Author: Kevin Brown

IN 2023

JANANI S. RANA, CFLS*

*CERTIFIED SPECIALIST – FAMILY LAW
THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION

HAS BEEN NAMED A PARTNER OF THE FIRM

JENNIFER CORONA

SAMANTHA K. SHEEHAN

SHABNAM SAADATKHAH

JOINED THE MINYARD MORRIS TEAM AS ASSOCIATES

ATTORNEY NEWS

Mark E. Minyard

• Recipient of the Franklin G. West Award presented at OCBA Judges’ Night
• Selected by Daily Journal as a Top 20 Family Law Attorney in California
• Authored four-part article, “Family Law Courts – A Call for Effective Change” for The Daily Journal
• Authored article for OC Lawyer Magazine, “Ten Years After the Elkins Task Force, Judicial Openings Remain”
• Co-authored article for OC Lawyer Magazine “Toxic Stress on Children in High Conflict Divorces, Judicial Vacancies Remain”
• Lectured at Chapman Law School on Complex Issues in Family Law
• Presented at OCBA for Small Firm/Solo Practitioner Section “OCBA: The Master Experience”

Michael A. Morris

• Presented at Association of Certified Family Law Specialists’ Annual Spring 2023 Seminar

Matthew S. Buttacavoli

• Presented at OCBA Family Law Section: “Tools for Dealing With The Non-Disclosing Business Owner: Beyond Motions to Compel”
• Elected President of the Constitutional Rights Foundation-Orange County’s Board of Directors
• Presented at Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, “Navigating Settlement Conferences: Harnessing the Tools to Settle Your Client’s Case” with Judge Stock

Alexander C. Payne

• Admitted as Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Elected to Public Law Center’s Board of Directors

Janani S. Rana

• Elected to the Orange County Women Lawyers Association 2024 Board of Directors
• Installed as South Asian Bar Association of Southern California-Orange County Judicial Endorsement Committee Co-Chair
• Installed as USC Gould Orange County Committee Co-Chair for 2nd Term
• Co-authored article, “What Every Business Owner Should Know About Divorce in Orange County,” with CPA Robert Watts for OC Lawyer Magazine
• Hosted USC Gould OC Chapter Dinner at Minyard Morris

Jonathan T. Little

• Presented at OCBA Family Law Section: “Tools For Dealing With The Non-Disclosing Business Owner: Beyond Motions to Compel”
• Presented at OCBA YLD: “Demystifying Depositions: The Laws, Tips, & Strategies You Need to Know”

Scott M. Savage

• Presented at OCBA Family Law Section “Tips and Strategies to Oppose and Move-Away Request” with Judge Miller & Attorney Campuzano
• Presented at OCBA Family Law Series Part 1: “Custody, Child Support & DVPA”

Aditi Murillo

• Elected to OCBA YLD Board as Diversity & Inclusion Chair
• Elected to serve on Project Youth OC Associate Board
• Attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Advanced Cross Examination
• Volunteered as Presenter for Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County’s 8th Grade Constitution Day Program

John Murillo

• Elected to OCBA YLD Board as Education Chair
• Elected to serve on Project Youth OC Associate Board
• Attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Advanced Cross Examination
• Volunteered as Presenter for Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County’s 8th Grade Constitution Day Program
• Co-Chaired associate attorney’s Jonathan T. Little’s OCBA YLD Presentation: “Demystifying Depositions: The Laws, Tips, & Strategies You Need to Know
• Co-Chaired OCBA YLD Presentation: “Impaired Colleague? Addressing Attorney Competency, the Warning Signs, and Getting Help.”

Leyla S. Tabatabaie

• Elected to Second Term of Iranian American Bar Association’s Orange County Board
• Attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Advanced Cross Examination

Samantha K. Sheehan

• Attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Kolodny Trial Skills

Denise H. Koeller

• Elected to the Orange County Asian American Bar Association Board of Directors

FIRM NEWS

Super Lawyers

• Top 50 Lawyers – Orange County
  • Mark E. Minyard and Michael A. Morris
• Top 100 Lawyers – Southern California
  • Mark E. Minyard
• Super Lawyers for 2023
  • Mark E. Minyard, Michael A. Morris, Lonnie K. Seide, Matthew S. Buttacavoli
• Rising Stars for 2023
  • Alexander C. Payne, Janani S. Rana, Leyla S. Tabatabaie, Samantha K. Sheehan

