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Harry J. Histen
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Harry J. Histen
Harry Histen, APC
1485 Spruce Street
Suite E
Riverside, CA 92507
Phone: (951) 682-4121 | Fax: (951) 682-0480
http://www.harryhisten.com/
Estates, Trusts and Business Law - 30 Years Experience
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
I help clients with wills, trust, and estate matters. I evaluate client needs, goals and objectives, and work together with them for a positive outcome, whether it is the creation of an estate plan, probating an estate, establishing a conservatorship, or resolving business or estate issues.
Sub-Categories
Estate Planning
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
- Asset Protection
- Guardianship
- Power of Attorney
- Business Succession Planning
- Special Needs Trust
- Supplemental Needs Trust
- Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
I help clients with wills, trust, and estate matters. I evaluate client needs, goals and objectives, and work together with them for a positive outcome, whether it is the creation of an estate plan, probating an estate, establishing a conservatorship, or resolving business or estate issues.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Business Successions
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Franchises
- Non-Compete Contracts
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1976
Bar Number: 71228
Other Court Admissions
All State and Federal Trial and Appellate Courts in California; U.S. Tax Court.
Association Memberships
A member of the Riverside County Bar Association for over 30 years
A member of the Board of Directors since 2004, and Officer 2006 until 2010
Continuing Education
I have been responsible for creating education programs for the Riverside County Bar meetings, and attended those programs. There is always enough material at these meetings that I have a desire to learn. As such, the minimum education requirements have never been an issue for me to complete.
Example Cases
After 20-some years of creating a trust, an emotionally-disabled woman was referred to me because she was not receiving any benefit of the trust her grandparents created for her. Her uncle was an untrustworthy trustee. Though she was challenged behaviorally due to disability, I appreciated the opportunity to show that my presentations on the benefits trusts were true in practice. I was able to recover for her all she was entitled to - well over one million dollars.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Western State University, College of Law
City:
Fullerton
State:
CA
Year:
1976
Focus and Accomplishments:
"AM-Jur" awards Real Property and Civil Procedure.
Degree:
Master of Science
School:
Golden Gate University
City:
Costa Mesa
State:
CA
Year:
1991
Focus and Accomplishments:
Taxation.
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
I have been a sole practitioner since I became a lawyer in 1976. I opened my office in Riverside, CA in June, 1977 and have practiced here full time ever since.
My practice is, and has always been divided fairly and equally between litigation (as well as other means of dispute resolution), and transactional work (i.e. preparation of documents and creation of trusts and business entities). This mix is intentional and it reflects my personal feelings that I can prepare a better contract, lease, trust or corporation because I have actual experience trying the substance of those transactions before court.
Previous Employment Summary
I graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1966, and began a career as a computer programmer-analyst at North American Aviation (later Rockwell, Intl.), the prime contractor on the Apollo and space shuttle programs. There we developed large scale IBM-360 business systems for engineering, vehicle configuration management, logistics and payroll-personnel. I joined them at a pioneering time, and left when it became bureaucratic.
Activities and Awards
I serve as an arbitrator or mediator either on a private basis or for the superior court. I am also a member of the local bar Dispute Resolution Service.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I applaud and encourage everyone who is willing and able to learn enough about any of their activities to assume a greater role. In so doing, they become better able to protect themselves, and generally gain some deserved pride in themselves.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am, though this is a difficult area. Most trust documents, for example, address many of the same issues. There are many ways of saying the same basic things. My documents have standard sections which rarely change significantly. Therefore, it is often faster and more reliable for me to prepare one of my trusts from scratch than to try to reach the same confidence level with one prepared by someone I do not know.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I have helped people represent themselves on a case by case determination. I occasionally find it difficult because I am used to being in control.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I studied math and science in part because I was a sophomore in high school when Sputnik went up. My mathematics background led to study computer programming. In the early seventies computing became quite bureaucratic, with no opportunity for self-employment as personal computers did not yet exist. At that point, I decided to go back to my dream of going to law school, and becoming independent.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I believe that the wealth of business computing systems knowledge I developed gave me a view of business in general and from outside law. Since starting my practice, I have practiced in most civil areas as clients needs or desires have required. In 1980, I ran for congress as a libertarian. I learned a good deal about government and politics.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I enjoy helping people use the law to plan and avoid costly mistakes and family discord. I was fortunate to have wonderful parents and good relationships with my siblings, even now. I believe those relationships are worth protecting, and can be with proper planning.
I enjoy small business work because I regard small business owners and entrepreneurs as the "salt of the earth."
What do you like best about your career?
I have had the privilege of serving many wonderful people. I also really like the judges and lawyers in the Inland Empire. The vast majority of them are "handshake" people. Generally, with them, an oral agreement on the phone means the deal will be made.
Every client or case is different and that keeps things fresh.
Tell us about your law firm:
My secretary/paralegal, Debbie, is very pleasant and responsive. Generally the "first impression" clients get about our firm is from their interactions with her. She is well liked by my clients. My wife works in the office as an office manager and law clerk. She is presently in law school. Her enthusiasm for the law and her tendency to challenge me helps me focus.
What are your strengths and style?
I believe I have the ability to quickly sort out the "wheat from the chaff." Over thirty years I have endeavored to become a better listener and to absorb as much as possible before that sorting process. I enjoy building quality relationships with people.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy reading novels, exercising and weight training. I haven't completely rid myself of my nerd or geek qualities acquired during math classes and computer programming. Our office is quite high tech, and I believe quite efficient.
I very much enjoy any family activities.
Office Manager/Assistant
Debbie, my assistant will generally be the first contact person.
Fax
(951) 682-0480
Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
No.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
I use fixed fees for most cases, and usually reach an agreement with the client(s) at the first meeting. Generally, fees for a comprehensive package begin at $1,750 for an individual and $2,250 for a joint trust.
Hourly Rates
$320 per hour.
Free Initial Consultation?
I offer a free half an hour consultation for Nolo-sourced clients dealing with estate planning as well as opening probate or conservatorship cases. Where the potential client is seeking to challenge an estate plan, I charge $100 for the first half-hour.
Typical Retainer
For estate plans 50% of the fee is retained after the initial conversation before any further work is done.
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.
