Schuyler V.V. Hoffman
Schuyler V.V. Hoffman
Shareholder
Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Business Consulting
Estate Planning Attorneys
Estate Planning That Protects What Matters Most
What will happen to your family, your assets, or your business? These are uncomfortable but important questions that shouldn’t be left unanswered. We help you face them with clarity and confidence.
Hoffman & Forde’s estate planning attorneys build strategies that reduce taxes, designate guardians and trustees, and ensure your wishes are honored. The result? A plan that protects your assets, prevents family conflict, and spares loved ones the stress of probate.
How We Put Your Estate Plan Into Action
Answering the big questions about your family, assets, and future takes more than good intentions. It requires expertise, a unified plan, and the right legal documents all working together. This is where our estate planning attorneys excel.
We create plans that are tailored to your unique circumstances and family dynamics—plans that hold up when it matters most. We help clients with:
Last Will and Testament
Without a will, the court decides how your assets are divided, which can lead to outcomes you never intended. We help you draft a will that names an executor you trust and ensures your property is transferred according to your wishes.
Trust Administration
Probate can be slow, costly, and stressful for families. A trust can bypass that process, reduce taxes, and set clear rules for when and how assets are distributed. Our estate planning attorneys design trusts that protect your beneficiaries and minimize conflict.
Durable Power of Attorney
If you’re incapacitated without power of attorney in place, your family may be left powerless. We prepare documents that authorize an individual you trust to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf.
Health Care Directive
In a medical crisis, families can struggle with uncertainty or disagreement about your care. We help you create a health care directive that makes your wishes clear and protects your privacy under HIPAA.
Business Succession Planning
Businesses can unravel quickly without a plan for leadership transitions. We help owners create succession strategies that protect the business, preserve assets, and keep operations running smoothly in your absence.
Beneficiary Designation
Accounts such as life insurance, IRAs, and 401(k)s don’t always follow the instructions in your will. If designations are outdated or incomplete, it can lead to delays, disputes, and unintended outcomes. Our estate planning attorneys review and update your beneficiary designations to ensure your assets go exactly where you intend.
Why Our Estate Planning Attorneys
Why do clients trust our estate planning attorneys? Because we focus on you. Our goal is not only to create plans that hold up under legal scrutiny but to ensure your wishes are honored, your loved ones are protected, and you avoid unnecessary costs and complications.
Here’s what sets our team apart:
Plans Built Around Your Life
No two families or estates are alike. We take time to understand your priorities, relationships, and long-term goals, then build a plan that reflects what matters most to you.
Knowledge That Stands Up in Court
Estate plans are only effective if they comply with state and federal law. Our attorneys stay current on complex tax rules, probate requirements, and changing regulations to make sure your plan not only reflects your wishes but also withstands legal challenges and avoids costly setbacks.
Planning That Prevents Conflict
Too often, unclear or incomplete plans lead to disputes, strained relationships, and expensive court battles. We anticipate potential issues and build in protections that keep the process seamless for your loved ones.
Expertise Across Specialities
Because our attorneys also practice in litigation and real estate, we recognize issues that can trigger disputes or delays and address them before they become problems. The result? A plan that protects both your assets and peace of mind.
The Team Behind the Results
Our attorneys are trusted with complex matters because they bring more than credentials—they bring results.
This is a team built for clients who expect insight, action, and accountability at every turn.
