We pinched pennies with our first Trust, and it was not great. We brought it to LifePlan and worked with Pete. He reviewed the whole thing, told us some points of concern, and wrote a new Trust. Over two video calls, he discussed out needs and ironed out details. He explained every bit of it, answered questions, did the legwork to put our home in the Trust, and detailed our follow up actions. Stellar experience, I would recommend without hesitation. read more

Jay has a calm, professional demeanor and was able to walk us through making our trust and wills for our blended family. He clearly explained each part of the process and answered all of our questions. We now have all the information in a neat binder and on a thumb drive. It's such a relief knowing that our adult children will be able to easily handle our assets when we are either incapacitated or dead according to our wishes. They have thanked us repeatedly for doing this as they are watching how friends/family are struggling after a parent died without one. I highly recommend Jay and have referred several friends and family members to him. read more

Because of difficult life changing events, estate planning needed updating. Overall Peter was timely, listened to my needs, process went smoo read more

My wife and I worked with Jay to establish a revocable living trust. During our in person meetings, Jay took his time to understand our needs and concerns. He patiently explained the different trust options and their trade offs on capital gains tax treatments and step up basis on our assets. He was knowledgeable and helpful in guiding us during the process. Before the signing of the trust, Jay sent us a draft and thoroughly reviewed the document with us, explaining the terminology and the purpose behind some of the clauses. He then provided detailed instructions on how to transfer assets into the trust during signing. We are very happy to have worked with Jay. read more

LifePlan Lawyer office was highly recommended for our living trust and the recommendation was spot on. The wife and I have been putting this off for a few years but finally came around to get it done. I have endless praise for Jay, Peter, Debbie and Laurie on their knowledge and professionalism as well as making the process stress free. Great communication with all and the Zoom calls with Peter answered all our questions. I would highly recommend them for all your estate planning and life needs. read more

The whole team at LifePlan Lawyer has been amazing! Very knowledgeable, easy to work with and very helpful! I highly recommend them. read more

Highly recommend! They came highly recommended and exceeded our expectations. These are good people who you can trust to give you the right advice even when it doesn't benefit them. First we went to them for our trust but they said we weren't the right fit and explained why (very good reasons!). Then we went back to them for help for other family- they spent 45 minutes with us explaining options only to recommend another lawyer for our situation. After speaking with that lawyer, he recommended Jay write the trust updates with some of his input and he did a wonderful job. Jay was truly kind, patient and thorough with our family. His explanations made me wish we could have used him for our trust- I learned so much! Very very grateful to Jay and Debbie for their care and help read more

Both my wife and i are very happy with the service we received from both Pete and Jay, they are very professional and and did a great job of setting up our trust and will for us. I highly recamend their services to anyone of my friends and family. read more

I very much enjoyed working with LifePlan Lawyer on my estate plan. It was a super clear and efficient process. Pete was great. Everyone is friendly and helpful. A nice family business. I highly, highly recommend them. read more

The entire team at LifePlan Lawyer is exceptional. Look no further; your search for a reliable firm ends here. Our needs were probate related; they accepted our lengthy and very complicated case and guided us through every step of the process with professionalism, efficiency, clear communication, and lots of kindness. We cannot thank them enough and will continue to recommend them highly for any and all estate planning matters. read more

I wish I could give them a zero rating. Jay handled my mother in laws trust. He "forgot" to give us a very important document after her death and caused a lot of friction in the family. It was an amendment to her trust that we specifically asked about and he said it did not exist. We later on found out that it did exist. When my husband called the office to question it, whoever answered the phone was rude, defensive, condescending, and unprofessional. She would get loud and talk over my husband. She never apologised for their mistake. I am amazed by the incompetence of that office. They ruined a family and don't even care. I sent an email to Jay and his response was pretty much "oops, my bad." Obviously not in those words but that was the gist of it. No remorse at all. Do yourself a favour and keep searching when it comes to an estate attorney. This is not the one you want! read more

I highly recommend LifePlan Lawyer for estate planning. Pete was great to work with over Zoom. He is extremely knowledgeable and thorough in the details of creating a trust and estate plan. The entire office made the process, which can be uncomfortable and difficult, as easy as possible. The best part is their business will continue so my family will be able to have their guidance after I am gone. I highly recommend LifePlan Lawyer. read more

I worked with LifePlan lawyer office on my Mom's probate case after her death. Both Jay and Andrea were extremely helpful and pleasant to deal with. They took all the time I needed to help me through the process and made sure I understood all aspects of the process. Extremely knowledgeable and nice people to work with read more

