Paula A. Clarkson

Attorney Paula Clarkson’s estate planning practice focuses on helping families enhance their lives today and plan for the transition of their estates.  She has great compassion for her clients, quickly earning their trust through her patient approach, practical advice, and straightforward communication.  Paula’s approach is non-judgmental and creative.  She resolves the unique and individual needs of each of her clients in complex alternative and blended family structures as readily as those in traditional families. For families with minor children, all planning also includes a nomination of guardians to ensure that your children will always be cared for—even temporarily—by the people you choose and trust to take on this important role.  Paula’s goal is to ensure that each client feels comfortable and satisfied at each stage of the estate planning, trust administration, or probate process. She achieves client satisfaction through a personalized approach to legal representation, competent advice, and reasonable fees.  

At most estate planning law firms the relationship ends when you sign your documents.  Paula sees a client’s estate document signing as the beginning of her relationship with her clients and their families.  She understands that overtime, assets and family dynamics change requiring revisions to a family’s estate plan.  Thus having a lifelong relationship with her clients allows Paula to make sure her clients’ estate plans always reflect their wishes.  To accomplish this, Paula offers her clients complimentary bi-annual review of their plan and trust funding.

Paula has been designated a Certified Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization.   She also has an LL.M. in Taxation which makes her very unique among estate planning attorneys as there are many different tax issues to address when someone passes. As a reflection of the quality of her work, Paula’s peers and clients have awarded her the highest rating of “AV® Preeminent™ on Martindale-Hubbell and a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating. Since 2015, Paula has been named a “Southern California SuperLawyers” by Los Angeles Magazine. 

Paula is a frequent lecturer on estate planning topics and will be happy to speak to your group, business, school, worship center, daycare, or recreational facility on the many aspects of estate planning.