Helping adult children and their elderly parents for over thirty years
Practice Areas / Services
Conservatorships
Many of Susan’s clients ask her about providing conservatorships. A conservatorship is a way for someone to assume legal guardianship over an adult. Creating a conservatorship is a serious process and it takes a truly knowledgeable and experienced attorney to evaluate whether or not a conservatorship is realistic and/or necessary. If needed, Susan provides conservatorships for clients.
Elder Abuse Restraining Order
The California courts may grant an elder abuse restraining order when sufficient evidence of elder abuse is presented. The elderly person may also qualify for a protective order or domestic violence restraining order if warranted. Susan B. Geffen can work with you to have these orders granted by the court if you are the conservator or power of attorney for the elderly person in question.
Elder Law
Elder law is an area of practice designed to protect the needs and interests of the elderly, and to a lesser extent, their loved ones. Susan B. Geffen has vast experience helping elderly or disabled adults with estate planning, disability planning, elder abuse, health care, retirement concerns, conservatorships, Medi-Cal planning, and asset protection, living trusts, and probate.
Estate Planning
Susan B. Geffen is a qualified and experienced California estate planning attorney who can work with you to create and implement estate plans that clearly express your personal desires regarding the disposition and protection of your assets. She can also advise you on the best potential tax advantages and means of guaranteeing future security for your family and other beneficiaries.
Financial Elder Abuse
The elderly can often be easily influenced by someone who wishes to take advantage of them, and this includes misappropriating their finances if left vulnerable. Obviously, someone who is suffering from cognitive challenges can be manipulated, swayed or even duped. Attorney Susan B. Geffen can protect your loved ones from financial elder abuse.
Probate
Probate is the first step in the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person, resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person’s property under a will. Susan B. Geffen can help you with your probate matters, both with planning for probate before your death and with providing expert guidance throughout the probate process after the death of a loved one.
Trust Litigation
Disputes often arise after an individual dies and their estate is being administered by the named trustee. This is especially so when there are substantial amounts of money involved or when family conflict is present. These disputes can arise between beneficiaries, between a trustee or other fiduciary and beneficiaries, or from third parties. Hire Susan B. Geffen, when a trust litigation lawyer is needed.
Trusts & Wills
Susan B. Geffen has helped hundreds of families with their estate planning. Is a Living Trust just for the wealthy? No. If you own a home, have children, wish to leave your assets to whomever you choose, then you should consider having a living trust prepared for you. A living trust makes things much easier for your loved ones as well.
Advance Health Care Directives
Advance health care directives are legally documented instructions for the medical care and treatments you wish to receive or do not wish to receive. These are recorded and preserved in the event you become unable to decide such matters for yourself. Your legal advance health care directives statement can be referred to when critical decisions must be made for your care.
Working With Susan B. Geffen
1. Need Legal Advice?
Elder law and estate planning can be complicated. Susan B Geffen Law can help answer those all important questions so you can get on with your life. Often a one hour consultation can take a lot of weight off your shoulders. To request an appointment, simply fill-out the short form or call (800) 285-2659.
2. Looking to have your Living Trust reviewed and updated
Get a thorough review of your Living Trust and make sure it is up to date. If you’re concerned about losing your independence from Alzheimer’s or a stroke, then be sure to ask Susan about a Gerontological TrustTM.
3. Fees
Law Offices of Susan B Geffen prides itself on having fair and competitive fees. All major credit cards are accepted.
Your Satisfaction Is Our Top Priority
Conservatorship Disputes
Trust and Probate Litigation
We will fight for you!
Do you have a case you would like evaluated?
If you have a case that you would like to have evaluated, a one hour consultation might be a good start. The law offices of Susan B Geffen will review all of the facts with you either over the phone or in person, to help determine if you have a strong case.
Susan Geffen saved my life! An elderly relative was the victim of lottery fraud and was acting as the neighborhood ATM, in total over $200,000. Her legal expertise, compassion, and expertise in geriatrics guided the family through a successful process of care management and understanding. At all times the victim and the family trusted Susan and received compassionate support. Her referrals to other professionals were stellar and her reputation among her peers is impeccable. I recommend her without qualification.
I could have searched the country and not have found a more capable and qualified person.
Latest News
What to do when a Will is lost?
What happens when a Will is lost? It is easy to misplace things. While we typically misplace our keys or ...
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Is it Time to Consider a Limited Conservatorship?
Watching a loved one deteriorate physically or mentally can be devastating. If you have to also worry about the future ...
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Transfer on Death Deeds – Revised California Law
The law on transfer on death deeds was set to expire this year. Instead, it was revised, and the law ...
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Fighting Families
Trust litigation is very taxing. I just had a mediation, and the Judge described the probate courts as “family law ...
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My Pets helped me get through Covid—Who will take care of them when I am gone?
While I assist everybody with estate plans, because I am an elder law attorney, my practice naturally attracts older adults. ...
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She was absolutely amazing and very personable. I highly recommend her!
Honors and Awards
Susan B. Geffen
Attorney At Law
Former Law Professor
Master’s in Gerontology
Author of “Take That Nursing Home and Shove It!”
Our Clients Reviews
5.0 / 5.0
Based on 32 reviews
Susan Geffen saved my life! An elderly relative was the victim of lottery fraud and was acting as the neighborhood ATM, in total over $200,000. Her legal expertise, compassion, and expertise in geriatrics guided the family through a successful process of care management and understanding. At all times the victim and the family trusted Susan and received compassionate support. Her referrals to other professionals were stellar and her reputation among her peers is impeccable. I recommend her without qualification.
–Irene Z., Newport Beach
After moving my 88 year old mom from Chicago to California, I was looking for a competent attorney to review and make some minor changes to her living trust. Susan B. Geffen has a wonderful “desk side” manner with her elderly clients and even helped my mom recover $3,000 that her prior attorney in Chicago refused to release from escrow of the sale of her home 2 years ago. I would highly recommend Susan B Geffen’s services to anyone dealing with elderly parents.
–D’Marie C., Hermosa Beach, CA
My parents and I retained Susan Geffen’s legal services to navigate through the Medi-Cal process and to preserve my parent’s assets. The process was long and hard, but Susan hung in there with us, even when my parents seemed reluctant and indecisive. Susan showed her professionalism and concern for the elderly by continuing to provide legal services and guidance without payment during a period between the two phases of our journey. I would recommend Susan to anyone in need of legal services relating to the elderly and elder care.
–Rick Y., Torrance, CA
When my wife of 53 years suddenly became terminally ill, I asked Susan B. Geffen to provide assistance with new wills and trust documents on short notice. She worked diligently and completed the requisite documents in record time. She also provided in-valuable advice concerning bequests and gathering information for estate tax filings.
–Steve K., Rancho Palos Verdes
I highly recommend her for estate planning and elder law questions.
–Mike A., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
She was absolutely amazing and very personable. I highly recommend her!
–Michelle H., Torrance, CA