My husband and I retained this law office two months ago, and directly worked with attorney Pete Hatz, who helped us prepare our estate plan. Here are the reasons I chose to work with them and would gladly recommend them to others: 1. They have lots of California-domiciled, cross-border, clients, who have assets and family relationships spread across continents. They have the experience and know-how to prepare distribution plans that cater to the unique situations of their foreign-origin clients. 2. Their founding attorney, Jay Roadarmel, is a Bar-certified specialist in California's estate planning laws. This, in simple words, means that the big daddy State agency that regulates their business, acknowledges them as experts with more specialized knowledge and more experience compared to their contemporaries in the same area of practice. If your estate plan is complex or potentially litigious, I recommend you consult them for their specialized command in California's probate and estate planning laws. 3. They have a close-knitted office structure with a great support staff. Phone calls are timely returned. They also have all the necessary infrastructure support: the compiling, notarizing, deed recording, filing, and follow-ups - everything was taken care of by them in my case. 4. Our attorney, Pete Hatz, who is dual-licensed in California and Michigan, spent a great deal of his time educating my husband and me on the basics of estate planning in California, which helped us put in clear perspective how we wanted our assets to be distributed. There were back-and-forth emails, and Pete was always patient to address our questions and doubts. 5. I found their billing practice to be fair, reasonable, and transparent. There were no surprise or hidden costs. 6. They truly advocate for their clients. While looking for estate planning attorneys in my area, and before deciding to retain them, I came across their stellar client reviews on Yelp and Google. There was one review that particularly caught my attention. I read in that review that they declined to proceed on a matter, where it became apparent to them that the son of their elder and ailing client was excessively interfering in his parent's distribution plan. I found their approach to not proceed in this matter, and in the process, to let go of their professional fee, to be astute, tactful, and very ethical. In all likelihood, they protected their elder and vulnerable client from being financially abused by an interfering (beneficiary) child. Being in the practice of law myself, I have greater respect for attorneys, who, in their private practice, not just work in the best interests of their clients, but also strive to protect public interest. If you are based in California or Michigan, I highly recommend this law office. read more

We first worked with Jay at Life Plan Lawyer in early 2018 to create our initial estate plan. Jay, Debbie, and the entire team were extremely professional and took the time to explain everything clearly as we went through the estate plan and healthcare directives. In July 2025, we needed to amend our estate plan, and this time we had the pleasure of working with Pete. He was just as thorough and professional, making the process smooth and stress-free. Every interaction we've had with Life Plan Lawyer has been marked by professionalism, courtesy, and clear communication. We have happily recommended Jay and his team to family and friends, and we know exactly who we'll turn to if we ever need to update our plan again in the future. read more

I reached out to Life Plan Lawyers for help drafting Trust documents for my parents, and Pete Hatz was assigned to our case. From our very first conversation, I explained my parents exact wishes and emphasized the urgency due to one of my parents serious health conditions. Pete assured me that he understood and could help us achieve what we needed. We completed the necessary paperwork and had an introductory meeting with Pete, where we spent about an hour answering his questions. He explained the next steps and said he would work on the documents after returning from a vacation. I patiently waited, emailing him several times over the next couple of weeks with no response. After a few weeks passed from our first conversation before he finally replied only to inform us that he would no longer be helping us and recommended we seek another attorney. What was most upsetting was the reasoning he gave an assumption that there may be some third party undue influence on my parents decisions. To be judged like this was insulting to me and my family, and most importantly, it cost us precious weeks we can never get back. I made it very clear from the beginning how urgent this was, yet the decision to refuse services came after more than a month . I fully understand an attorney has the right to decline representation. My issue is with the way it was handled the lack of communication, the delay, and the complete disregard for the urgency of our situation. This experience was incredibly stressful, especially as one of my parents is currently hospitalized, and now I am forced to start over with a new attorney. I was referred to Life Plan Lawyers, but based on how we were treated and how much time was wasted, I cannot recommend them. This was my personal experience with Pete Hatz. read more

I had a challenging and unique probate case that involved death abroad and divorce. LifePlan Lawyer was recommended to me by another legal professional with whom my mother had a good experience. From the first phone call with Jay, I could tell (from my own advance research..as I initially was going to try doing the probate myself) that he was giving me honest advice and prioritizing my best interests. That feeling never changed throughout the whole process. Andrea and Daphney were very responsive to my many questions and always advocated effectively on my behalf with the various banks involved. Jay came up with several creative solutions to unique issues in my case, even ones that actually reduced his fee. I would wholeheartedly recommend this practice! read more

