Estate planning has become a crucial legal service for Riverside residents looking to protect their families, preserve assets, and ensure a smooth transfer of wealth. Whether you own real estate, operate a business, maintain retirement accounts, or simply want to avoid probate complications, a comprehensive estate plan can help safeguard your legacy while reducing future legal and financial burdens on loved ones.
In California, estate planning extends far beyond creating a simple will. Effective estate plans often include revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, trust administration provisions, asset protection strategies, and business succession planning. With Riverside’s growing population of homeowners, entrepreneurs, retirees, and professionals, demand for experienced estate planning attorneys continues to increase.
Based on legal experience, estate planning specialization, professional recognition, attorney-directory listings, client feedback, and community reputation, the following attorneys stand out among Riverside’s leading estate planning professionals in 2026.
1. Scott E. Rahn
Scott E. Rahn is widely recognized throughout Southern California for his extensive work in estate planning, trust administration, probate matters, and asset protection. His practice focuses on helping individuals and families create customized estate plans designed to preserve wealth and minimize future legal disputes.
Known for handling both straightforward and highly complex estate matters, Rahn has earned a strong reputation among clients seeking sophisticated trust-based planning strategies.
Key Strengths
- Extensive estate planning experience
- Advanced trust planning expertise
- Probate and trust administration knowledge
- Strong professional reputation
Best For
Living trusts, high-value estates, and probate avoidance planning.
2. David M. Goldman
David M. Goldman has developed a respected estate planning practice serving Riverside families, professionals, and business owners. His work includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and wealth preservation planning.
Clients frequently praise his thorough approach and ability to develop estate plans tailored to unique family and financial circumstances.
Key Strengths
- Comprehensive estate planning services
- Family-focused planning strategies
- Strong trust preparation experience
- Personalized client guidance
Best For
Family estate planning, trust creation, and asset protection.
3. Rebecca Sommer
Rebecca Sommer is highly regarded for her work in estate planning, probate administration, and trust management. Her practice focuses on helping clients create effective legal frameworks that protect assets while ensuring a smooth transfer of wealth to future generations.
Her client-centered approach and attention to detail have helped establish her as a trusted advisor within the Riverside legal community.
Key Strengths
- Estate planning and probate experience
- Trust administration knowledge
- Personalized legal service
- Strong client satisfaction
Best For
Probate avoidance, trust administration, and family wealth planning.
4. Matthew E. Bahl
Matthew E. Bahl brings substantial experience in estate planning, business law, and wealth preservation strategies. His multidisciplinary practice allows him to assist clients with estate plans involving business ownership interests, investment properties, and complex financial structures.
His ability to integrate business planning with estate planning makes him a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and investors.
Key Strengths
- Estate and business planning expertise
- Business succession planning
- Asset protection strategies
- Complex trust structures
Best For
Business owners, investors, and high-net-worth families.
5. Steven C. Peck
Steven C. Peck has earned recognition for helping Riverside residents create comprehensive estate plans designed to preserve assets and reduce future legal complications. His practice includes wills, trusts, healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and trust administration services.
Clients often appreciate his practical legal advice and commitment to helping families understand the estate planning process.
Key Strengths
- Trust and will preparation
- Estate administration experience
- Client-focused representation
- Long-term planning strategies
Best For
Families, retirees, and first-time estate planning clients.
What Makes a Great Estate Planning Attorney?
Estate Planning Specialization
Estate planning is a highly specialized field involving wills, trusts, probate law, healthcare directives, incapacity planning, and wealth-transfer strategies. Attorneys who focus heavily on estate planning generally provide more comprehensive and effective solutions.
Experience With Trust-Based Planning
Many California families utilize revocable living trusts to avoid probate and simplify future asset transfers. Experienced estate planning attorneys can help ensure trusts are properly drafted, funded, and maintained.
Tax and Asset Protection Knowledge
Clients with significant real estate holdings, investment portfolios, retirement assets, or business interests often require sophisticated planning strategies. Attorneys with tax planning and asset protection experience can help maximize wealth preservation.
Professional Reputation and Client Reviews
Client testimonials, peer endorsements, attorney-directory recognition, and years of legal experience often provide valuable insight into an attorney’s effectiveness, professionalism, and communication skills.
Why Estate Planning in Riverside Can Be Complex
Riverside is one of Southern California’s fastest-growing regions, with a diverse economy that includes healthcare, education, logistics, real estate, manufacturing, and small-business ownership. Many residents hold a variety of assets that require careful planning and legal protection.
Estate planning attorneys frequently assist clients with probate avoidance, trust administration, incapacity planning, guardianship designations, charitable giving strategies, and business succession concerns. Families with blended households, special-needs beneficiaries, rental properties, retirement accounts, or closely held businesses often require customized estate planning solutions.
California’s probate process can be both expensive and time-consuming. As a result, many Riverside families choose trust-based estate plans designed to streamline asset transfers and preserve privacy. Comprehensive plans often include revocable living trusts, durable powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and coordinated beneficiary designations.
Without proper planning, surviving family members may face court involvement, delays in asset distribution, increased legal expenses, and potential disputes among beneficiaries. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney helps minimize these risks while ensuring personal wishes remain legally enforceable.
Final Verdict
For 2026, Scott E. Rahn stands out as the strongest overall estate planning attorney serving Riverside due to his extensive trust-planning experience, sophisticated estate planning strategies, and strong professional reputation. David M. Goldman remains an excellent choice for family-focused estate planning, while Rebecca Sommer excels in trust administration and probate-related planning. Matthew E. Bahl offers valuable expertise for business owners and investors, and Steven C. Peck rounds out the list with his practical approach to estate planning and wealth preservation.
FAQs
Q1. What does an estate planning attorney do?
A. An estate planning attorney helps clients prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and other legal documents designed to protect assets and ensure their wishes are carried out.
Q2. Do I need a trust or just a will?
A. Many California residents choose living trusts because they can help avoid probate and simplify asset transfers. The right solution depends on your assets, family structure, and long-term goals.
Q3. What is probate?
A. Probate is the court-supervised legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate and distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Q4. How often should I update my estate plan?
A. Most attorneys recommend reviewing your estate plan after major life events such as marriage, divorce, retirement, the birth of a child, or significant changes in financial circumstances.
Q5. Can estate planning reduce taxes?
A. Yes. Certain trust structures and wealth-transfer strategies may help reduce estate and gift tax exposure for larger estates.
Q6. What documents are included in a basic estate plan?
A. A typical estate plan includes a will, revocable living trust, durable power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive.
Q7. How much does estate planning cost?
A. Costs vary depending on the complexity of the estate, the number of documents required, and whether advanced trust or tax planning is necessary.
Q8. What should I look for when hiring an estate planning attorney?
A. Look for estate planning specialization, trust experience, positive client reviews, strong communication skills, professional credentials, and a proven track record helping clients achieve their long-term planning objectives.
