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Sheila-Marie Finkelstein

Estate planning Attorney at Lakewood, CA

5.0   1 review
  • Licensed for 12 years
    State CA
    Acquired 2011
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

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

About Sheila-Marie

Learn Sheila-Marie’s areas of practice.

Sheila-Marie Finklestein is the Principal Attorney at AHAVA Law, P.C. She practices exclusively in Trusts, Estates, and Probate.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Sheila-Marie was an elementary school science teacher with Teach for America, a clerk for the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Office, and served as an in-house counsel for a community hospital. These experiences taught her the importance of a well drafted and funded comprehensive estate plan. She helps clients with matters involving trusts, advance health care directive, trust administration, conservatorship, probate administration, etc.

Sheila-Marie serves on several community non profit boards, including the Orange County Women Lawyers Association, Orange County Jewish Bar Association, OCBA Veterans and Military Committee, and Veterans' Legal Institute. She also created and is the primary attorney for the VLI Estate Clinic, which provides pro bono estate services to service members and veterans. 

She has received numerous accolades in appreciation of her charitbale service, including, the Proclamation Recognition from the City of Corona, Volunteer Recognition from the Orange County Bar Association, and recognition from the State of California for her work with Veterans. 

 

Contact Sheila-Marie

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Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  1 customer review
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Posted by anonymous | September 16, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
She saved my grandma's estate.
My Grandmother took ill very suddenly, and did not have her affairs in order. Sheila-Marie Finkelstein came very highly recommended, in my personal circle. She was willing to come all the way from Irvine to visit my grandmother. First time in her home in Rancho Palos Verdes and the second time in the hospital in Torrence. At the hospital she went over all the paperwork with my grandmother, and always with a big smile on her face. Sheila-Marie Finkelstein is not just a lawyer. Since my grandmother's passing the family has had no unexpected legal issues dealing with my grandma's Estate. The Trust, Will and other documents Finkelstein provided my grandmother to leave behind have been invaluable.
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
  • Hourly Rates $ 300-350 per hour
  • Retainer Always
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Associate
  • Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC
  • 2015 - Present
  • Attorney
  • Estate Planning, Probate & Conservatorship
  • 2011 - Present

Education

  • Washington and Lee University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2011
  • University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law
  • International Law Student
  • 2010
  • University of Nevada-Las Vegas
  • M.Ed.
  • 2008
  • American University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 2006
  • Chapman University School of Law
  • LL.M - Master of Laws
  • N/A
View all education

Associations

  • Orange County Jewish Bar Association
  • Secretary
  • 2015 - Present
  • Orange County Women Lawyers Association
  • Director
  • 2015 - Present
  • Orange County Young Trusts & Estates Attorneys - Lunch & Learn Founder
  • Director
  • 2015 - Present
  • SoCal BNI - Platinum Club
  • Vice President
  • 2015 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association, Veterans & Military Committee
  • Vice Chair
  • 2015 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section
  • Member
  • 2014 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association, Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section
  • Member
  • 2014 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
  • Member
  • 2012 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • Military & Veteran Task Force
  • 2014 - 2015
  • Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (Education Chair 2014)
  • Chair
  • 2013 - 2014
  • Orange County Jewish Bar Association
  • Executive Committee
  • 2013 - 2015
  • Orange County Women Lawyers Association
  • Member
  • 2012 - 2015
  • Orange County Jewish Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2011 - 2013
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2018
  • Volunteer Recognition
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • 2017
  • Recognition for Providing Pro Bono Services to Veterans
  • California State Senate - Sen. Janet Nguyen
  • 2016
  • Recognition for Work With Veterans Legal Institute
  • U.S. House of Representatives - Rep. Mimi Walters
  • 2016
  • Recognition for Work With Veterans Legal Institute
  • U.S. House of Representatives - Rep. Loretta Sanchez
  • 2016
  • Volunteer Recognition
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • 2016
  • Proclamation Recognition
  • City of Corona
  • 2015
  • Volunteer Recognition
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • 2015
  • Volunteer Recognition
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • 2014
  • Third Year Service Award
  • Washington & Lee University School of Law
  • 2011
  • Honor Advocate
  • Washington & Lee University
  • 2011
View all awards

Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Why you need an Estate Plan: Avoid Probate
  • Avoid Probate
  • 2012
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (15)
Given (14)
Endorse Sheila-Marie
Estate planning Attorney | Aug 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Sheila-Marie is a wonderful attorney, knowledgeable, caring and charismatic. She is an absolute pleasure to work with and I fully recommend her for your Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate needs."
Estate planning Attorney | Aug 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Sheila-Marie is a brilliant attorney that always goes above and beyond. She is caring and is such an innovator in estate planning. She is a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend her to anyone needing to get their estate planning done."
Unknown Attorney | Apr 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. She is a top-notch attorney who is highly respected among the legal community."
Estate planning Attorney | Jan 15
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 27
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I met Sheila-Marie Finkelstein thanks to the Orange County Bar Association, an organization to which she constantly gives back. Her compassion and passion for helping people is immediately apparent not by her words, but through her actions. As a human being who puts not just her clients, but in general persons about herself, Sheila-Marie radiates professionalism. Because of this, I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 25
Relationship: Supervised lawyer
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Nov 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Finkelstein is a knowledgeable and compassionate advocate. I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Nov 20
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 20
Relationship: Co-worker
"Sheila-Marie is extremely smart and enthusiastic. I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 19
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 19
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 05
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"A thorough and knowledgeable estate planning attorney."
Family Attorney | Nov 04
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Estate planning Attorney | Nov 04
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Sheila-Marie Finkelstein is a compassionate, extremely knowledgeable attorney who genuinely cares about the well-being of her clients. I would whole-heartedly recommend her."
Estate planning Attorney | Jan 29
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I've known Sheila-Marie since the early days of law school, through bar review, and on through a few years of practice. She's caring, brilliant, and does her absolute best on every matter she handles. She's at the top of my referral list, not just because she's a dear friend, but because she's an excellent attorney as well."
View more endorsements

Avvo Contributions

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Lakewood Estate planning Lawyer Sheila-Marie Finkelstein
Sheila-Marie Finkelstein
Estate planning Attorney
Lakewood, CA
Licensed for 12 years
Free Consultation