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Rosemary Jane Meagher-Leonard

Estate planning Attorney at San Diego, CA

5.0   8 reviews

also known as Rosemary Leonard

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  • Licensed for 43 years
    State CA
    Acquired 1980
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Wonderful experience
anonymous
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Consulted Attorney
Patient, Knowledgeable and kind
David
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired Attorney
Read more reviews

About Rosemary

Learn Rosemary’s areas of practice.

3
Practice areas
  1. Estate planning
    55%
    I assist clients with all types of trusts and their supporting documents. The types of trusts that draft include: inter vivos, charitable, dynasty,insurance, irrevocable, family business, and bypass

    43 years

  2. Probate
    30%
    I handle all types of probate matters including decedent's estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.

    43 years

  3. Guardianship
    15%
    I represent both proposed guardians and parents contesting a guardianship. I provide step-by-step support for those going through this often emotional process.

    42 years

A large part of my duties as an elder law, estate planning, and Probate attorney involves listening to my clients and providing sound advise that meets their individual and family needs. A large portion of my practice involves estate planning including trusts (revocable, irrevocable, special needs, dynasty, medical planning), wills, powers of attorney, and advanced health directives. In addition to estate planning, my practice is limited to Probate matters including Conservatorships, Guardianships, decedent's estate, Probate ligitation, trust litigation and Probate litigation appeals.

I also assist senior citizens and their families in elder law planning, and with nursing home and dementia care issues. I have also handled matters in northern California, Orange county, Riverside county, San Bernardino county, Santa Barbara county, Ventura county, Alameda County, and Los Angeles county. I also represent out of state individuals who have California estate, trust, elder law, litigation or Probate appeal matters that require my assistance.

My husband and I live in San Diego county and have three grown children and two grandchildren. Most people know me as Rosemary Leonard.

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Rosemary Jane Meagher-Leonard
4456 Florida St
San Diego, CA, 92116
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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0
  8 customer reviews
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Posted by anonymous | February 21, 2018
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Wonderful experience
Rosemary was very knowledgeable and covered all the bases definitively in my initial consultation. She was also quite generous with her time and patient with addressing all my concerns - one of the most pleasant legal consultations I've had. I will certainly hire her if my case indeed develops to need legal assistance.
Posted by David | April 14, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Patient, Knowledgeable and kind
Rosemary, is great I spoke with her on the phone for a while and sent her my fathers estate information. She carefully reviewed the documents and gave me a lengthy opinion without even discussing money. The other attorneys I spoke with (about a dozen) only cared about one thing, their bill rate and how much the retainer or percentage contingency was going to be, Rosemary, cares about me and my problems.
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Posted by anonymous | June 23, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Extremely Grateful to Have Found Mrs. Leonard
With gratitude we can't express in words how wonderful, understanding, smart, patient and compassionate this woman is and how very happy we are that we found her. She is articulate, her knowledge of the law, case laws, appellate laws is through and her writing, communications and petition are to the letter of the law. Rosemary is about doing what is right and what is correct and she won't stand for nonsense. She is always available and will educate her client as to the process, the laws, and gives you the opportunity to make a good decision. She is patient and will help guide you through sometimes very difficult times. We plan to keep Mrs. Leonard on retainer for a long time. No more worries and no more headaches. With sincere gratitude we thank her for all her wisdom and the freedom to know we are in the best of hands. Thank you Mrs. Leonard.
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Posted by anonymous | June 1, 2015
An excellent choice
I worked with Rosemary Leonard to settle an estate and had a great experience with her. Throughout the process, I felt that I could trust her to look out for my best interests. She answered my many emails quickly and was extremely helpful. I'd strongly recommend her services.
Posted by Jennifer | April 20, 2014
Excellent, thorough, trustworthy...
My situation (rewriting the family trust) required delicacy. My mom had a stroke & we had to relocate her & purchase a home in San Diego. In the midst of chaos, Rosemary easily relieved lingering family tension, met with us in locations selected to relieve mom's stress, advocated reasonable solutions specific to our situation, and most importantly, handled my mother with the dignity she deserves, which isn't always the case. Rosemary remained patient when we missed appointments because I was simply overwhelmed, and, what I should really stress, handled our legal affairs skillfully and much to our benefit. I'd recommend her to anyone.
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Posted by anonymous | August 28, 2012
Living Trusts
I asked a simple question and got the normal run around answer from a few other lawyers. Rosemary gave me a succinct definitive answer that was concise and hit right to the point I needed to know and was extremely helpful. She is very knowledgable and straight forward.
Posted by Kathleen | July 22, 2010
Tremendous Follow-Through
Having no other resource in attaining a Trust attorney because of geographical distances I went through AVVO. I was referred to Rosemary who was extremely responsive to my emails and need for an Irrevocable Trust for my aging Mother in a nursing home. Other than the final signing of the Irrevocable Trust being delayed longer than anticipated (both parties responsible) Rosemary Leonard was professional, very informative and was able to assist me very well. I would definitely recommend her.
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Posted by anonymous | September 3, 2009
Estate Planner
Rosemary Leonard lead us through our estate planning with ease and comfort. It was our first time setting up an estate and she explained each and every item to our understanding. She made a complex issue an easy process to understand. I would recommend her as an easy person to work with and knowlegdeable about the forms and process. She professionally presented the final documents and walked us through each page. It was great to work with Rosemary and I will work with her again as our estate changes.
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
  • Hourly Rates $ 250-275 per hour
  • Retainer Sometimes
Payment methods
Cash, Check

