Licensed for 35 years

State CA

Acquired 1988

Status
Active No misconduct found

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

Jack E Stephens

Trusts Attorney at San Diego, CA

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Resume

Best Estate Planning Lawyer in San Diego County

Very Professional

About Jack

Learn Jack’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Trusts

50%

Marital A-B Trusts, Separate Property Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Protective Inheritance Trusts (PIT), and Trust Administration
Estate planning

40%

Living Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, Wills, Community Property Agreements, Deeds, and LLC funding
Elder law

10%

Decedent Trust Administration, Medi-Cal Issues, Home Care, and Retirement Plans

WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY. WHEN THERE'S A TRUST, THERE'S A BETTER WAY.

Jack E. Stephens J.D., LL.M. has been practicing law in San Diego since 1990 helping thousands of taxpayers reduce taxes and homeowners protect their property with Trust strategies. He has received annual awards including the AV Preeminent Attorney Rating by Martindell-Hubbell, representing the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. As an active contributor to continuing education in Estate Planning, Jack Stephens has authored and edited quarterly newsletters, pamphlets and contributed articles to the Continuing Education of the Bar of California. Additionally, he has gained endorsement by Kiplinger’s Retirement Report for his book, Avoiding Tax Traps in Your IRA. Jack Stephens is an active member of the San Diego Estate Planning Council and also has been a symposium speaker for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, demonstrating his comprehensive understanding of how Estate Planning and Elder Law are inextricably related. Jack Stephens is an active church and community member who is involved as an instructor in the Navigators Christian Ministry which serves Marine recruits at Camp Pendleton. He has also been selected as a local and national speaker to educate other attorneys on his expertise and dedicates time to educating individuals through seminars and live webinars on the changing laws and important issues that could affect all Trustees of Trusts.

Awards

Client's Choice

2021 2019 2016 + 1 ...

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Contact Jack

Jack E Stephens

(858) 736-9979 Office

(858) 792-0806 Fax

12526 High Bluff Dr Ste 200

San Diego, CA, 92130

jackstephens.com

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

61 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.

Posted by Bob and Berie | October 19, 2018

Best Estate Planning Lawyer in San Diego County

Jack Stephens and his staff have been providing estate planning services for us for many years. He gave us confidence that our family trust was created to meet our goals for the family and that it was always consistent with the State and Federal laws involving estates and trusts. When a law or laws changed, he contacted us to review our trust to determine if any changes were warranted. He inspires trust and he has always done everything right.

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Posted by Peter | July 25, 2018

Very Professional

Jack helped me put together a complex trust document. Even though we went through many changes that I requested, he adhered to the original retainer fee. Jack is extremely experienced, and he and his staff were very professional, knowledgeable and courteous at all times. They also provide continuous advice and updates about the law even after the assignment has been completed. I highly recommend Jack Stephens for any of your trust and estate needs.

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Posted by Lilach Harris | June 24, 2022

Excellent

The Stephens Law Group has consistently impressed me and my husband throughout the entire process. Mr. Stephens is extremely intelligent and we honestly have full faith in not only his guidance but the extraordinary staff that work for him. It is abundantly clear how much he cares for his clients and his work is representative of that. Without a doubt in my mind, we would recommend this firm to anyone in need of Estate Planning services.

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Posted by Charles | February 21, 2022

Mr.

What a great experience. Organized, detailed, timely and efficient. The professionalism and knowledge of Jack Stephens and his staff surpassed my expectations. The stress of estate planning was made non existent by the law offices of Jack E Stephens. And to think how I simply trusted my gut feeling researching the internet and selecting this estate planning attorney. Shout out to Shradha Shrestha, simply a flawless staff of the law office. My wife and I could not be any less satisfied with the seamless work done to complete our estate planning.

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Posted by Gregg | February 10, 2022

Jack Stephens Review

Jack Stephens and his entire team were professional, efficient and kind. Hannah answered all our questions quickly and helped us understand the legal issues we had. The price was reasonable and included phone calls, emails and even Notary services performed by Mr. Stephens. We highly recommend this firm.

Posted by Erin | December 16, 2021

Highly Recommend

Jack Stephens and the entire team at Stephens Law Group are exceptional at what they do. They took phenomenal care of our estate planning needs. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable and helped to make our entire experience seamless. Brooke, who answers the phone when you call, was cordial and kind. Hannah, the assistant who we communicated with during the entire process, was outstanding in getting back to me in a very timely manner and was very informative when answering my questions. Mr Stephens is very professional, thorough and fair. He carefully looked over the amendments we were requesting and thoughtfully made excellent suggestions that improved our original trust. We left our final signing feeling well taken care of. I highly recommend the Stephens Law Group.

