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W. Bailey Smith
About W.
Biography
Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Probate – Irvine & Long Beach Offices
I graduated from Stanford University and the University of California, Hastings College of Law. After serving as an Agent in Counter-Intelligence in the United States Army, I practiced law as a Deputy District Attorney and then with a major Los Angeles law firm. I taught estate tax planning as an adjunct professor at Long Beach State for ten years. I continue to teach informative and timely seminars on estate and gift taxation, and provide lectures on tax savings throughout Southern California. I have been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the Reader’s Digest, the American Bar Association Journal, the Orange County Apartment Magazine, and the Orange County Lawyer.
I am a Trust Doctor, not a medical doctor. I fix trusts! Some trusts are broken, some are antiquated, and some need to be created. I help families avoid creditors and predators. I also assist families to reduce or eliminate the voluntary death tax. I show families how to keep their family money in their bloodline for generation after generation by avoiding the in-laws that often become the “outlaws”. How would you feel if your children or your grandchildren did not receive their inheritance?
I am a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Probate. My offices continue to serve the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas and are conveniently located in Irvine and Long Beach, California. Please call for your complimentary consultation today.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 495-495 per hour
Retainer
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 54 years
State: California
Acquired: 1971
No misconduct found
Location
Law Offices of W. Bailey Smith
2601 Main Street, Ste 1200, Irvine, CA, 92614
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W. Bailey Smith's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 16 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Heather Tremba | October 15, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Expert in his field
I had a very positive experience with the law firm of W. Bailey Smith after attending his seminar at Andres in Irvine. Bailey is an expert in his field; he has created over 8,000 trusts and is certified as an estate planning specialist by the CA bar. He is knowledgeable, passionate about what he does...
Posted by Kim | October 7, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Outstanding Estate Planning Attorney
We first met W. Bailey Smith (“The Trust Doctor”) at a seminar at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine. His presentation was engaging and easy to understand, so we scheduled a free follow-up appointment. During that meeting, he took the time to explain estate planning in clear, straightforward terms that mad...
Posted by Art | August 16, 2023 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
TRUSTS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
Provided excellent advice and produced of all the necessary documents for our state planning. this included trusts, wills, power of attorney and medical directives.
Posted by Ken, Betty | June 14, 2023 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
legacy trust
Was specific, designed a legacy trust to meet all families needs of our children, grand children, & protection again taxes creditors/probate. Great support staff as well. Ken, Betty Mackintosh
Posted by Lee | June 11, 2019 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Great Trust Lawyer
Bailey Smith recently updated my trust and I highly recommend him. I've known him for many years and he truly cares about protecting the interests of your family, loved ones an all concerned. He is very good at what he does and takes time explaining the benefits of having a trust and answering any qu...
W. Bailey Smith's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have known Bailey for over 40 years. Being also a certified specialist by the State Bar of California in the areas of Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, like Bailey, I know first-hand that he is a top-notch estate planning attorney. I wholeheartedly recommend Bailey to anyone looking to do an estate plan or update to an existing one."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known W. Bailey Smith as a professional colleague in several professional organizations where we are members together for quite a few years. Bailey is extremely knowledgeable about the field of estate and tax planning, and he has an impeccable record for ethics and high quality client services. I give W. Bailey Smith my highest recommendation."
"I know and have worked with Bailey for almost 40 years.. he is a great guy and no one knows more about estate planning and taxes .. he is the best."
"Bailey is not only a certified specilaist in the area of estate planning, he literally wrote the book on it! I recommend 100% of my clients with estate planning needs to Bailey. He can save their heirs thousands to millions of dollars."
"Bailey is a recognized leader in estate planning, trusts, and trust administration. He brings decades of leadership in these fields. He is a dedicated, thoughtful professional who has no peers."
"I endorse this lawyer. Bailey Smith is a certified specialist in estate planning, trusts and probate. He is a well respected estate planning attorney in Southern California."
"I endorse this lawyer. Bailey has been one of the top trusts and estates attorneys in Orange County for decades. There is nothing a client can ask of Bailey that he has not seen before. Top notch."
"Over the years Bailey has provided my clients in Hawaii with expert services in funding their California properties into trust and other related estate planning matters. He is one of California's best and brightest."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Christine Weiner
Estate planning lawyer
Philip Sheldon
Lawsuits and disputes lawyer
Del Hovden
Personal injury lawyer
Matthew Kinley
Health care lawyer
Experience
Honors
2019
Client Champion Award, Martindale-Hubbell
2019
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
Quoted in Best Selling Book, How To Avoid Probate by Norman Dacey
2000
Certified Specialist - Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law, State Bar of California
Work Experience
2012 - Present
Attorney, Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle, LLP
1997 - 2007
Adjunct Professor, California State Long Beach
1973 - 1975
Associate, Haight Brown & Bonesteel
1971 - 1973
District Attorney, Riverside District Attoreny
Associations
1980 - Present
Orange Coast Estate Planning Trust CouncilMember
1974 - Present
Orange County Bar AssociationMember
1974 - Present
State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates SectionMember
2001 - 2001
Orange County Estate Planning CouncilBoard of Directors
Education
1969
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1965
Stanford University
undergraduate
Speaking Engagements
2019
Last Minute Tax Planning
Last Minute Tax Planning
2018
President Trump's New Tax Law
President Trump's New Tax Law
2016
How to Administrate a Trust
How to Administer a Trust
2015
Radisson Hotel
The New Rules In Estate Tax Planning for 2015
2015
Professional Fiduciary Services
Estate Tax Planning Today
2015
Farmers & Merchants Bank in Newport Beach
Current Developments In Estate Planning
2014
Wells Fargo Bank Conference
How To Plan Your Estate Today
2014
Radisson Hotel
Portability Of The Estate Tax Exemption
2014
Orange County Medical Association
10 Biggest Legal Loopholes In The Tax Law
2014
Newport Beach-Irvine Rotary Club
How To Plan Your Estate Today
2014
Farmer & Merchants Bank in Long Beach
10 Biggest Mistakes In Estate Plan
2013
So You Are a Trustee, Now What?
Successor Trustee Duties
2011
Professional Fiduciary Services
Ancillary Estate Planning Documents
Publications
2005
Orange County Lawyer Magazine
What Is the Biggest Legal Loophole in the Tax Law Today
2002
Readers Digest
How To Avoid Probate
2000
American Bar Association Journal
How to Avoid the Gigolo
1997
Orange County Register
How Your Trust Works
1995
California Apartment Owners Association
How To Avoid Probate
Languages
English