Brian J. Sheppard

Brian J. Sheppard

also known as Sheppard, Brian J.

4.8
Rating: 9.1

Licensed for 31 years

Probate Lawyer at Encino, CA
Practice Areas: Probate, Elder Law, Trusts ... +4 more

18075 Ventura Blvd #109, Encino, CA

About Brian

Biography

Practice Areas

7

Practice Areas

Probate 35%

I probate estates whether or not there is a will. If there is a trust, there should not be a need for a probate.

32 years

35%
Elder Law 30%

I represent clients filing for conservatorship and also serve as a court appointed attorney for clients who may be conserved.

32 years

30%
Trusts 15%

I draft trusts for clients in order to plan for incapacity and avoid probate upon death.

32 years

15%
Estate Planning 11%

I draft complete estate plans for individuals and couples with less than the current exemption equivalent (currently $5.34 million and $$10.68 million, respectively).

32 years

11%
Wills and Living Wills 5%

I draft Wills for clients who do not need, or decide they do not want, a trust or other more complete estate plannng document.

32 years

5%
Mediation 2%

I assist the parties to reach an agreement that they create. This allows them to control the terms of the outcome, avoid the costs and stress of litigation, and get the matter resolved more quickly.

26 years

2%
Social Security & Disability 2%

I help clients obtain their social security disability benefits.

32 years

2%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 300-300 per hour

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in California for 31 years

State: California

Acquired: 1994

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Law Office of Brian J Sheppard

18075 Ventura Blvd #109, Encino, CA, 91316

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Brian J. Sheppard's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

18 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Responsiveness

Posted by Steve | February 04, 2015 | Estate Planning

EXCELLENT RESOURCE FOR ESTATE PLANNING.

Brian was easy to work with and most helpful in explaining the arcane language of estate planning. HIs fees are very reasonable and he is quick to reply to follow-up questions.

Posted by Jan | August 15, 2014 | Probate

Brian J. Sheppard my trustworthy and knowledgeable lawyer.

My name is Jan and Mr Sheppard has helped me tremendously first with taking care of my Mom's estate quickly and efficiently when she passed away. He has set up my own estate and has helped me every step of the way. He is knowledgeable and very efficient. If I have or had a question I may call him o...r e-mail and he responds quickly. I highly recommend Mr Brian Sheppard .

Posted by Erika | December 09, 2013 | Estate Planning

Excellent Trust/Estate Planning Attorney

I was first introduced to Brian Sheppard in about 2005/2006 when I attended a Caregivers Association Seminar. At the time, I was helping to care for my mother who suffered from advanced Parkinson ’s disease. Brian was one of the seminar speakers and his presentation was very useful and informative.... After my father passed away, I contacted him in late 2006 to assist my mother with estate planning and to help her prepare her trust documents (Revocable Trust, Will, Durable Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Care Directive, etc.). My mother was delighted that he made house calls because her medical condition made it very stressful and inconvenient for her to leave her home. Brian was compassionate with my mother and we were both very pleased with his services. In 2010, a few years after my mother passed away, I contacted Brian Sheppard to help me with my own estate planning and trust documents. I used his services again in 2011 to amend my trust and he was especially helpful and insightful. Brian is ethical, unassuming, responsive to questions and reasonable in his fees. I have since recommended his services to my friends, who were very pleased with his services. After almost 8 years, I consider Brian to be not only my attorney but a friend. I highly recommend his legal services.

Posted by Michael | November 27, 2013

General Appreciative Review for Brian J. Sheppard

I was introduced to Brian by a very dear friend in 2006. Prior to then I was having numerous problems getting to a legal counsel every time I needed one (very costly, generally unavailable, impersonal, etc.). What a breath of fresh air!! Brian was the absolute answer to all my legal needs. He, ...above all, was a very caring, knowledgable, and a real common-sense kind of guy - really got to the point of things and wasted no time in dealing with an issue. He also eschews any real personal luxuries; the office is very welcoming and non-pretentious (the receptionist even uses a "plug-in" swithboard from the 1940's to answer and rout incoming calls!) I almost consider him part of my family - he goes out of his way to make sure all is in order, assuming tasks I find too burdensome or disruptive, in general, taking care of me personally. He is nearly always available when I need him and returns phone calls promptly. He even stays on the phone to guide me through a procedure when I feel overwhelmed by the circumstances. I would recommend him to anyone immediately - if only ALL lawyers were like this!!

Posted by Robert | October 28, 2013 | Criminal Defense

Robert H. Reviews Attorney Brian Sheppard

Most recently, I hired Brian to advise me in a false arrest matter. he was extremely timely and helpful. D.A. discharged the case as without merit. Also, i have utilized Brain's services in estate matters, primarily regarding issues with my invalid sister who was in a nursing home and needed help. ... he did an excellent job of advising me and providing necessary paperwork, such as Powers of attorney, etc. I would defintiely recommend Brian Sheppard in handling important legal matters.