Resume

AVVO RATING 8.4 (Excellent)

Work Experience

  • Owner
  • Law Offices of Rosemary Meagher-Leonard
  • 1981 - Present
  • Staff attorney
  • Senior Citizens Legal Services
  • 1980 - 1981

Education

  • Thomas Jefferson School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1979
  • San Diego State Univ
  • undergraduate
  • 1976

Legal Cases

  • Estate of Cromminger
  • Case settled shortly before trial
  • Hwodek v. Hwodek
  • Settled at trial: the granddaughter was able to keep the residence.

Associations

  • P.E.O.
  • Corresponding Secretary
  • 2010 - Present
  • American Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2010 - Present
  • State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section
  • Member
  • 2010 - Present
  • American Bar Associaion Real Estate, Trusts, and Estates Section
  • Member
  • 2010 - Present
  • American Association of Justice
  • Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • P.E.O.
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • State Bar of California
  • Member
  • 1980 - Present
  • P.E.O.
  • Chaplin (past)
  • 2006 - 2009
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Academic achievement
  • Kappa Delta Sorority
  • 1975

Speaking Engagements

  • P.E.O. Chapter Meeting
  • Estate Planning 101: Who needs a trust and why
  • 2008

Attorney endorsements

Received (23)
Given (22)
Endorse Rosemary
Gerald Barry Dorfman headshot
Gerald Dorfman
Unknown Attorney | Jun 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I often find myself agreeing with her responses given to questions posted in the Avvo forum. Those who post there can expect nothing more than direct, thoughtful, accurate responses, and Ms. Meagher-Leonard delivers."
David Nicholas Ferri headshot
David Ferri
Unknown Attorney | Dec 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. She is consistent in her responses on AVVO and obviously cares about the community."
Kris Ray Crawford headshot
Kris Crawford
Estate planning Attorney | Mar 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Meagher-Leonard provides great advice to those in need. She takes time out of her day to answer questions on AVVO and point people in the right direction."
Peter Matthew Depew headshot
Peter Depew
Probate Attorney | Feb 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Meagher-Leonard provides a much needed service on Avvo. She donates her time to individuals who are in need of immediate legal answers."
Ernest J. Lee headshot
Ernest Lee
Probate Attorney | Jul 13
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. I have worked with Rosemary for almost 1 year and I have found her to be well qualified, intelligent, always helpful, resourceful and very friendly and easy to work with. I am a criminal defense and personal injury attorney, who knows close to nothing about probate matters, so when a client came to me with a probate-estate matter I was lost. But not for long. I remembered that Rosemary had answered a probate question for me on Avvo so I reached out to her. Man, I am glad I did. She quickly allayed my probate concerns and is still assisting me to this day. In fact, she is now my firm’s go to person for probate. I heartily endorse and recommend Rosemary for any probate or estate and trusts matter."
Hovanes Margarian headshot
Hovanes Margarian
Unknown Attorney | Nov 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Matthew Lawrence Schneider headshot
Matthew Schneider
Elder law Attorney | Apr 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Rosemary is a higly skilled and knowledgeable elder law practitioner. I endorse her without reserve."
James Nelson Dicks headshot
James Dicks
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"This attorney works very hard for the clients and keeps up with the law by attending legal seminars to assist them in this regard. I endorse this attorney."
John P Corrigan headshot
John Corrigan
Estate planning Attorney | Jun 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I do not know Rosemary personally but have read now thousands of Avvo questions and this attorney knows her stuff in the T&E arena. I am a very picky person (technically) and I have a short list of about 10 Avvo attorneys in the country that I feel are at the top of their game --- Rosemary among them."
Dagmar Pollex headshot
Dagmar Pollex
