Find a Lawyer California San Luis Obispo Estate Planning
Stephen Kenneth Hall

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Stephen Kenneth Hall

5.0
5 reviews
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
Rating: 7.6

Licensed for 36 years

Estate planning Lawyer at San Luis Obispo, CA
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Trusts, Probate

756 Santa Rosa Street, San Luis Obispo, CA

Virtual Consultation Available

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Call for a FREE consultation (805) 321-1634

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Stephen Kenneth Hall's Website
Overview Reviews Experience Activity
Overview Reviews Experience Activity
Call for a FREE consultation (805) 321-1634

About Stephen

Biography

Serving the estate planning needs of the families of the Central Coast since 1989.

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 40%

We have created and perfected estate plans for single adults and married adults of all ages and walks of life. We take great pride and pleasure in delivering an estate plan that is tailor made to protect a client’s pre and post retirement financial security, to protect a client’s personal autonomy while alive, and to protect and preserve their lasting legacy at death.

37 years

40%
Elder Law 20%

37 years

20%
Probate 20%

37 years

20%
Trusts 20%

Even a flawlessly drafted last will or trust will fail in important respects if the person carrying out its terms is ill-informed, unguided, negligent or incompetent. Similarly, to the extent that an estate plan relies on properly drafted trust instruments to achieve its objectives, the well-informed and well-represented fiduciary is essential to the estate plan’s success.

37 years

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes

Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Silver Client Champion
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Silver Client Champion

Silver Client Champion

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service.

This attorney has received at least 3 client reviews, and has an average score of 4.0 or higher.

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

An elite group of attorneys who have been rated highly by their peers as having Very High Ethical Standards and an A grade (4.5 or higher).

This is the highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Licenses

Licensed in California for 36 years

State: California

Acquired: 1989

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Stephen K. Hall & Associates

(805) 547-3837

Fax

756 Santa Rosa Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401

skhassociates.com
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Stephen Kenneth Hall's Reviews

5 star

(2)

4 star

(0)

3 star

(0)

2 star

(0)

1 star

(0)

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 client reviews from Avvo

All reviews (2)

Posted by Bob and Linda | August 11, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

An Experienced, Knowledgeable and Honest Lawyer

Several years ago we hired Stephen Hall to write the documents for our estate. Since then we have retained him for counsel regarding gift-giving and other items throughout the years with the latest issue being the distribution of our father’s estate. When our father died with full blown dementia he... left control of his sizable estate and a portion of his holdings to an unlicensed caregiver who had being living with him for a few years. Mr. Hall immediately petitioned the court to have the person removed as trustee. In the courtroom we found Stephen to be an experienced and well prepared negotiator, he sited where the State of California form to leave an inheritance to a caregiver had not been filled out and past cases where abuse occurred; he then met our objective to have the estate put safely in the hands of a fiduciary. Stephen was confident, authoritative and direct. When we met with the caregiver in mediation to resolve the issue of their inheritance Stephen sized up the possible outcomes as new information came to light and counseled us on our options. It came to the point where we had to make a pretty tough decision. Stephen was professional and supportive as he counseled us on the monetary, emotional and time costs to us if we went to trial. This was helpful in making our decision. Stephen Hall is a man who open and above board in every aspect of his dealings. His high moral fiber comes to surface as you work through a process with him. He is committed to giving his clients the best service from himself as well as from his staff.

Posted by Randy | March 26, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Stephen Hall is knowledgeable, proffessional, and personable.

When my aging parents needed help with their estate planning I set out to interview attorneys for the job of reviewing and updating their existing trust. I gathered recommendations from other professionals in the community, and Stephen Hall was one of three that I met with for initial consultation. ... While the other two attorneys I met with were more than competent to handle the job, Mr. Hall stood head and shoulders above them both. Mr. Hall's in-depth knowledge of not only the law, but of estate tax issues as well, is a combination that I have not found with any other attorney. He asked questions none of the other attorneys asked, and provided ideas that none of the other attorneys offered either. It was a crystal clear decision to hire Mr. Hall. Since the initial work with my parent's trust, we have had him work on our own family trust, as well as my wife's parents. I have recommended him to anyone who asks, and without exception people have been profoundly pleased with the work of this office. Not only is Mr. Hall one of the most knowledgeable attorneys I've ever worked with, but his staff are all highly professional, competent, and responsive. I cannot recommend this team highly enough.

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Stephen Kenneth Hall's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Stephen
Matthew Michael O'Leary headshot
Matthew O'Leary

Elder law lawyer | Jul 05

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Stephen Hall is intelligent, generous with his time, and a thoughtful, creative problem solver. I endorse him whole-heartedly."

William David Ausman headshot
William Ausman

Estate planning lawyer | Apr 27

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse Stephen Hall. He is a smart, hardworking attorney who takes the time to get it right."

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This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.

Experience

Rating:  7.6 (Very Good)

Honors

2022

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale Hubbell

2022

Preeminant, Lawyers.com

2022

Silver Client champion, Martindale-Hubbell®

1983

Senior Fellow, Tulane University School of Law

Work Experience

1992 - Present

Principal, Stephen K. Hall & Associates

Associations

2016 - Present

Assistance League

Advisory Board

1999 - Present

California State Bar

Trusts & Estate Planning Sections

1989 - Present

American Bar Association

Member

1989 - Present

California State Bar

Member

1988 - Present

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Member

2012 - 2017

Trtansitions Mental Health Association

Board Member

1992 - 2022

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

In the Matter of the Estate and Trust of Parkill

Conservator appointed to protect elder and his assets and with later prosecuted successful challenge to wrongfully changed Will and to Trust

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Education

1983

Tulane University Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

1980

California State University, California Polytechnic State University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1979

Université de Bordeaux, France

D.U.E.G

Speaking Engagements

2022

Special Needs Trusts

Special Needs Planning

2006

NAELA Institute

Trusts, Estates & Elder Law

2000

NAELA Institute

Estate Tax Planning and Charitable Giving

1999

NAELA Insititute

Trust, Estates and Elder Law

1997

NAELA Institute

Long term Care Planning

Languages

English

French

Activity

20

Legal Answers

Legal Answers

Q&A

I'm executor of my father's trust. How do I deal with my older brother who lives in his house and refuses to vacate?

02 Nov 2019
Q&A

How can I force the trustee to distribute estate funds when consent and releases have been signed and 180 days has past?

23 Aug 2019
Q&A

If a will was located after I received letter of administration do I simply lodge it with the court or do I have to start over?

23 Aug 2019
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