Business Details
Your Trusted Asset Protection & Estate Planning Law Firm in Burbank, CA
Established by attorney Joseph McHugh, LA LAW Center has dedicated over three decades to protecting California families' assets and legacies. Our firm specializes in creating customized legal solutions including asset protection trusts, estate planning documents, and elder law strategies tailored to the state's unique legal landscape. We combine deep expertise in California-specific liability laws with personalized service to safeguard clients' financial futures. Our team offers comprehensive probate administration and Medi-Cal planning services, ensuring families maintain control over their assets and healthcare decisions. With a focus on education and accessibility, we empower clients to make informed decisions about their legal protections.Our virtual services extend across California, serving clients from initial consultation to document execution. We pride ourselves on clear communication and practical solutions for complex legal challenges. Our experience spans protecting diverse assets including real estate, cryptocurrency, and business holdings. We maintain strong client relationships through ongoing support and proactive legal planning. Our commitment to excellence has earned us referrals from satisfied clients and professional peers alike.
Services
Asset Protection Trusts
Estate Planning
Probate Administration
Elder Law Services
Special Needs Trusts
Land Trusts
Medi-Cal Planning
Conservatorships
Trust Administration
Cannabis Business Protection
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of California-specific legal expertise in asset protection and estate planning
- Our team creates customized trust solutions for complex financial situations
- We provide comprehensive Medi-Cal planning to protect long-term care assets
- Our virtual services serve clients across all California counties
- We offer free initial consultations with no-obligation legal assessments
Services
Asset Protection Trusts
Our Asset Protection Trusts create legal barriers to safeguard your wealth from potential lawsuits and creditors. These customized trusts protect real estate holdings, business assets, and investment portfolios while maintaining compliance with California's unique liability laws. Our proprietary trust structures offer enhanced protection for high-risk professionals and property owners seeking to preserve wealth across generations.
Estate Planning
We create comprehensive estate plans including revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Our plans ensure your assets transfer according to your wishes while minimizing probate requirements. We specialize in integrating pet trusts and guardianship provisions for minor children to protect all family members, human and animal alike.
Medi-Cal Planning
Our Medi-Cal planning services protect assets when qualifying for long-term care benefits. We help families navigate the five-year lookback period and create specialized trusts to preserve assets while maintaining eligibility. Our strategies protect homes and savings from Medi-Cal estate recovery after long-term care expenses.
Probate Administration
We guide executors through California's complex probate process for estates valued over $184,500. Our services include court filings, asset distribution, and beneficiary management. We specialize in handling contested estates and out-of-state executor representation across Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.
Special Needs Trusts
Our Special Needs Trusts protect government benefits like SSI and CalFresh while allowing inheritance receipt. These trusts serve individuals with disabilities and those expecting settlements that could jeopardize benefits. We create rapid-response trusts for urgent situations involving imminent inheritances or lawsuit proceeds.
People
Joseph McHugh
Founding Attorney
With over 30 years of California legal experience, Joseph McHugh specializes in asset protection and estate planning. He creates customized trust solutions for individuals, families, and businesses across the state. His expertise includes complex Medi-Cal planning and protecting high-risk professionals' assets.
Kathy McHugh
Triage Director
Kathy McHugh serves as Triage Director, managing client intake and case prioritization. With extensive experience in California asset protection, she ensures clients receive timely and appropriate legal solutions. She works closely with her husband Joseph to maintain the firm's service standards.
Questions
What's the difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust?
Revocable trusts can be modified during your lifetime, while irrevocable trusts offer stronger asset protection but cannot be changed once established. We help determine which suits your specific protection needs.
How does a land trust protect my property?
Land trusts keep your real estate ownership private by removing your name from public records. We combine these with LLCs to provide enhanced protection against property-related lawsuits in California.
Can I qualify for Medi-Cal with existing assets?
Yes, we help clients restructure assets to meet Medi-Cal eligibility requirements while protecting family wealth. Our strategies include specialized trusts that maintain benefits eligibility during long-term care needs.
What happens if I don't plan for probate?
California estates over $184,500 require probate without proper planning. This court-supervised process distributes assets according to state law rather than your wishes, often causing family disputes and delays.
How do special needs trusts work?
Special Needs Trusts hold assets for beneficiaries receiving government benefits without disqualifying them. The trust pays for supplemental needs while maintaining eligibility for essential programs like SSI and Medi-Cal.
Can cryptocurrency be protected in a trust?
Yes, we include digital assets like cryptocurrency in customized trust structures. Our plans address unique challenges of protecting Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and other digital investments from legal claims.