My wife and I wanted to set up an estate plan of some sort, and we were referred to Jay Roadarmel and his LifePlan Lawyer, PC team. The guidance and services they provided were outstanding. Jay started by making sure we understood our options and the pros and cons. Then once a direction was chosen (a Living Trust), he expertly guided us through the process of establishing it. Everything went smoothly from start to finish with new trust documents ready for filing within two weeks. He was easy and fun to work with and seemed to understand that the Law often used lingo foreign to us mere mortals. Lastly, while not part of his "contracted service", I'm particularly grateful that he will remain available to help Successor Trustees understand and implement the Trust's tenants when that time comes. Thank you Jay. We sure made the right choice. read more

We truly enjoyed working with Pete. He is very professional, friendly, detailed and knowledgeable altogether. We highly recommend him to anyone considering making a trust, will or go through probate. Thank you Pete and team! George and Mira read more

Five star recommendation for the folks at LifePlan Lawyer. Jay and Debbie made a complicated task (creating a trust) very easy for us. They are organized and well prepared and were able to guide us through the process easily. There were so many details and they were able to help us with each and every one. read more

Creating our living trust was a pleasant experience. The process was seamless and efficient from start to finish, and we felt well-informed and supported every step of the way. What we liked best about working with Pete was his knowledge, patience, and attention to detail. He took the time to explain legal terms in a way that was easy for us to understand and was always attentive to our specific needs. Pete made sure we felt comfortable and well-informed throughout the entire process. He was easy to talk to and welcomed our questions, providing clear, thoughtful answers every time. LIFEPLAN LAWYER PC team is professional, knowledgeable, and committed to making the process clear and stress-free. With their attentive service and thorough approach, you're in excellent hands. read more

I used Jay for probate services. When my mother passed away I was lost and unsure as well as grieving. Jay was amazing in helping with the probate process. He was professional, easy to work with and experienced which made me feel very comfortable. I was so pleased with the probate work and after going through probate myself did not want my family to have to go through the process. We made the decision to have Jay complete our family trust. I would highly recommend Lifeplan to provide your probate or trust planning services read more

Jay and his staff are experienced professionals who know their field. If you're in need of a family trust then LifePlan Lawyers should be your first choice. The entire process was very organized and efficient with the end product providing the confidence my family can depend upon. Thank you Jay and team. read more

After speaking to four different law offices, we decided to go with Jay at LifePlan Lawyer. When we met Jay for the first time, I greatly appreciated his knowledge, years of experience, professionalism, and most of all, his genuine human touch. Right away, I felt cared for, trusted, and comforted. And I can't say enough, even in a thousand words, about his team. Andrea and Daphney were there for me every step of the way. Whether I was in town or overseas, they always provided detailed explanations of follow-ups, gave heads-ups for the next steps, and responded immediately to calls and emails. I feel so fortunate to have found Jay and his team. Thank you very much for all your advice, guidance, efforts, and support when I needed it most. I highly recommend LifePlan Lawyer. They are simply the BEST team! read more

Very efficient. Took time to make sure all issues were addressed, all questions answered, and everything was what our wishes were Beautiful final result. Wish we would have done it sooner read more

I would definitely recommend LPL. We went through them to put together our living trust. After seeing how complicated things can get if you DON'T go to a qualified company like them, I was so happy we did. They made things very easy on us and guided us through the entire process. Pete was our main guy and he was great. Jay and Debbie closed it up at the end with some easy signings and we were done. We're so happy we made this choice for our family and can now rest assured things are in place for the future. read more

What a wonderful, professional, positive, timely experience with this group! Kudos!!! What a welcome relief compared to my recent negative experiences this last week with two local legal document assistants and two law firms....they didn't even bother to call back +/or check in timely. Seems to be a sign of the times so what a breath of fresh air to be treated with decency and respect as I was here. :) Very professional with phone calls and emails...have vid you can view before meeting with attorney. I feel like I'm in very capable hands!!!! They clearly have high stands + levels of professionalism. Give them a call - you'll be glad you did!!! read more

This family run business is amazing!!! We needed estate planning within 3 weeks and from the moment I connected with Andrea, to working with Pete and Debora, the process was smooth and seamless. They went above and beyond to fit us into their busy schedule and we are so very grateful! Pete is a great lawyer and explained everything we needed to understand. Not only do they prepare the documents for you but they also give you next steps on how to "fund" your account immediately now, and in the future. Everything you need in writing as well as on a thumb drive. Excellent service from beginning to end! read more

LifePlan Lawyer, PC - Our complete Estate Planning Portfolio - Wills, Trusts, & Probates Near Me - Pleasanton, California

I selected LifePlan Lawyer from a list of lawyers in the area specializing in Trust based on the number of years of experience and reasonable costs. They made the process to redo my Trust from 12 yrs prior and subsequent amendments very easy and provided great advice. Jay and Pete were great at providing answers to my "why" questions. My parents also used them to create their Trusts and were very happy with the package. Highly recommend this law firm for you family Trusts and Wills. read more