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Posted by Lincoln | November 30, 2021

Excellent service!

Jack and his lovely staff were professional, knowledgeable, efficient, and friendly. They made our estate planning as easily and stress free as possible. I would highly recommend Jack Stephens to anyone with estate planning needs. Lincoln & family San Diego, CA

Posted by Mitch | August 9, 2021

Consummate Professionals

Mr Stephens and his team are consummate professionals. Kind, thoughtful, attentive, wise, experienced, trustworthy, and all for a very reasonable fee. Made creating our Trust and Wills very comfortable and easy. So glad I got this done. Highly recommend!

Posted by Jeri | June 11, 2021

Very grateful

I contacted Mr. Stephens office on Thursday and he requested I send an email with my list of questions. We then had a phone consultation the following day and although it seems we do not need his services at that time, he answered all of our questions in great detail and even provided help finding a CPA in our area. Should our Family Trust ever need to be revised, he's the Attorney I'd contact first.

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Posted by Susan | April 21, 2021

Excellent!

Mr. Jack Stephens is an organized, thorough, knowledgeable and a compassionate individual. He provided our family with the necessary information that we needed in setting up a Special Needs Trust for our son/brother and met with us in person to help us navigate through what we had initially thought a more complicated process. He made sure that we understood everything and made us all feel cared for by his personal interest in our situation. We could not more highly recommend him and his staff!

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Posted by Chris | January 28, 2021

Efficient and Clear

Very organized, clear, and thorough trust creation, restatement. I've been coming to Mr. Stephens for years. He and his whole team are fantastic. Hannah is exceptional! Fee is fair and predictable.

Posted by Dianne | December 6, 2020

Expertise of the Stephens Law Group

I appreciate the expertise of the Stephens Law Group and their staff who did an excellent job of setting up my trust. I highly recommend them.

Posted by Ashley | September 8, 2020

Forever Grateful

Mr. Jack E. Stephens and his team were absolutely perfect for my family and I. We had concerns over the Family Trust and were suspicious of Elder Abuse. After the consultation, the weight had been lifted off our shoulders. Then, once everything was completed I could breathe again. During the entire process I felt genuinely cared for and I felt confident in who I chose for this position. Forever Grateful, Carman Family

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Posted by Svea | February 24, 2020

Excellent Experience!

We highly recommend Mr. Jack E. Stephens. He helped us create a Family Trust that protects our assets and provides for our loved ones. He is very knowledgeable and thorough. He answered our questions and encouraged and counseled us to take time to make important decisions. We felt that he had our best interests at heart. He often restated what we said so that we knew that he understood what we wanted. He discussed different options and gave us the information to make informed decisions. He covered important aspects and explained provisions in a language that made sense to us. We will definitely revisit him in the future for legal help that he can provide.

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Posted by Dan | December 19, 2019

Director

Great job as always Jack and Team. Appreciate the valuable guidance and attention to detail.

Posted by anonymous | November 22, 2019

Very Thorough and Knowlegeable Law Group

I am very, very pleased to have gone to Mr. Stephens Law Group to have my daughter's Special Needs Trust and my own Trust done by these extremely professional and knowledgeable Group. Mr. Stephens is patient and very pleasant to talk to and very thorough. I would highly recommend this law group to anyone who needs a Trust done.

Posted by Linda | November 5, 2019

True Professional

My husband and I were impressed with the entire process of updating our trust with Jack Stephens. Not only does he possess a wealth of knowledge, he is able to impart it in a patient, comprehensive manner. He answered all our questions and brought up issues we never had considered. In addition, his staff was so cooperative. Everything was organized in a manner that made our whole experience with the firm run smoothly from start to finish. As a side note. Jack Stephens is a personable gentleman one can't help but like. All in all, a five star+

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Posted by Lee | October 25, 2019

Jack E Stephens prepared a trust for us!

We hired Jack E Stephens to prepare a trust for us. He and his staff was very professional and easily available during the whole process. The document was through and covered all the needs of our situation.. The fees were reasonable and communication was accurate and clear! I would highly recommend him and his staff!

Posted by Rich | July 29, 2019

Led us out of the woods...

Jack took the time to explain the pitfalls of estate planning to me and my wife. He reviewed our current trust documents and made suggestions that put our minds at ease when it came to protecting assets for our children. Comfortable and easy to talk to, Jack took the fear out of planning.