Best Lawyers

• Minyard Morris selected as a Tier 1 Best Law Firm for 2024
• Best Lawyers for 2024
  • Mark E. Minyard, Michael A. Morris, Lonnie K. Seide
• Ones to Watch for 2024
  • Alexander C. Payne, Janani S. Rana, Scott M. Savage, Leyla S. Tabatabaie, Denise H. Koeller, Vicky Zuberi

Lawdragon

• Leading Family Lawyers for 2024
  • Mark E. Minyard and Michael A. Morris

SPONSORSHIPS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Minyard Morris contributed to the following non-profit organizations in 2023:

• OCHBA Installation
• OCBF Project Youth – OC Marathon
• OCBA Masters Division Celebratory Lunch
• OCBA Charitable Fund – Golf Tournament
• SABA-SC Annual Banquet
• PLC Volunteers for Justice
• OCBF Brewfest
• OCBA Masters Division Angels Games
• OCAABA Installation Dinner
• USC Gould Summer Mixer
• OCBA Charitable Fund
• OCBA Masters Division Legends of the Law
• ADL Jurisprudence Dinner
• IABA Annual ABC Night
• OCKABA 18th Installation Dinner
• CRF-OC Annual Benefit
• Legal Aid SoCal Justice Served
• OCWLA Annual Gala
• PLC Halloween Bash
• VABASC Installation
• VLI Lawyer for Warriors
• USC Gould Annual Holiday Mixer
• MSB’s USD OC Law Alumni Holiday Party
• OCBA Masters Division Winter Celebration
• OCBF Project Youth
• Public Law Center
• Hispanic Bar Association
• AAML

Holiday Greetings!

Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for their patronage during 2023.  We truly appreciate your business and confidence in us.

We would also like to wish each of you our warmest holiday greetings and best for a healthy 2024!

Need Help?

We are always available to serve you with your estate planning, conservatorships and probate & litigation requirements.  Please contact Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC at (714) 384-6053 to make an appointment, or use our online contact form.  Our website is http://www.ocestateplanning.net.

Introducing Our Newest Probate & Trust Litigation Attorney – Emily A. Pepper

Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC is pleased to announce the addition of Emily A. Pepper to our Probate & Trust Litigation team.

Ms. Pepper brings a wealth of experience in trusts and estates to our clients.  She was previously an Associate Attorney at Greenberg Traurig, where she gained extensive training in trusts and estates, as well as related real estate and corporate matters.  She then joined Northern Trust Company before coming to Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC.  This combined legal, wealth management, and fiduciary expertise has positioned Ms. Pepper to meticulously advocate and litigate for clients in the trust and estate practice area.

Focus Areas

• Trust & Estate Litigation
• Trust & Estate Asset Litigation
• Breach of Fiduciary Duty
• Trustee & Executor Removal
• Undue Influence/Financial Elder Abuse
• Beneficiary Rights
• Contested Conservatorships

Ms. Pepper received her Juris Doctorate degree from the Dale E. Fowler School of Law at Chapman University in Orange County, California.   On a personal note, Ms. Pepper is the founder of E. Audrey Enterprises, and is a connoisseur of fashion, home décor, and furniture.  Additionally, she is deeply committed to various charitable causes, in particular animal rescue efforts.

Please contact Emily at emily@ocestateplanning.net.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing Estate Plans

An estate plan should provide for the distribution of your assets, the care of your dependents, and the naming of an executor to entrust the carrying out of your wishes.  When properly crafted, it will save time, money, and stress for your loved ones – including reducing the likelihood of family disputes.  These straightforward goals are easily stated but implementation is much more difficult.