Daniel R. Forde
Daniel R. Forde
Shareholder
Civil Litigation, Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate, Business Consulting, …See More
Angela Elpers Barnes
Angela Elpers Barnes
Managing Attorney
Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation
Jason Santana
Jason Santana
Of-Counsel
Business Consulting, Real Estate Litigation
Amanda Allen
Amanda Allen
Senior Associate
Business, Real Estate, Civil Litigation
Dalia Astalos
Dalia Astalos
Associate
Landlord-Tenant Law, Commercial Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Trust & Estates Litigation, …See More
Nicole Baldwin
Nicole Baldwin
Senior Counsel
Advice & Counsel, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Background Check & FCRA Litigation, Class Actions, …See More
Alison Barry
Alison Barry
Senior Counsel
Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation
Victoria Boynton
Victoria Boynton
Senior Counsel
Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Transactional and Litigation, Business Advisement
Jim Buche
Jim Buche
Of-Counsel
Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation
Michael Dicks
Michael Dicks
Senior Trial Attorney
Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Personal Injury
Jacqueline DiRubbo
Jacqueline DiRubbo
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate
Christina Elhaddad
Christina Elhaddad
Senior Associate
Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Immigration Law
Alanna Haefner
Alanna Haefner
Senior Associate
Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Tax Advisory
Mia Kelly
Mia Kelly
Senior Counsel
Real Estate Litigation, General Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Employment Law, …See More
Nicholas Kritikos
Nicholas Kritikos
Of-Counsel
Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Business Consulting, …See More
Matt LeFevre
Matt LeFevre
Junior Associate
Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Boundary Disputes, Business Consulting
Byron Ma
Byron Ma
Of-Counsel
Civil Litigation, Business Transactions, Intellectual Property Law
Ian McKinley
Ian McKinley
Senior Associate Attorney
Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation, Business Torts, Boundary Disputes, Shareholder & Member Derivative Litigation, …See More
Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer
Senior Associate
Civil Litigation, Commerical Real Estate, Corporate Formation
Bryan Rayo
Bryan Rayo
Junior Associate
Real Estate Law, Commerical Real Estate, Landlord-Tenant Law
Adam Reifman
Adam Reifman
Senior Associate
Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Law — Entity Formation & Planning, Easement & Land Use, …See More
Vincent Renda
Vincent Renda
Of Counsel
Bankruptcy Law, Real Estate Law, Business Consulting, Civil Litigation
Vincent Russo
Vincent Russo
Senior Counsel
Trust & Probate Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate Law
William H. Sauls
William H. Sauls
Of-Counsel
Estate Planning, Tax Advisory, Business Consulting
Stefan Seper
Stefan Seper
Attorney
Civil Litigation, Landlord-Tenant Law , Commercial Real Estate, Habitability Issues, …See More
David Silldorf
David Silldorf
Of-Counsel
Criminal Defense
Shelly Ann Stewart
Shelly Ann Stewart
Junior Associate
Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation
Michael Stuart
Michael Stuart
Of-Counsel
Criminal Defense, Restraining Orders, Civil Litigation, Administrative Law
Natalie Valentine
Natalie Valentine
Junior Associate
Civil Litigation, Residential Real Estate
Legal Support
Our dedicated paralegals are the behind-the-scenes experts who ensure our firm runs smoothly. They play a critical role in our client-focused approach, enabling our attorneys to deliver the highest quality service with precision and care.
Mariam Alnajjar
Mariam Alnajjar
Legal Assistant
Civil and Business Litigation, Commercial and Residential Real Estate Disputes, Employment Law
Kathy Davalos
Kathy Davalos
Paralegal
Corporate Law, Civil Litigation, Real Estate Law
Ragan Fowzer
Ragan Fowzer
Legal Assistant
Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation
Tania Gomez
Tania Gomez
Paralegal
Estate Planning, Probate, Tax Law
Connie Harbaugh
Connie Harbaugh
Paralegal
Civil Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Transaction Law
Liana M. Jackson
Liana M. Jackson
Paralegal
Alyssa Kucera
Alyssa Kucera
Post Bar Law Clerk
Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation
Lily Korpman
Lily Korpman
Senior Paralegal
Jacinda Maheras
Jacinda Maheras
Paralegal
Elena McKinley
Elena McKinley
Paralegal
Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Corporate Law
Magdalena Valdez
Magdalena Valdez
Paralegal
Heidy Vera
Heidy Vera
Legal Assistant
Civil Litigation, Real Estate Law
What Our
Clients Say
Our Philosophy
Positive outcomes start with clear communication, practical solutions, and follow-through. That’s our philosophy—and what we deliver to every client who entrusts us with protecting what matters most.
Proudly Serving San Diego &
the North Coast
From Bankers Hill to La Jolla, Hoffman & Forde represents clients across Southern California with clear counsel, strategic insight, and results that hold up under pressure.