Posted by Vladimir | July 10, 2019

Preparing a living trust

Everything was just perfect - exact preparation of the relevant documents, full explanation of every detail, very careful to client's specific needs, timely appearance.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.9 (Superb)

Work Experience

Owner
The Law Offices of Jack E. Stephens, J. D., LL.M.
1990 - 2013

Education

Baylor University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
N/A

University of San Diego School of Law
LL.M - Master of Laws
N/A

Louisiana State University
Undergraduate
N/A

Associations

Trusts and Estates Committee of Rady Children's Hospital
Attorney Member
2012 - Present

Elder Care Matters Alliance
Attorney Member
2012 - Present

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Attorney Member
2002 - Present

Southern Caregivers Resource Center
Referring Attorney
1999 - Present

Estate Planning Council of San Diego
Attorney Member
1995 - Present

Estate Planning Section of the California Bar Association
Attorney Member
1988 - Present

Trusts and Estates Section of the San Diego Country Bar Association
Attorney Member
1988 - Present

National Association of Estate Planners and Councils
Attorney Member
N/A

Navigators Christian Ministry
Volunteer
N/A

Honorary Deputy Sheriff Association of San Diego
Honorary Deputy
N/A

View all associations

Languages Spoken

English

Arabic

Honors and Awards

2013 Top Lawyer
San Diego Magazine
2013

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2013

Select Wealth Manager
San Diego Magazine
2013

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2012

2011 Top Lawyer
San Diego Magazine
2011

Select Wealth Manager
San Diego Magazine
2011

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2011

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2010

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2009

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2008

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2007

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2006

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2005

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2004

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2003

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2002

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2001

AV Preeminent Attorney Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2000

View all awards

Publications

Aspen Publishers
Ticking Time Bombs in IRA Planning for Professionals
2000

Legalaction Publications
Avoiding the Tax Traps In Your IRA
1999

Quoted in Kiplinger's Retirement Reports
Tricks and Traps of By-Pass Trusts
1999

National Business Institute
How to Draft Wills and Trusts in California
N/A

California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
California Elder Law
N/A

National Business Institute
Estate Planning with IRAs for California Professionals
N/A

California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Estate Planning for the Terminally Ill
N/A

View all publications

Speaking Engagements

Elder Law Practice
Estate Planning for the Terminally Ill
1997

State Bar of California, Continuing Education of the Bar
Beyond the Basics
1996

Elder Law Practice
Addressing the Needs of a Client
1995

Mira Costa College Seminar
Business Law
1993

UCSD Extension
Estate Planning
1990

Symposium Speaker
Elder Law
N/A

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (8)

Given (4)

Endorse Jack

Brian Malloy

Estate planning Attorney | May 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Jack for over 10 years. Jack is an amazing attorney. His knowledge of the law is second to none and he is one of the most prominent estate planning attorneys in San Diego."

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."

Jeffrey Pratt

Trusts Attorney | Apr 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jack is a very knowledgeable and skilled lawyer. I highly recommend him."

Ruth Phelps

Elder law Attorney | Apr 16
Relationship: Friend

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Jack for many years. I have consulted with him on cases, and referred clients to him. He is conscientious and keeps up on current developments in complicated areas such as retirement planning and Medi-Cal eligibility. He is concerned and caring about his clients. He also has a charming Texas drawl."

Newton Merrick

Estate planning Attorney | Mar 13
Relationship: Other

"After 20 years of doing estate planning, i decided that it required full-time attention, and I had other matters to attend to. I met Jack Stephens at a free siminar, was impressed. My wife and I consulted with Jack, reviewed our desires, discussed solutions. My wife felt very comfortable with his presentation. He produced a complete set of documents -- exactly as we wanted, at a reasonable price. I have recommended him to many of my clients and others. I do not hesitate to give Jack Stephens an unqualified endorsement and recommendation."

Jonathan Massie

Trusts Attorney | Mar 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Jack is extremely intelligent, forthright, and easy to work with. I highly respect Jack and recommend him without reservation."

Uzzell Branson

Estate planning Attorney | Mar 13
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I've known Mr. Stephens for about 7 years now, and have worked both for him and with him on cases ranging from minor probates to full-blown litigation. He is an excellent estate planner, well versed in tax law, and an honest attorney who is a pleasure to work with. I would trust him to handle a case for a close friend or family member. I also consider him the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to IRAs. That is a complex and difficult area of law to understand, and I use Mr. Stephens' book as a reference whenever I have an IRA problem."