Unfortunately, many estates are tumultuous and even disputed due to mistakes made when crafting an estate plan.  Let’s look at some of the more common errors:

Avoid These Mistakes 

1. Selecting the wrong trustee – If you choose an incompetent trustee, it doesn’t really matter if you get everything else right in creating your estate plan. A trustee is responsible for managing a trust on behalf of its beneficiaries and distributing assets according to the trust’s specifications (see “What does a Trustee do after the Settlor dies?”).  Finding the right person to be in charge (either a professional trustee or a non-professional) can be the difference between positive and detrimental family relations after you depart, so take the time to select the right person.
2. Messing up your beneficiaries – Quite often, a spouse and children will be first in line for inheritance, followed by parents, siblings, extended family members. However, this is certainly not always the case – and it may change over time.  Are certain friends more important in your life vs. a relative that is inconsequential? Would you like to provide for a charity? Do some people need money more than others?
3. Not considering all your assets – It’s important to carefully consider all your assets and include a provision for everything that you wish to distribute to your beneficiaries. This doesn’t necessarily mean designating specific assets vs. splitting everything equally (i.e., there are important legal impacts of such strategies), but it does mean knowing what assets you have and evaluating if there is merit in unequal distribution and/or specific allocations.
4. Asset distribution – Equality is a concept that many trustors use as a baseline when deciding how to divide up their estate. It is much simpler, and the initial perception might be that “fair” clearly means an equal split of all assets to beneficiaries – but this isn’t necessarily the case. In many circumstances, equal distribution of assets among beneficiaries is the right choice, but there are some cases where fair/equitable distribution (unequal distribution) better suits the trustor’s goals.
5. Neglecting asset titling/funding the trust – Creating a will or trust can designate plans for your assets but it is very important to take the next step and ensure that assets are properly titled. The titling will impact who controls the assets, how your assets are distributed, tax consequences, whether or not they need to go through probate, and whether the assets are subject to creditors’ claims. To “fund” a trust simply means to transfer assets into it.
6. Not executing the estate plan properly – This includes getting all the facts correct, attending to every detail, and having all the proper legal documentation in place.
7. Forgetting about taxes, debts, and other liabilities – Taxes are a critical consideration in estate planning, even if your estate is under the federal estate tax exemption. These may involve gift taxes, Inherited IRAs, state taxes, etc.  While debt is a day-to-day matter in most of our lives, it can become a challenge for your heirs.  No debt, liability or claim should be paid until you meet with an estate attorney.
8. Failure to hold a family meeting – While many trustors avoid discussing their estate plan with heirs, this can be a mistake in terms of the goal of avoiding disputes and maintaining family harmony. A family meeting can help to prevent surprises, should the trustor become incapacitated or pass away, as well as to minimize potential disagreements and discord.

This list could be very long –see “More Mistakes Made When Drafting an Estate Plan.”

Specialized Estate Planning Expertise
Taking the time and effort to create an estate plan is one of the most thoughtful steps you can take for your family and loved ones.  For many families, the less decisions that are left for your heirs, the better it is for all concerned.  Attending to the above issues can be a major step in heading off conflicts.

At Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC we have decades of experience in helping clients to navigate through myriad issues in estate planning.  If you need legal expertise in addressing your specific estate planning needs, please contact Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC at (714) 384-6053 to make an appointment, or use our online contact form.  Our website is http://www.ocestateplanning.net.

About the author:
Tamsen R. Reinheimer, Attorney, is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). She has significant experience in all aspects of estate planning, trust administration, and probate. Contact Tamsen at tamsen@ocestateplanning.net.v

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing Estate Plans

An estate plan should provide for the distribution of your assets, the care of your dependents, and the naming of an executor to entrust the carrying out of your wishes.  When properly crafted, it will save time, money, and stress for your loved ones – including reducing the likelihood of family disputes.  These straightforward goals are easily stated but implementation is much more difficult.

Unfortunately, many estates are tumultuous and even disputed due to mistakes made when crafting an estate plan.  Let’s look at some of the more common errors:

Avoid These Mistakes 

1. Selecting the wrong trustee – If you choose an incompetent trustee, it doesn’t really matter if you get everything else right in creating your estate plan. A trustee is responsible for managing a trust on behalf of its beneficiaries and distributing assets according to the trust’s specifications (see “What does a Trustee do after the Settlor dies?”).  Finding the right person to be in charge (either a professional trustee or a non-professional) can be the difference between positive and detrimental family relations after you depart, so take the time to select the right person.
2. Messing up your beneficiaries – Quite often, a spouse and children will be first in line for inheritance, followed by parents, siblings, extended family members. However, this is certainly not always the case – and it may change over time.  Are certain friends more important in your life vs. a relative that is inconsequential? Would you like to provide for a charity? Do some people need money more than others?
3. Not considering all your assets – It’s important to carefully consider all your assets and include a provision for everything that you wish to distribute to your beneficiaries. This doesn’t necessarily mean designating specific assets vs. splitting everything equally (i.e., there are important legal impacts of such strategies), but it does mean knowing what assets you have and evaluating if there is merit in unequal distribution and/or specific allocations.
4. Asset distribution – Equality is a concept that many trustors use as a baseline when deciding how to divide up their estate. It is much simpler, and the initial perception might be that “fair” clearly means an equal split of all assets to beneficiaries – but this isn’t necessarily the case. In many circumstances, equal distribution of assets among beneficiaries is the right choice, but there are some cases where fair/equitable distribution (unequal distribution) better suits the trustor’s goals.
5. Neglecting asset titling/funding the trust – Creating a will or trust can designate plans for your assets but it is very important to take the next step and ensure that assets are properly titled. The titling will impact who controls the assets, how your assets are distributed, tax consequences, whether or not they need to go through probate, and whether the assets are subject to creditors’ claims. To “fund” a trust simply means to transfer assets into it.
6. Not executing the estate plan properly – This includes getting all the facts correct, attending to every detail, and having all the proper legal documentation in place.
7. Forgetting about taxes, debts, and other liabilities – Taxes are a critical consideration in estate planning, even if your estate is under the federal estate tax exemption. These may involve gift taxes, Inherited IRAs, state taxes, etc.  While debt is a day-to-day matter in most of our lives, it can become a challenge for your heirs.  No debt, liability or claim should be paid until you meet with an estate attorney.
8. Failure to hold a family meeting – While many trustors avoid discussing their estate plan with heirs, this can be a mistake in terms of the goal of avoiding disputes and maintaining family harmony. A family meeting can help to prevent surprises, should the trustor become incapacitated or pass away, as well as to minimize potential disagreements and discord.

This list could be very long –see “More Mistakes Made When Drafting an Estate Plan.”

Specialized Estate Planning Expertise
Taking the time and effort to create an estate plan is one of the most thoughtful steps you can take for your family and loved ones.  For many families, the less decisions that are left for your heirs, the better it is for all concerned.  Attending to the above issues can be a major step in heading off conflicts.

At Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC we have decades of experience in helping clients to navigate through myriad issues in estate planning.  If you need legal expertise in addressing your specific estate planning needs, please contact Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC at (714) 384-6053 to make an appointment, or use our online contact form.  Our website is http://www.ocestateplanning.net.

About the author:
Tamsen R. Reinheimer, Attorney, is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). She has significant experience in all aspects of estate planning, trust administration, and probate. Contact Tamsen at tamsen@ocestateplanning.net.

Recent Engagement:
Day-to-Day Management Services

Recent Engagement:
Day-to-Day Management Services

Options exist to soften the appearance of fine lines on the face. In addition to BOTOX®, we now also offer DAXXIFY®.  DAXXIFY® serves as a substitute for BOTOX® and is effective in both preventing and treating wrinkles, with the added advantage of having a longer-lasting effect.

Click here to see the DAXXIFY® video.

We invite you to schedule a consultation to discuss the best options for your personal goals.

Two additional procedures that have been very popular with patients are threadlifts and designer fillers.

Thread Lifts for Facial Rejuvenation

Thread lifts offer a non-surgical option for facial rejuvenation. The recent launch of Infinity Plus molded threads, made by NovaThreads®, offers increased precision and accuracy for facial aesthetics.

• How do they work? The threads are made of absorbable material.  They are placed underneath the skin to reposition overlying tissue to a more favorable location, while maintaining a natural appearance. As the threads absorb over time, new collagen is formed which will tighten your skin.
• Where can they be used? The threads can be placed for lifting the brows, cheek, jowl line, and neck. Also, they can be used to soften fine lines, stimulate collagen, and tighten skin on forehead, around the eyes, lips, jowls, and neck.
• More info: Results last approximately 8-12 months. No incisions are required. The procedure is performed in our office. No anesthesia is required.

We Offer the “Designer Filler“

Fillers add volume to help soften and smooth wrinkles and contour the face. We are excited to offer the RHA® Collection, the latest innovation in hyaluronic acid fillers.  The excellence of Swiss science is now available at our practice.

