Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law by the State Bar of California
Leslie Daff, JD, MBA, is a State Bar Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law, a designation earned by fewer than 100 of the 15,000 licensed attorneys in the County. She is also certified as an Estate Planning Law Specialist and has been designated an Accredited Estate Planner® by Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, a designation earned by three attorneys in the County. Formerly with 1,000-attorney international law firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP and regional law firms Best Best & Krieger LLP and Palmieri, Tyler, Weiner, Wilhelm & Waldron LLP, she founded Estate Plan, Inc., a professional law corporation, in Laguna Beach and Irvine in 2005.
Leslie received her BS degree in Finance from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and her MBA degree from the University of California, Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. Prior to law school, she worked as a Financial Analyst and as Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at subsidiaries of the Coca-Cola Company and Baxter Healthcare, respectively.
She received her JD degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she served as an editor on the Loyola Law School Entertainment Law Review, received the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Legal Research and Writing, the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Ethical/Practical Lawyering, and was installed as a member of the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society. She also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Sheila Prell Sonenshine, Associate Justice on the California Court of Appeal.
Named for seven consecutive years by OC Register Metro Magazine as one of the region's top lawyers, granted the highest rating of "10/10 Superb" by independent attorney rating service Avvo, and granted the highest designation of "AV Preeminent 5 out of 5" by national legal directory Martindale Hubbell, which signifies her peers rank her at the highest level of professional and ethical excellence, Leslie has also been selected by her peers for inclusion in Southern California Top Rated Lawyers, published by Law.com and the Los Angeles Times every year since its initial publication. She has also been named a Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters, a designation granted to no more than 5% of attorneys based on peer recognition and professional achievement.
In 2012, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees appointed Leslie to serve as one of nine commissioners on the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Advisory Commission to advise the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization about its program - and to write the exam - that certifies legal specialists in the area of estate planning, trust and probate law. In 2016, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees reappointed Leslie to a second term on the Commission. Leslie currently serves as Chair of the Commission.
Leslie is co-author of the Estate Planning Considerations chapter update for the State Bar of California Continuing Education of the Bar book Buy-Sell Agreements. She is co-author and co-editor of the books The Closing Wealth Transfer Window: Post-Election Steps to Take Immediately to Protect Your Family Legacy and Estate Planning Strategies, Collective Wisdom, Proven Techniques. She is a regular columnist on tax and estate planning matters for The Journal of Financial Planning. Recent published articles include:
Leslie has been involved with a number of organizations and charities, including the Alumni Board of Directors for the University of Southern California Marshall School of
Business and the Dean’s Leadership Circle of the University of California, Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. She has served on the Board of Directors of the South Orange County Bar Association, as Co-Chair of the Laguna Beach Community Foundation Professional Council, and as a member of the Board of Directors for non-profit organizations, Laguna Beach Seniors, Inc. and Laguna Beach Rotary Club Foundation. She is a Fellow of the Orange County Bar Foundation Society of Fellows. She is also a member of the Orange County Estate Planning Council, the Trusts & Estates Section of the State Bar of California, and the Trusts & Estates Section of the Orange County Bar Association
Leslie has provided pro bono legal advice and services to seniors at the Susi Q Senior Center on a monthly basis since 2012. She regularly speaks on estate planning topics for a variety of groups and organizations, including the Financial Planning Association, the National Business Institute (NBI), and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Practice areas
Languages spoken
English
Estate Plan, Inc. - Irvine Office
19200 Von Karman, Suite 400
Irvine, CA, 92612
Estate Plan, Inc. - Laguna Beach Office
352 3rd Street, Suite 301
Laguna Beach, CA, 92651
Estate Plan, Inc. - Torrance Office
3655 Torrance Boulevard, Suite 300
