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Joseph Bernard McHugh Jr.
also known as Joseph McHugh, Joe McHugh
Virtual Consultation Available
About Joseph
Biography
I am Joe McHugh, a hard-working California Asset Protection Attorney who is dedicated to protecting my client's assets and final wishes!
What is Asset Protection?... It is important in many ways no matter what your estate is worth! You want to protect everything you own! My job is to help you determine what is best for you!
My law firm (LA LAW CENTER, PC) specializes in protecting hard-earned assets by creating a variety of specialized Asset Protection Trusts; Land Trusts for privacy issues; Government Benefits Protection Services; Medi-Cal Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Irrevocable Trusts as well as Family Revocable Living Trusts. Our expert legal team is backing us up in critical planning, document creation, and execution. Our goal is to determine what is best for each client and then create a specific trust for that client's situation promptly (7 to 10 working days).
If you live in California and are worried about your assets, please call our office to schedule a free phone appointment to understand your options to protect assets and maybe public benefits. I want you to be my client so I can help you preserve & protect your assets from frivolous lawsuits and even help lower your taxes!
I am the Founder and Principal Attorney for LA LAW Center, PC in Burbank California. With my wife, Kathy (Triage Director and experienced Business Consultant and Medi-CAL expert) we manage my specialized law firm with other asset protection experts... located close to the Burbank Airport and serve clients throughout California with our asset protection legal services that can protect assets and set aside personal and tax liability.
We are providing Virtual Phone Appointments & Zoom Calls for the majority of our clients who wish to not come to our office or limit the visit to the signing date. We can either FEDX documents to clients and they can have a mobile notary notarize the legal documents. To sign documents in our office, we allow limited clients to come to our office to review and sign (we notarize them in the office). We also scan documents and email pdf copies to our clients.
Our firm has years of experience in helping "Out Of Town" or "Out of State" families deal with estate planning or probate issues for families living in the Los Angeles area.
I am an active member of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, including the Association’s Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section, and the Business Section; the Beverly Hills Bar Association; as well as Elder Law Associations such as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the California Advocacy for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR)... as a good Irishman... the Irish American Bar Association!
I reside in Southern California with my wife, Kathy. We have two successful adult children living in SOCAL, rescue dogs, and a peacock named Big Bird with his growing family (up to about 10 beautiful birds that hang out around our house and corrals). I am proud to be a Past Exalted Ruler of the Burbank Elks Lodge. I have retired after 20 years as a Civilian Volunteer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse.
California Land Trust / Asset Protection Attorney!
Experienced Special Needs Trust Attorney!
California Asset Protection Trust/ Estate Planning Attorney!
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
65%
39 years | 2,000 cases
Elder Law
20%
37 years | 200 cases
Probate
15%
39 years | 107 cases
Fees and Rates
Awards
2014 2012
2013 2012
Licenses
Licensed in California for 38 years
State: California
Acquired: 1987
No misconduct found
Location
Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Joseph online.
Joseph Bernard McHugh Jr.'s Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 26 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Larry | December 10, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Life savers
I hired LA Law Center four and a half years ago when my elderly mother's health began to fail and Kathy and Joe were beyond helpful at a time when I felt helpless. They guided me through everything I needed to do, answered all my questions and saved me a lot of money, time and headaches. I'm eternal...
Posted by Christine | March 24, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
So helpful
We worked with Kathy McHugh and she was always available, helpful and kind. She always answered our questions and offered professional and sound counsel.
Joseph McHugh
Replied last March 29, 2021Chris...thank you. Kathy is my right hand in Medi-CAL issues for our client. Take care, Joe
Posted by Richard | March 24, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Our family thanks you!
Joseph and his wife Kathie did an excellent job for our family in a number of areas! First and foremost was getting my debilitated mother set up with MediCal, then the Estate and Trust preparations and all of the filings that followed. They both made sure that everything was done properly, quickly a...
Joseph McHugh
Replied last March 29, 2021Richard: We were happy to help with all of your mom's affairs! Best to you as you move forward. Joe
Posted by Anie | November 9, 2020 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Joseph McHugh Jr.
Joe & Kathy helped us with our family’s irrevocable trust in 2012. At the time I appreciated their help but didn’t understand what it all meant. In these last few months, after the passing of my mother, I’ve really appreciated that they were so thoughtful and mindful with their attention to all th...
Posted by Brian | October 28, 2020 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Help with mother in law's irrevocable trust
The McHugh team did an excellent job and met my expectations in arranging my mother in law's estate planning. It was a complex situation given my mother in law has dementia and we live in separate coasts. The walked us through the process step by step. They were also available at a moments notice ...
Joseph McHugh
Replied last October 30, 2020Thank you Brian...happy to help your family!!
Joseph Bernard McHugh Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements
"I have worked with Joe on several cases and he is very knowledgeable, upfront and honest in all the matters we have worked on together. I highly recommend Joe in any estate planning, Elder law or business matter."
"I have worked with Joe and his team on a number of matters involving Medi-Cal eligibility for long term care. Joe is easy to work with, and KNOWS this highly specialized area of law. I highly recommend him -- and if you are looking for a lawyer to help in this area, do yourself a favor and contact him BEFORE applying for Medi-Cal; you will find Joe and his staff to be very helpful, easy to talk to and clear in their explanations."
"I highly recommend Joe. He is extremely knowledgeable, personable and has a reputation for delivering great results for his clients."
"Joe is an expert in elder law, medi-cal, and special needs trust planning and has served as a valuable mentor to me while learning these complex areas of law. Thank you Joe!"
