me very confident in referring clients to his office."
"I endorse Chris Johnson. He is an knowledgeable and experienced lawyer."
"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
"Chris has a finely tuned sense of humor and provides insight to others in conversations or lectures, such as we did together for Pincus about Trust administration. He goes beyond spotting the issue to analyzing them and identifying options, some of which are better than others, which is where his sense of humor helps the rest of us! He is smart but not cocky, observant but not nosy, and a patient listener, asking relevant questions."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"When I'm asked about Attorney Chris Johnson three words come to mind: PATIENT, KNOWLEDGEABLE, and DEDICATED. And in my opinion, that's exactly what a Estate Planning Lawyer should be."
"Terrific Lawyer who knows this practice area inside and out."
"I endorse this lawyer. He is hard working, getting the best result for his clients that is possible. He is someone a client can depend upon and is easy to communicate with. He will do a great job."
"Chris prepared my family's trust documentation. I encourage others to use his services as well."
"I endorse this lawyer. Chris is very experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to estate planning, trusts, and probate. He is also very professional and approachable."
"Mr. Johnson is a highly-skilled probate attorney who puts his clients first. He not only provides excellent legal services but also takes the time to listen to his clients with empathy."
"Chris is one of the most knowledgeable and personable attorneys I have worked with. His approach is always "client centered" and thorough. I highly recommend him!"
"I endorse this lawyer. Chris is very knowledgeable and thorough. Truly cares for his clients and takes his work seriously. One of the leaders in the estate planning community."
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Southern California Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers
2016
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2016
Top 100 Attorneys - California, The National Advocates
2015
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2015
Top 100 Attorneys - California, The National Advocates
2014
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2014
Top 100 Attorneys - California, The National Advocates
2013
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2012
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2010
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2009
Top Attorneys, Pasadena Magazine
2008
Recognition, Probate Volunteer Panel service, Los Angeles County Superior Court
Work Experience
1995 - Present
Attorney, Christopher B. Johnson, Attorney at Law
2011 - 2012
Senior Trust Officer, Senior Vice President, U.S. Trust
2010 - 2011
Founder, Arroyo Law Group, LLP
2001 - 2010
Partner, Russakow Ryan & Johnson, APC
1993 - 1995
Attorney, Law Clerk, Law Office of Errol Berk
Associations
2014 - Present
The National AdvocatesMember
1995 - Present
Los Angeles County Bar AssociationMember
1995 - Present
Pasadena Bar AssociationMember
1995 - Present
Pasadena Playhouse District AssociationMember and property owner representative
2011 - 2014
City of Hope Music and Entertainment Industry CommitteeMember
2008 - 2014
Wellness Community of the FoothillsChair and member, Planned Giving Committee
2005 - 2011
WealthCounselMember
Education
1994
Pepperdine University School of Law
1991
Wheaton College, Wheaton IL
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2014
Special Needs Planning
Special Needs Trusts
2014
Fiduciary Roundtable of the San Gabriel Valley
Incapacity and the Donald Sterling Trial
2014
Estate Planning Boot Camp
Planning with Revocable Trusts
2013
2013
Top 10 Things Estate Planners Need to Know
Estate Planning
2013
Pasadena conference and webinar
Estate Planning for Business Owners
2013
Pasadena Conference
Estate Planning and Probate Basics
2013
MyLawCLE
Estate Planning Basics for Attorneys
2013
MyLawCLE
Elder Law for Attorneys
2012
Trusted Advisors Seminar Series
Incentive Trusts and 2012 Planning Opportunities
2012
Quarterly speaking series, U.S. Trust
Elder Care and Ethics
2012
Quarterly speakers series
Elder Care and Ethics II
2012
Naples, Florida webinar
Special Needs Trusts and Medicaid
2012
Naples, FL webinar and Pasadena conference
Estate Planning & Probate Basics
2012
LawReviewCLE National Webinar - Las Vegas
Elder Law
2012
Employee Benefits Advisor Partners
Tax Implications of the Health Care Act
2012
Elder Law Basics - Pasadena and Anaheim
Elder Law
2011
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
2011
Beverly Hills Bar Association, Elder Law Section
Policies and Concerns of Financial Institutions Accepting and Rejecting Powers of Attorneys, Trusts and Other Paperwork for the Older Client
2010
Estate Planning
Estate Planning options
2010
Cancer Support Community Luncheon
Estate planning and charitable gifts
2010
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
2009
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
Estate Planning
2009
Cancer Support Community luncheon
Estate planning and charitable gifts
2007
Fiduciary Roundtable of the San Gabriel Valley
What Not to Do as a Fiduciary
2007
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
2005
Lorman Education - Wills and probate administration
Issues in probate administration
2000
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
1999
Gideons CalNevSo annual conference
Estate Planning and Charitable Trusts
1999
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
1998
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
1997
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
1996
Burbank Joslyn Adult Center
Estate planning with a living trust and developments in estate planning
Publications
2010
Los Angeles Daily Journal
Eyes wide open: The key to effective estate planning and asset protection
Languages
Armenian
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
What should I do if the trustee of my trust fund has never given me an accounting of the trust? It's been six years.
18 Mar 2017
Q&A
I am moms DPOA & trustee. Can I transfer her home from a revocable trust to irrevocable after taking out a reverse mortgage?
19 Mar 2017
Q&A
My mom is in Stage 6 Alzheimer's and her Successor Trustee has POA. Is there any easy way to fire him for elder abuse?
13 Mar 2017