Torrance, CA, 90503
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
CA | Active | 2000 | 02/06/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers | 2020 |
Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) | Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc. | 2020 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers | 2019 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers | 2018 |
Accredited Estate Planner | National Association of Estate Planners & Councils Estate Law Specialist Board | 2016 |
Client Distinction Award | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
O.C.'s Top Attorneys | OC Register, OC Metro, Coast Magazine, Avvo | 2015 |
Southern California's Top Rated Lawyers - Trusts & Estates | Los Angeles Times | 2015 |
Certified Specialist - Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law | State Bar of California | 2015 |
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2014 |
Southern California's Top Rated Lawyers - Trusts & Estates | Los Angeles Times | 2014 |
O.C.'s Top Lawyers | OC Register Metro Magazine | 2014 |
Five Star Top Estate Planning Professional Award | Orange Coast Magazine | 2014 |
Los Angeles' Women Leaders in the Law | Los Angeles Times | 2014 |
Southern California's Top Rated Lawyers - Trusts & Estates | Los Angeles Times | 2013 |
O.C.'s Top Lawyers | OC Register Metro Magazine | 2013 |
Top Rated Lawyer in Trusts & Estates | American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel Magazine | 2013 |
Southern California's Top Rated Lawyers - Trusts & Estates | Los Angeles Times | 2012 |
O.C.'s Top Lawyers | OC Metro Magazine | 2012 |
The Region's Top Attorneys | OC Metro Magazine | 2011 |
The Region's Top Attorneys | OC Metro Magazine | 2010 |
O.C.'s Top Lawyers | OC Metro Magazine | 2009 |
St. Thomas More Law Honor Society | St. Thomas More Society | 2000 |
Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Contracts | Corpus Juris Secundum | N/A |
Dean's Honor List | Loyola Law School | N/A |
American Jurisprudence Award for Ethical Lawyering | American Jurisprudence | N/A |
American Jurisprudence Award for Legal Research and Writing | American Jurisprudence | N/A |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Attorney | Estate Plan, Inc. | 2005 - Present |
Attorney | Palmieri Tyler Weiner Wilhelm & Waldron, LLP | 2004 - 2005 |
Attorney | Best Best & Krieger, Attorneys at Law | 2002 - 2004 |
Summer Associate and Associate Attorney | Brobeck Phleger & Harrison | 1999 - 2002 |
Summer Associate | Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth | 1999 - 1999 |
Judicial Extern | California Court of Appeal, 4th Appellate District, Division Three, Honorable Sheila Prell Sonenshine, Associate Justice | 1998 - 1998 |
Legal Intern | California Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General | 1997 - 1997 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners | Attorney Member | 2013 - Present |
Orange County Bar Foundation | Fellow | 2012 - Present |
Laguna Beach Seniors, Inc. | Board of Directors | 2012 - Present |
State Bar of California | Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Advisory Commission | 2012 - Present |
Wealthcounsel BusinessDocx Business Planning System Committee | Member | 2012 - Present |
Laguna Beach Community Foundation Professional Council | Co-chair | 2011 - Present |
Susi Q Senior Center | Pro Bono Legal Advisor | 2011 - Present |
Orange County Estate Planning Council | Member | 2009 - Present |
Rotary Club Foundation | Board of Directors | 2009 - Present |
South Orange County Bar Association | Board of Directors | 2009 - Present |
State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section | Member | 2002 - Present |
University of California, Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, Dean's Leadership Circle | Member | N/A |
Orange County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section | Member | N/A |
American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section | Member | N/A |
University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Alumni Board - Orange County | Board of Directors | N/A |
University of California Irvine Graduate School of Management Alumni Board | Board of Directors | N/A |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Journal of Financial Planning | Near-Death Planning and the Zero Basis Rule (Article) | 2016 |
Journal of Financial Planning | New Disclosures Could Lead to Penalties for Executors and Heirs (Article) | 2016 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Two Time Sensitive IRS Rulings Impact Estate Planning (Article) | 2016 |
Journal of Financial Planning | ABLE Accounts: An Option for Families with Disabled Children (Article) | 2015 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Supreme Court Opens Door to Rare Tax Refund Opportunity (Article) | 2015 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Making the Online Estate Planning Process Work (Article) | 2014 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Beneficiaries Misbehavin' (Article) | 2014 |
Journal of Financial Planning | The Coming War Over Deductible Fiduciary Expenses (Article) | 2014 |
