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Carol A. Crow
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Carol A. Crow
Law Office of Carol A. Crow
114 N 2nd Avenue
Covina, CA 91723-2112
Phone: (626) 967-7325 | Fax: (626) 858-0495
Helping you plan to put your mind at ease.
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
I like to work with clients at the start of their estate plan, or who need changes to their existing estate plan.
Sub-Categories
Securities & Investments
- Shareholder Disputes
- Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
- Charitable Giving
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
Bar Admissions
CA, Jun 1985
Bar Number: 117854
Specialty Certifications
None
Other Court Admissions
California; US District Court for the Central District of California; US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Association Memberships
California Sate Bar; Eastern Bar Association
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education seminars and online seminars on Estate Planning; Family Law, Real Property; Civil Procedure and Trial Practice.
Papers and Publications
"The Surrogate Child: Legal Issues and Implications for the Future", University of La Verne Journal of Juvenile Law, Vol. 7, No. 1; "Liberalization in the Admissibility of Evidence in Child Abuse and Child Molestation Cases", University of La Verne Journal of Juvenile Law, Vol. 7, No. 2; Co-authored "Compulsory School Attendance", University of La Verne Journal of Juvenile Law, Vol. 8, No. 1.
Example Cases
I prepare all types of estate planning documents, from simple wills to complex trust plans.
My clients come from all walks of life. I have prepared estate plans for single individuals with and without children, and couples, not only first marriages but also second or third marriages with children and stepchildren. My clients range in age from their 20's to retirement age.
I have also prepared trust provisions which allow for the care of disabled family members, special provisions pertaining to retention or disposition of the personal residence, guardians for minor children, charitable gifts, and provisions for the care of pets.
Education
Degree:
B.S.
School:
California State Polytechnic University
City:
Pomona
State:
CA
Year:
1978
Honors:
Cum Laude
Degree:
J.D.
School:
The University of La Verne
City:
La Verne
State:
CA
Year:
1985
Honors:
American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Procedure; American Jurisprudence Award in Insurance Law; Corpus Juris Secundum Award of Significant Legal Scholarship
Focus and Accomplishments:
Member and Managing Editor of the University of La Verne Law Review
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
The firm is a general civil practice, emphasizing estate planning and probate, family law, business and corporate law, and real property law.
The firm was established in Covina, California in December 1994.
Previous Employment Summary
Prior to establishing my own firm, I worked for Attorney Thomas S. Nuckolls (deceased) in Covina, California as a law clerk for 3 years and then as an associate attorney for 10 years.
Activities and Awards
The National Registry of Who's Who.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I believe it is important that clients have knowledge of the legal issues affecting them. I often direct clients to pamphlets, books or websites that will help them understand the legal issues we discuss, or I try to provide them with my own internally developed handouts on various legal issues. I suggest my clients refer to these Nolo books to get a better understanding of estate planning.
Plan Your Estate
Estate Planning Basics
Encyclopedia of Everyday Law
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I often review and advise clients on documents they have prepared.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am willing to help clients represent themselves if I believe they are able to competently represent themselves on the issues; however, if I feel the client would be best served by having a professional handle the legal matter I would so advise them and would discourage self representation.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I wanted a profession that allowed me to have contact with the public, and allowed me to perform services that helped make people's lives easier, more organized and less worrisome.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I had a wonderful mentor in Attorney Thomas Nuckolls. He instilled in me integrity, understanding and compassion in dealing with clients and the importance of respecting the practice of law.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I enjoy working with numbers and like matters to be organized, and I don't like loose ends. These attributes lend themselves well to the estate planning, probate and corporate law fields.
What do you like best about your career?
I like the ability to meet people and to feel like I have helped them solve a problem or resolve an issue.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner, so all of my clients meet personally with me. I also prepare all estate planning documents myself. I do have a great paralegal that keeps my cases moving on schedule and is attentive to the needs of my clients.
What are your strengths and style?
My people skills and my organization.
Personal Interests:
Snow and water skiing, watching baseball and ice hockey, reading, enjoying and spending time with my husband, daughter, dogs and cats.
Office Manager/Assistant
Aide
Fax
(626) 858-0495
Office Hours
Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
My assistant Aide is fluent in Spanish.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
I have fixed fees for preparation of estate planning documents, which depends on the complexity of the client's estate plan. Single individuals generally range from $1,000 - $1,500. Married individuals start at $1,200 and up. The fee includes the preparation of the Trust, Will, Power of Attorney, deeds and related documents, but does not include Notary fees or County Recorder fees.
I also have fixed fees for organization of a Corporation or LLC.
Hourly Rates
$250 for attorney's services; $125 for paralegal services; and $80 for secretarial services.
Free Initial Consultation?
My initial consultation fee is $100 for one hour, but the fee is waived if the client hires me to prepare his or her estate plan.
Typical Retainer
For estate planning - 50% up front, balance when documents are executed; for Corporation or LLC - 100% up front; for other matters, to be determined on a case by case basis.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
