Richard Lewis | Sacramento Estate Lawyer

I assisted a family whose father was facing the end stages of cancer. Time was short and because there were numerous children, the issues were complex. My contribution allowed the family to understand the immediate, short term. mid-term and long term issues they faced. As a result, the family was as prepared as possible for the death of the man who had been in charge of keeping everything together. The unexpected death of a gay man presented a plethora of difficult issues which are still being worked out. Without the input of my office, the survivor would have missed out on over $500,000 of benefits.

A successful law practice can be built in only one way: putting the client first in all situations and at all times. There are no exceptions. The client comes first, even if he or she is wrong.

Beware of the lawyer who charges less. There is always a lawyer who do it for "less." When the lawyer charges less, he or she usually makes their fee on vloume. Volume means the lawyer cannot take much time thinking about your case. Thereofre, if your case has any complexity (and most cases have complexity), the volume lawyer misses the complexity. And mistakes in this business are catastrophic. Generally speaking, I save my clients at least ten times my fee.

Local knowledge is everything. A lawyer in L.A. has very little idea how probate actually works in Sacramento County or Northern California. While the laws are the same, the judges and clerks are different. The manner in which the judges run their courtrooms is different. It is always best to hire a lawyer in the vicinity.

A phone call is seen as a gatekeeping function in my office. Do you need a full estate plan? If you own any real property or haave assets that are valued at a total of $150,000 or more; you should consider an estate plan. An estate plan includes the Revocable or Irrevocable Trust, the Pour-over will, the HIPAA authorization, the Advanced HealthCare Directive and the Durable Power of Attorney. These are the cornerstones of any estate plan.

A free phone call should discover three things: 1. Timing, is your planning over due or do you even need to take steps now? 2. Goals. If you do need an estate plan, what do you need to accomplish? and 3. Payment. How can we make your estate plan affordable? My estate planning is first cabin and it is not inexpensive. We put the client first and design a payment plan that fits your budget.

I have litigated cases for over 25 years so I have an idea of what triggers litigation and what ammunition you need to avoid litigation or prepare for litigation if it is probable.

The most rewarding aspect of my work is that my efforts avoid probate and litigation. The sophisticated and thoughtful client realizes just how beneficial that is to their family.

I am a member of a few organizations that focus on charitable work.

My involvement in the community has changed over the years. I was on the board of directors for the Swing at Cancer for 10 years. I contribute to the poor through my church and other fraternal organizations I belong to. But my biggest contribution is through representing my clients.

• Member, California State Bar Association

• Richard Lewis | LinkedIn