Journal of Financial Planning | The New Estate Planning Dilemma: Simplicity or Asset Protection? (Article) | 2013 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Independent Contractor or Employee? (Article) | 2013 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Avoiding Post-ATRA Trust Tax Rates (Article) | 2013 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Selecting and Maintaining Appropriate Fiduciaries in an Estate Plan (Article) | 2012 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Defining Incapacity in the Modern Estate Plan (Article) | 2012 |
Journal of Financial Planning | The Closing Wealth Transfer Windows (Article) | 2012 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Do Your Tax Strategies Accomodate the Affordable Care Act? (Article) | 2012 |
Wall Street Journal | Your Money: Year-End Estate Tax Moves (Quoted) | 2012 |
WealthCounsel | The Closing Wealth Transfer Window: Post-Election Steps to Take Immediately to Protect Your Family Legacy (Book) | 2012 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Protecting Your Child's Inheritance: The Beneficiary-Controlled Trust (Article) | 2011 |
Transitional Wisdom Workbook: A Guide to Healthy Aging and Completing Life With Dignity | Estate Planning Basics (Chapter) | 2011 |
Journal of Financial Planning | The Portable Exclusion and the Vanishing Bypass Trust (Article) | 2011 |
The Five Levels of Asset Protection in Nevada | The Five Levels of Asset Protection in Nevada (Editor - Book) | 2011 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Your Parents' Estate Plan (Article) | 2011 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Tax Ramifications and Opportunites under the New Healthcare Act (Article) | 2010 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Keeping the Vacation Home in the Family - Another Use for Limited Liability Companies (Article) | 2010 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Are Your Client Files Clean? (Article) | 2010 |
Laguna Beach Independent | Keeping the Beach House (Article) | 2010 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Betting the Farm: Estate Planning for Middle-Income Clients (Quoted) | 2010 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Twelve Indicators You Need to Update Your Estate Plan (Article) | 2009 |
Journal of Financial Planning Consumer Website | Protect Your Legacy, Update Your Estate Plan (Article) | 2009 |
Ingram's Magazine | Right Strategies Can Maximize Your Charitable Gifts (Article) | 2009 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Planning Opportunites in the Government's Response to the Economic Downturn (Article) | 2009 |
WealthCounsel | Estate Planning Strategies: Collective Wisdom, Proven Techniques (Editor - Book) | 2009 |
Journal of Financial Planning | Many Estate Planning Strategies Provide Benefits in Low-Interest-Rate Environment (Article) | 2008 |
South Coast Health | Charitable Gift Annuities: A Way to Give and Receive (Article) | 2008 |
The Business of Law/Ed Poll Interview | The Business of Law (DVD) | 2008 |
The Quarterly Counselor | Many Estate Planning Strategies Provide Benefits in the Current Low Interest Rate Environment (Article) | 2008 |
Orange County Estate Planning Lawyer Blog | Orange County Estate Planning Lawyer Blog (Blog) | 2008 |
Laguna Beach Independent | Estate Planning Means Having a Plan (Article) | 2008 |
Laguna Beach Independent | Tying Up the Loose Ends (Article) | 2007 |
State Bar CLE Books | Estate Planning Considerations Chapter of State Bar of California Continuing Education of the Bar Book Buy Sell Agreements (Chapter Update) | 2003 |
Los Angeles Daily Journal | Only Legislation Can Resolve Fees Problem in ‘McAdams’ (Article) | 2003 |
Journal of Financial Planning | The Coming War Over Deductible Fiduciary Expenses (Article) | N/A |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Loyola Law School - Los Angeles | JD - Juris Doctor | 2000 |
University of California, Irvine | MBA | 1989 |
Univ of Southern Calif | BS - Bachelor of Science | N/A |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
National Business Institute | Estate Planning from A to Z (11/16/2017 - 11/17/2017) | 2017 |
National Business Institute (NBI) | Estate Planning and Administration: The Complete Guide (6/8/2017-6/9/2017) | 2017 |
National Business Institute (NBI) | Probate Boot Camp (6/21/2017-6/22/2017) | 2017 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - The Use of Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Entities in Estate Planning (9/30/2016) | 2016 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - The Use of Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Entities in Estate Planning (4/25/2016) | 2016 |
National Business Institute (NBI) | Estate Planning from A to Z (12/6/2017-12/7/2016) | 2016 |
LA Talk Radio | Estate Planning Essentials | 2015 |
Laguna Art Museum | The Art of Planned Giving - Opportunities and Pitfalls (5/5/2015) | 2015 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - The Use of Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Entities in Estate Planning (4/27/2015) | 2015 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - The Use of Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Entities in Estate Planning (10/9/2015) | 2015 |