"I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. McHugh. I have worked with Joseph as co-counsel and am delighted with the care and expertise he provides to clients. Joseph is a trusted and experienced attorney in Southern California. Whether you are in need of a simple update to your existing planning, have complex estate and business planning needs, or elder law needs, Joseph McHugh will provide you with excellent advice, service and support."
"I endorse this lawyer. Joe is a great attorney that I refer all of my friends and clients to. He is amazing at asset protection and elder law issues. He is also a great person that volunteers his time with the Elks organization."
"I endorse this lawyer with no reservation. An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community. Very hardworking and diligent. Consistently achieves superior results. Advice is always practical and on point. I recommend to anyone looking for an attorney who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of clients and achieving the most favorable result possible.I endorse this lawyer. Recently completed matter with Joseph. He represented his client with great competency and integrity"
"An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community, I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of his clients and getting them the most favorable result possible."
"Joe has focused his energy and time in the areas of Estate Planning and Elder Law. He helps people with some of the most challenging decisions of their entire lives. His professionalism, ethics and ability to help with critical planning issues is second-to-none. I am pleased to endorse him."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. McHugh is a very knowledgeable and experienced attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have worked for Joe as a law clerk and then once I passed the bar, as an associate in LA Law Center working for him. Joe is a wealth of knowledge and patience with me and all of his clients. He is a very ethical attorney that really cares about helping people in estate planning, elder law and business law."
"Joseph is a credit to the legal profession. He is a tireless advocate for sound estate planning and is a respected fellow member of WealthCounsel. I fully recommend Joseph for both estate planning and business counsel. You'll enjoy speaking with him, sharing ideas and you'll find him to be very reliable. I recommend him without reservation."
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Experience
Honors
2020
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Distinguished Service Award, Beverly Hills Bar Association
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Managing Partner, LA Law Center, PC
1987 - 2009
Attorney, Law Office of Joseph B. McHugh, Esq.
Associations
2015 - Present
Beverly Hills Bar AssociationDistinguished Order of Attorneys
2014 - Present
Beverly Hills Bar AssociationSocial Media Committee
2012 - Present
Academy of Special Needs PlannersMember
2008 - Present
Elder CounselMember
2008 - Present
Los Angeles County Superior CourtProbate Settlement Officer
2008 - Present
Los Angeles County Superior CourtProbate Volunteer Attorney
2007 - Present
Irish American Bar Association of Los AngelesMember
2006 - Present
Beverly Hills Bar AssociationMember
2006 - Present
WealthCounselCommittee Chair
2004 - Present
California Advocates for Nursing Home ReformMember
2004 - Present
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Business and Corporations Law SectionMember
2003 - Present
Burbank Elks LodgeMember
2003 - Present
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (California Chapter)Member
2002 - Present
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates SectionMember
1996 - Present
Los Angeles County Sheriff PosseCivillian Volunteer
1987 - Present
State Bar of California, Business Law SectionMember
1987 - Present
State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates SectionMember
2007 - 2007
Burbank Elks LodgeExalted Ruler
1999 - 1999
Themed Entertainment AssociationPresident
Sample of Legal Cases
Contesting Trust
We represented the daughter and won the case for her!
Education
1987
Whittier College School of Law
Juris Doctorate
1976
California St Univ Fullerton
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2019
Retirement Workshop (Pasadena)
Retirement Planning (Medi-CAL Just in case)
2019
Retirement Planning (Medi-CAL Just in case) (Montrose CA)
Retirement Planning (Medi-CAL Just in case)
2015
LA LAW Center Seminars
Domestic/Off Shore Trusts (Bridge Trusts)
2014
Lorman Educational Services
Medi-CAL & Elder Law in California
2013
RHA Seminars
Asset Protection 101
2013
RHA Seminars
Land Trusts and LLCs
2013
RHA Seminars
Veterans & Medi-CAL Planning
2013
RHA Seminars
Estate Planning 101
2013
MTA Employees Educations Services
Estate Planning for Families
2013
Barlow Hospital Seminars
Advanced Health Care Directives in California
2012
Seminar in Glendale, CA
Land Trusts & LLCS
2012
Real Estate Brokers of Glendale
Estate Planning Asset Protection
2012
Community seminars
Estate Planning 101
2011
Elder Care: The Race Against Time
Elder Care Medi-CAL
2011
CBS KNX 1070 AM Radio Series
Elder Costs: The Race Against Time!
2010
Protect Your Family Assets 101 - Lecture Series
What Every Trustee Needs to Know
2010
NAHREP Monthly Meeting
Goals of Estate Planning
2010
Local Community Lecture Series
The NO MATTER WHAT Documents
2010
Issues in Early Stage Dementia
Dementia and Legal Aspects of Capacity
2010
Community Classes
What is Probate & How do I avoid it?
2010
Community Class
Protect Yourself from Conservatorships
2010
Business Killers
Business Issues that can destroy a business
2010
Aging, Dementia & Legal Aspects of Capacity
Aging, Dementia & Legal Aspects of Capacity
2009
Geriatric Lunch Lecture Series
Legal Preparation for the Future
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Top Contributor
Joseph earned significant contribution points in 2014.
Legal Answers
Q&A
Do I have to go to a Probate court to get a letter of General administration in CA?
31 Mar 2022
Q&A
If I own the house and I die without a will, can my mother continually live in my house before she can inherit the house?
10 Apr 2020
Q&A
If A PERSON HAS ALZHEIMER'S, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE A LIVING TRUST (BEFORE DIAGNOSIS) CAN THEY CHANGE THE TRUST AFTERWARDS
28 Sep 2018