Estate planning Attorney | May 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Rosemary Leonard from our professional connections. I respect her skills and her expertise and her willingness to share those with colleagues as well as the public. She has a great ability for empathy and communication for clients in a down to earth manner that puts clients at ease.I would recommend her to my friends and family in California."
Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen
Unknown Attorney | Mar 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
Jennifer B Gardner headshot
Jennifer Gardner
Probate Attorney | Nov 20
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"It is rare that you meet an attorney who you instinctively trust immediately and work seemlesly with from the get-go. Rosemary and I are representing clients in a nasty elder abuse/probate matter in San Diego. I can honestly say that I am enjoying every minute of it. Rosemary is a meticulous, ethical, dedicated advocate for our clients, and I hope that we have the opportunity to collaborate together on other matters in the future."
Richard Scott Stewart headshot
Richard Stewart
Estate planning Attorney | Oct 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Fantastic resource for clients."
James P. Frederick headshot
James Frederick
Probate Attorney | Jul 31
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I am happy to endorse Attorney Meagher-Leonard. Because we practice in similar areas of law, I have had the opportunity to review many of her answers and they demonstrate not only legal expertise, but also genuine concern for the asker of the question. She offers practical, useful advice and I am happy to commend her as a colleague and a tremendous resource to the Avvo community. James Frederick"
Mark Brian Baer headshot
Mark Baer
Estate planning Attorney | May 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Rosemary is a very knowledgeable estate planning, probate and elder law attorney. She recognizes that a great deal of litigation could be avoided if more attorneys were of the problem solving variety. She appreciates that her clients are people with families and is sincerely interested in helping them solve or avoid problems. I have referred fellow attorneys to Rosemary and will continue to do so without hesitation."
Hillary Johns headshot
Hillary Johns
Estate planning Attorney | Apr 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Rosemary is a dedicated, knowledgable and very thoughtful attorney. She spots issues and sees solutions quickly, is very compassionate, and genuinely cares about her clients. I can see why her clients are so loyal to her and why she is often asked to represent clients throughout the California and receives so many referrals from other states. Every professional comment I have ever received about Rosemary has been nothing but positive. Since I have gotten to know Rosemary, I don't hesitate to refer some of my most valued client to her. She would be my first choice in areas that she handles."
Michael Charles Doland headshot
Michael Doland
Probate Attorney | Apr 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"The responses of Mr. Meagher-Leonard are consistently polite, informative and responsive. With a very down to earth manner she communicates very well and obviously knows her areas of expertise. Any prospective client should count themselves very lucky to obtain the beneift of her services."
Jon Martin Pettis headshot
Jon Pettis
Unknown Attorney | Apr 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Robin Mashal headshot
Robin Mashal
Probate Attorney | Apr 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Meagher-Leonard has made a subtantial number of contributions on avvo.com. I have read several of her contributions and have found them to be thoughtful, informative and practical. I endorse this lawyer's work."
William Lee Pfeifer Jr headshot
William Pfeifer
Estate planning Attorney | Mar 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Rosemary is an experienced and knowledgeable attorney in the areas of estate planning and elder law. I endorse this lawyer."
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San Diego Estate planning Lawyer Rosemary Jane Meagher-Leonard
Rosemary Jane Meagher-Leonard
Estate planning Attorney
San Diego, CA
Licensed for 43 years
Free Consultation
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