Cal Alumni Association, University of California Berkeley Speaker Series | Estate Planning - Getting Your Affairs in Order Is Easier Than You Think (11/15/2014) | 2014 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - The Use of Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Entities in Estate Planning (10/3/2014) | 2014 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - The Use of Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Entities in Estate Planning (10/9/2014) | 2014 |
Harvard Business School Association of Orange County Leadership Series, Irvine, CA | American Taxpayer Relief Act: Tax and Estate Planning Strategies to Implement Now | 2013 |
It's Your Estate | Estate Planning Review and Case Studies | 2013 |
WealthCounsel (1-hour webinar for financial advisors) | Collaborating to Make the Modern Estate Plan Work | 2013 |
It's Your Estate | Living Trusts and More - Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Asset Protection (4/24/2013) | 2013 |
2013 Planning for the Generations Symposium, Denver, CO (July 24-26, 2013) | Building Blocks of Estate Planning | 2013 |
WealthCounsel (1-hour webinar for estate planning attorneys) | Making the Modern Estate Plan Work: Funding Trusts | 2013 |
Annual Tax and Estate Planning Update | Annual Tax and Estate Planning Update | 2012 |
It's Your Estate | Advanced Estate Planning - Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Asset Protection (4/24/2012) | 2012 |
IFA | The Basics of Estate Planning | 2012 |
It's Your Estate | Advanced Estate Planning - Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Asset Protection (9/28/2012) | 2012 |
IFA | The Future of Gift and Estate Taxes | 2012 |
IFA | The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) | 2012 |
IFA | Developing an Estate Plan | 2012 |
IFA | More on Estate Planning | 2012 |
University of California Irvine School of Law | Modern Estate Planning | 2012 |
Financial Planning Association Annual National Conference (FPA Experience 2012) , San Antonio, TX (4-hour live presentation) | Making the Modern Estate Plan Work | 2012 |
Annual Tax and Estate Planning Update | Annual Tax and Estate Planning Update | 2011 |
Garrett Planning Network 11th Annual Confererence, Denver, CO (October 27-30, 2011) | Tax and Estate Planning Update | 2011 |
It's Your Estate | Advanced Estate Planning | 2011 |
It's Your Estate | Advanced Estate Planning | 2010 |
Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development | Estate & Business Succession Planning | 2010 |
UCLA | Business and Estate Planning, Asset Protection, and Tax Law | 2010 |
The Bottom Line - News Radio 980 | Estate Planning - Part II | 2009 |
It's Your Estate | Advanced Estate Planning | 2009 |
WealthCounsel Audio Conference | Estate Planning Strategies | 2009 |
The Bottom Line - News Radio 980 | Estate Planning - Part III | 2009 |
Laguna Beach Business Club | Planning for the Future Utilizing New Techniques in Estate Planning | 2009 |
The Bottom Line - News Radio 980 | Estate Planning - Part I | 2009 |
It's Your Estate | Estate Planning Case Studies | 2009 |
UMKC | Estate Planning Documents | 2009 |
Coastal Business Exchange | Estate Planning | 2008 |
Team Women | Estate Planning | 2008 |
It's Your Estate | Advanced Estate Planning | 2008 |
California Society of Certified Public Accountants, Los Angeles, CA | Estate Planning | 2007 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Probate - Orange County Superior Court | Court Approved |
Spousal Property Petition - San Diego Superior Court | Court Approved |
Heggstad Petition - Orange County Superior Court | Court Approved |
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Howard Roitman, Probate Attorney on Jul 10, 2012
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer.
Okorie Okorocha, Estate planning Attorney on Apr 21, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I generally do NOT like other lawyers, am not friends with other lawyers, but Leslie is one I like and the only estate planning lawyer I would trust my clients with.
Howard Roitman, Probate Attorney on Jul 10, 2012
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer.
Okorie Okorocha, Estate planning Attorney on Apr 21, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I generally do NOT like other lawyers, am not friends with other lawyers, but Leslie is one I like and the only estate planning lawyer I would trust my clients with.
Jonathan Reed, Estate planning Attorney on Feb 15, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer for her very informative website and avvo.com articles
Benjamin Sowards, Estate planning Attorney on Aug 17, 2009
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer's work. Leslie provides top notch advice on all matters related to estate planning, probate, trusts and wills. She has the experience to get the job done right the first time.
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