We had a great experience with LifePlan Lawyer from start to finish! They are very responsive and clear with all instructions required to make the process seamless. We worked with Pete and he was wonderful! He explained everything in full detail, including questions we hadn't thought of but were very important! He didn't hesitate to take the extra time needed to make sure we were well informed. The process was easy and very clear on our steps post meeting as well. I would highly recommend! read more

It was time to update our trust as names of beneficiaries and alternates had changed. In one meeting, we discussed the changes and alternatives, and came to a consensus as to what would work best for us. I highly recommend Jay Roadarmel as he is excellent at answering all of our questions and putting a Trust together that meets our needs. I feel I can depend on his team to keep us out of trouble, and they have always been available to meet our needs. read more

One of the nicest attorney I have ever spoken to. He took time to listen to my questions and referred me to another lawyer when he couldn't answer them. I appreciate the time he took to speak to answer all my questions. read more

My wife and I were looking to establish a Family Trust and Jay Roadarmel came highly recommended. We could not have been more pleased. Jay was incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and professional. He was also very approachable and made it easy for us to complete all the necessary documents required to establish the trust, all while answering all our questions and concerns. Jay and his entire staff quickly gained our confidence and made us feel that we were certainly in the in very good hands. All the documentation was well organized and handled in a timely manner. We cannot speak highly enough about our experience with Jay and his staff. If you are looking to establish a Family Trust, look no further. read more

Jay Roadarmel and his staff have helped our various family members with estate planning. In each case, we have found them to be caring and competent. We highly recommend this team. read more

Getting estate stuff done is tough. It's something you always think you can put off (you should not, even though I did), it's something most people don't want to think about, and it involves a little paperwork. Jay and Debbie make the entire process not just easy, but almost pleasurable (because you know you're knocking off an important life item). Their demeanor is patient and understanding, legal acumen is off the charts, responsiveness is incredible and most of all, they're nice and fun people. Prices are absolutely comparable to similar services, but you're getting much more bang for your buck with them. Also, there are dirt cheap options out there you've probably seen -- don't skimp on such an important thing. I know people who have and ended up going to folks like Jay to fix things that the cheapos don't even contemplate. Side note, I used Jay's services during COVID. They have the entire remote meeting and COVID friendly signature process down pat. No worries there. read more

Jay is knowledgeable and very down to earth. His process for creating a trust for regular people is very organized and simple to follow. He works quickly and he and his team are super professional and get the job done. But, they also take the time to get to know each client's personal situation and incorporate that into a detailed trust plan. I could not recommend Jay and Debbie at LifePlan Lawyer more highly! Plus, they are just nice people. read more

We had an amazing experience with Jay for estate planning. He was thorough, organized, meticulous and very attentive down to the last detail. At the end, we went home with everything dotted and crossed and were confident and satisfied about the whole process. I highly recommend Jay for estate planning. It will not only put your life in order, it will give you priceless peace of mind. read more

LifePlan Lawyer, PC - Wills, Trusts, & Probates Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We highly recommend LifePlan Lawyer for living trusts. They were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, efficient, and reasonably priced. We worked primarily with Pete and Debbie, but everyone was a pleasure to work with. read more

Don't hold off getting your living trust prepared because the task seems stressful and daunting. I saw many great reviews for Jay Roadarmel on a local Facebook page I follow, and called his office. He offered me a initial free consultation to meet him and ask questions, after this I hired him to prepare my trust. Jay answered all my questions with patience, and I knew right away how meticulous and knowledgeable he was. I NEVER felt rushed or stupid with all the questions I asked him, and I had a lot! He made sure I understood every detail about my trust and end of life plan in terms that I could understand, he never talked "over my head". Jay has an added credential as being a certified specialist in estate planning, that not all attorneys hold, which is a plus. I have to add that his pricing to prepare a living trust/pour over will and all the necessary power of attorney forms is very fair to others I had checked into. This price is inclusive and his office also records the deeds for your properties. You leave with all your paperwork in a nice binder and also on a thumb drive. The whole process was easier that I thought it would be. Thank you Jay for a job well done, I now have peace of mind that my living trust and end of life plan is complete. read more

Jay and Debbie are terrific to work with. Jay dedicated his time to answer all the questions I had before booking the appointment. He is a very professional and great communicator. Both him and Debbie are patient therefore, I never left rushed in any way. And we could find the meeting dates suitable for my husband's busy work schedule. The process was detail-oriented, explained all the pros and cons to the trust decisions and provide us with a brief homework list and ready prints out for banks, an insurance company, etc. to minimize my paperwork. Jay is also a professional photographer. He asked us for mini-shoot after docs were signed and when my husband picked up our documents, they gave us a framed picture of us. Super nice touch!! Highly recommend! read more