Click here for a video on the RHA® Collection.

How to proceed 

If you have patients who are interested in these procedures, please have them call our office at 657-722-1400 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zeineh.  Your referrals are always appreciated.

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About Linda L. Zeineh, M.D., FACS

Dr. Zeineh is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. She combines over 18 years of experience with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in private practice with new technology and techniques in the care of her patients. Her first priority is the satisfaction and well-being of her patients, providing compassionate and personalized care.

A complete range of non-surgical and minimally invasive rejuvenation procedures are personally performed by Dr. Zeineh on her patients to achieve and maintain a youthful, refreshed, and natural appearance, including facial injections, skin tightening and facial/body contouring. Surgical procedures that Dr. Zeineh performs include: facial rejuvenation, body contouring, reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery, and reconstructive surgery.

How to Select the Right Estate Planning Attorney for Your Needs

If you were to look for an estate planning attorney via a Google search, you’d likely find over a dozen pages of hundreds of candidates.  It quickly becomes clear that simply finding someone to help you in preparing a will and trust isn’t difficult at all.  The hard part is in finding an attorney that is qualified and suited to meet your particular needs.

In this article, we’ll cover key facts that you likely want to know.  We’ll address questions such as:

• What are some qualifications that I should look for?
• How can I know if one attorney is better for me than another?
• Is finding the lowest price and “best deal” the right approach? 

What Qualifications are Necessary?

At the most basic level, all attorneys are ethically expected to perform in a certain manner, including: providing clients with an informed understanding of their legal rights and obligations and explaining practical implications; be competent, prompt and diligent; maintain communication with the client concerning the representation; and conduct should conform to the requirements of the law, both in professional service to clients and in the lawyer’s business and personal affairs.  So, you should expect those qualities from any attorney that you might consider.  However, if you research some attorneys you’ll find that their review/references don’t always show high marks in these areas, such as slow-to-respond, speaking in legalese that confuses clients, lacking diligence in attending to a client’s specific needs, etc.  If you have any concerns after interviewing attorneys, it is suggested that you ask for references and look at online reviews as part of your selection process.

Beyond these basics, there are differentiating qualities that you should consider.  If you want a better overall, personalized experience vs. a lower-end/cheap price product, these should be important to you:

• Specialized expertise as a “Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law” by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
• Many years of experience in estate planning
• Reputation with legal colleagues
• History of satisfied clients
• Understands your needs and specific situation
• Responsiveness and attentiveness to your engagement
• Reasonable rates

In addition, you will benefit from an attorney who has a “high standard of client care” that will make the entire experience more enjoyable and satisfying for you, such as:

• Effective in day-to-day guidance, step-by-step directions
• Clear communication and terminology
• Do you feel comfortable working with them?

The Selection Process

Now that you know the qualifications that are necessary, it’s time to start the process of finding the right attorney to work with in preparing your estate plan. Here are some important steps:

• Compile a list of candidates. Ask friends, talk to professional resources (e.g., your CPA, estate planning attorney, business attorney, life insurance agent, etc.), and perform internet research to identify a list of quality candidates.
• Review qualifications (per above). You’ll want to have clear answers that make you feel confident in moving forward.
• Contact each candidate for an interview. Ask questions that are important to you.  Get a sense as to whether the attorney cares about your situation and is willing to invest the time to fully satisfy your concerns.
• Make a final selection. Evaluate all finalists based on the same factors and most likely one will rise to the top, depending upon the attorney’s expertise/experience/reputation, your comfort level in working with the attorney, and rates, among any other factors that are critical to you.

How to Find the Right One

While the above steps simplify the process, it can sometimes still be difficult to sort out who is best for you … (READ THE FULL ARTICLE)

Specialized Estate Planning Expertise

At Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC we recognize that some of the most important decisions involve protecting what you have earned, and planning to provide for your loved ones.  If you need legal expertise in addressing your specific estate planning needs, please contact Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC at (714) 384-6053 to make an appointment, or use our online contact form. Our website is http://www.ocestateplanning.net.

About the author:
Tamsen R. Reinheimer, Attorney, is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). She has significant experience in all aspects of estate planning, trust administration, and probate. Contact Tamsen at tamsen@ocestateplanning.net.

Recent Engagement:
Day-to-Day Management Services