See All Client Reviews

Brian J. Sheppard's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Brian
Benjamin Soffer headshot
Benjamin Soffer

Estate planning lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Brian Sheppard is a well-respected attorney in the community. He is knowledgeable and cares about his clients. He is not only his clients' lawyer; he is also their trusted counselor."

Paul J. Molinaro headshot
Paul Molinaro

Probate lawyer | Sep 14

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

Harold Kent Prukop Jr headshot
Harold Prukop

Estate planning lawyer | Sep 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this top-notch lawyer. Well respected and very good reputation in the community."

Dominic Kamyar Afzali headshot
Dominic Afzali

Wills and living wills lawyer | Jul 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Brian Sheppard is extremely knowledgeable, thorough and ethical in his area of practice, Wills, Living Trust, and Probate. I trust him completely."

Philip Raymond Sheldon headshot
Philip Sheldon

Elder law lawyer | Jul 31

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Brian is extremely knowledgeable, ethical, diligent and detail oriented when working on behalf of a client. He is thorough and very, very competent and is more than reasonable with his fees. I refer all of my relevant practice area cases to him."

James Geoffrey Beirne headshot
James Beirne

Estate planning lawyer | Jul 30

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Brian is my office's go to guy for any question relating to estate planning, probate or elder law. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the probate code and real world experience."

View All Endorsements
Benjamin Soffer headshot
Benjamin Soffer

Defective and dangerous products lawyer

Sibylle Grebe headshot
Sibylle Grebe

Estate planning lawyer

James Geoffrey Beirne headshot
James Beirne

Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.1 (Superb)

Honors

2006

Cert. of Recognition - Mediation of Highest Dollar Value Case, U.S. Bankrutpcy Court

2005

Certificate of Recognition - Most Mediations Settled, United State Bankruptcy Court

2004

Senior Volunteer of the Year, Wilkinson Senior Center

Work Experience

2011 - Present

Volunteer Mediatior, Los Angeles County Superior Court

2000 - Present

Consultation attorney, Wilkinson Senior Center

1998 - Present

Attorney, Law Office of Brian J. Sheppard

2003 - 2007

Consultation Attorney, Providence Health System "Beyond 50" program

1995 - 1996

Pro bono Attorney, Harriett Buhai Center For Family Law

Associations

2000 - Present

Los Angeles County Bar Association

2000 - Present

Southern California Council of Elder Law Attorneys

1994 - Present

San Fernando Valley Estate Planning Council

1994 - Present

San Fernando Valley Bar Association

1993 - Present

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

2004 - 2006

Southern California Council of Elder Law Attorneys

Treasurer

Sample of Legal Cases

Beneficiary v. Beneficiary

Client prevailed

UCLA v. Student

Finding for student

Client v. Landlord - Farmer's Insurance

Plaintiff prevailed in settlement

See More Legal Cases

Education

2010

H & R Block

Certificate of Completion

1996

University of California at Los Angeles

Professional Designation in Personal Financial Planning

1994

Univ of LaVerne COL

Law

1983

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

M.S.

1979

Univ of California Berkeley

Undergraduate

Speaking Engagements

2015

California CPA/CPE meeting

California Conservatorships - A General Overview

2014

Filipino Support Group

Public Benefits and Developmentally Disabled Adults

2006

L.A. Caregiver Resource Center

Financial/Asset Management

2006

Antelope Valley Senior Center

General Remarks RE: Medi-Cal and the DRA

2004

Wilkinson Senior Center

Living Trusts as a Means of Avoiding Probate

2004

L.A. Caregiver Resource Association

Fianncial Man. & Health Care Decisions

2003

Wilkinson Senior Center

Living Trusts

2003

L.A. Caregiver Resource Association

Power of Attorney Documents

2002

Providence Hospital Beyond 50 Program

Living Trusts as a Means of Avoiding Probate

2002

Optimists Club

Basics of Medi-Cal

N/A

Various engagements since 1995

Living Trusts, Estate Planning, Conservatorships

Publications

2014

Published weekly at "BrianSheppardLaw.com". Go to my website link above or LinkedIn or Facebook for current edition. Elderupdates.com

2014

Valley Lawyer Magazine (SFVBA) On the Future of Lawyers and Lawyering

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Minimum Wage Raise Overdue

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Where Are Unions Going?

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Budget Cuts Hit Probate Department Especially Hard

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Is Medicare Fair? A Few Modest Proposals For Change

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Reducing Cost of Medicare While Increasing Revenues

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Mayoral Candidates Must Tackle Pension Reform

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal LA Mayor Must Tackle Pension Reform

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Disabled Adults Need to Be Heard in Sacramento, Too

2013

Los Angeles Daily Journal Instead of LIcensing Non-Lawyers...

1990

Self-published Professional Responsibility for California Lawyers

Languages

Spanish

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution