Kathleen Maureen O'Dea

PROBATE4LESS is a solo law practice and mostly handles small and medium-size estates, but a probate administration of any size is within our ability.

PROBATE4LESS was borne out of the recent recession. Clients had viable cases but could not afford them. Prospective clients lost their jobs or their hours were reduced, making legal assistance a luxury they could not afford. Clients were hurting financially, but legal fees were fairly static. This situation spanned all economic strata.

PROBATE4LESS was designed to remedy this dilemma, particularly when a probate was necessary and the only asset was the decedent’s home and little or no money to pay for the expenses of post-death administration. Probate fees are set by statute; however, many times those fees result in a substantial financial benefit to the attorney while devastating the client financially. Hence, in most cases, PROBATE4LESS can offer clients services for less than the statutory fee.

PROBATE4LESS negotiates fees, but it is not a pro bono practice. In the extreme case of financial elder abuse, PROBATE4LESS will waive the fees to the elder client but tries to recover fees from the abuser. The professional goal here is to recover stolen property for the elder and have the abuser pay the fees. There may be other situations where fees will be negotiated down.

ABOUT KATHLEEN MAUREEN O’DEA. Kathleen was born and schooled in England. When she emigrated from England in 1970, she started work as a temp for a law firm in their probate department. Kathleen earned her paralegal certificate from the University of Southern California, paid for by that law firm. She later received her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from California State University at Los Angeles, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She entered Glendale University College of Law in 1984 for a four-year program (a night school program designed for people who had to work their way through law school). She graduated from Glendale in 1988, sat the State of California Bar in July 1988, and passed on the first try. In December 1988, she was sworn in by the Supreme Court justice. By January 1989, she had started her own solo practice.

KATHLEEN became a naturalized American Citizen in 1978 and has lived in Southern California since then. She has chosen Glendale as her principal residence and plans to live here for the rest of her life. She is an animal lover and rescues dogs and presently has four: Ka, a 10-year old German Shepherd mix; Sally, a 12-year-or-so old, Terrier mix who came to her pregnant; Sheila, Sally’s daughter, 10 years old; and the latest, Troy, a 2-year-old Maltese mix. KATHLEEN loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker and walker. She also enjoys relaxing with her pets, reading, and solving crosswords and Sudoku.

ABOUT THE STAFF. KATHLEEN enjoys the small office image. She insists on high quality service and her staff reflect her goals. KATHLEEN encourages advanced and continuing education. At present, Cecile in enrolled in a paralegal program and Kevin is working on his LSAT with goals of becoming an attorney.