Back in the early '70s, my folks bought two on a lot with my aunt and uncle. More than four decades later, my parents (now IN their early 70s) have raised their kids, semi-retired, and are still living in the same house we all grew up in. Recently, my parents asked me to help them find a reputable place to help them create a living trust. As with most things... I checked Yelp and found Cali Law. I'm sure glad I did. After setting up an appointment for my folks, they met with Marc by phone/video (COVID rules, of course). He spent a good couple of hours slowly explaining the process to my parents, answering their questions, and assuring them of the value of establishing a trust vs. other settlement options for their estate when they pass on. I was impressed at Marc's patience and thoroughness; moreover, Marc made it clear that this was not a "set it and forget it" RonCo sort of deal-- no, he reassured my parents this was more of a Casablanca deal-- "the start of a beautiful friendship." No one who loves his parents likes to sit around and casually chat about divvying up their assets after they die; still, Marc and everyone with whom we are working at Cali Law has treated this pragmatic topic with respect, dignity, patience, and compassion. I highly recommend this business. They did bit charge my parents a dime for the consultation, and my folks were pleased with the overall fees for their services. . read more

This lawyer did all of our estate planning but seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth and not left any forwarding information. We spent thousands with him. Utterly disappointed. read more

They never responded or answered our calls. Too bad because we read great reviews. Maybe they're out of business or too busy to reply, at least with a voicemail that tells us we aren't accepting new clients. read more

Other estate attorneys wanted fees to do an initial consultation, but not Marc. Anthea was very helpful and attentive with getting my mom comfortable for the initial consultation. After meeting Marc, my mother said to me, "He really cares about his clients." We needed documents quickly. Marc gave sound advice and all of our documents were completed expertly and quickly. I offer an unqualified recommendation for Marc and his team. read more

My wife and I recently worked with Liz Seitz, Kathy Foote and the Garlett office team to help plan a trust and will. I simply cannot recommend them highly enough. The entire process was handled with care and compassion. Liz was superb at guiding us through the process, was patient with our questions every step of the way, and made the entire experience feel like working with a trusted friend. Kathy kept in frequent communication with us through each stage and was always prompt in responding to any inquiries we had, or in helping us navigate a particular step along the way. As a same-sex couple, we felt entirely welcome and that Liz and her team were equipped to handle questions specific to our situation. We are on the west side of Los Angeles, so the commute to the office was a consideration. However, after our first contact we knew that we had made the right choice in working with this team for such an important process. Besides, we treated ourselves after each visit (3 total) to a nice lunch. At no time did we feel pressure to take actions or make decisions on aspects of the process that we did not understand, nor did we have to worry about incurring a cost for each question, call, or email. We have compared notes with friends who either opted for a large law firm, or "do it yourself" chains. We are convinced we made the absolute best choice. read more

My wife and I had plan to make a Living Trust for more than 20 years, the main reason why we did not take time to do it was because we could not find the attorney that we had faith in to help us. Several months ago I attended Marc's Estate Planning seminar in Arcadia and my mental paradigm changed, Marc provided the essence of Estate Planning in details, I grasped the large picture of what need to be done to achieve our goal, it was doable, I had my faith. We stepped forward with Marc's professional services, he provided road map and to-dos to get us through the Estate Planning process, Anthea provided all required documents, and answered questions if we got stuck, excellent client services, we got our tasks accomplished without a hitch, we are so grateful for their helps, I felt at ease since in the future if we encounter estate related issues, Marc is only a phone call away; I would like to recommend Marc G. Garlett to anyone who likes me looking for an attorney's help in making Estate Planning without reservation, Marc and his team are the right place to go. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Marc and his team. After 2+ years of working with him, I can proudly say that Marc is not only my attorney, but my friend. He's a family man and the hard work he and his staff provide reflect their values in life. They are honest and sincere in their efforts to help you in any, and every, facet of family law that they can. Thank you, Marc...for everything! read more

When my Mom and Dad passed away, I became successor co-trustee, as well as being one of the beneficiaries of my parent's Family Trust. While carrying out my fiduciary duties as successor trustee, I soon realized that my parent's estate plan had inadequacies, and was a generic boilerplate document prepared by an attorney that wasn't thorough, and didn't put much effort into it. This lead to tremendous turmoil, grief, and guilt between me and my four other siblings during a very crucial time. Therefore, when it was time for me and my wife to consider our own estate planning, with our two daughters in mind, we knew we had the daunting task of finding the right attorney to draft a quality estate plan for us, while avoiding some of the pitfalls of my parent's estate plan. After our initial family planning session with Marc Garlett, we knew we had found the right attorney and planning team. We found Marc to be friendly, professional, and knowledgeable, with a genuine caring interest in helping his client's families through every step of the way and beyond. Marc is a devoted family man, who loves his family, and this caring dedication and values extends into his practice as motivation to do things right. He is sincere and open, and readily shares personal stories, anecdotes, and the wisdom and lessons learned from his own family life experiences. He took the time and effort to get to know us better in order to help us in the best way possible. Meetings with Marc seems more like having a casual discussion with a trusted friend. My wife and I are truly pleased with how comprehensive, thorough, and concise Marc's office handled the detail intricacies and technicalities involved in preparing an estate plan suited to our needs and wishes. Marc was always patient in listening to our questions, and made conscientious efforts in responding and explaining to insure we understood everything. Whenever I have questions along any stage of the planning process, I was not reluctant to call Marc, for fear of incurring additional costs and getting unexpected billing statement. Marc encourages his clients to call him with any follow-up questions they may have, with no extra fees, unlike the attorneys that I have dealt with for my parents' trust, where we would receive surprise hourly billing invoices for every 2-minute phone call, e-mail sent, or face-to-face encounter with them. Marc's Client Service Director, Kathy is kind, personable, professional, and extraordinarily efficient in keeping us in frequent communication, while guiding us through each planning stage. Kathy was always prompt in responding to our phone call or e-mail inquiries, and kept us updated and on track with all the necessary document submittals and processing. Whenever we need to drop off some documents to Kathy, it feels like we are just stopping by to visit and say hello to friends at their home. Marc's office in Sierra Madre is pleasantly cozy, welcoming, and unintimidating with ample parking and a small town atmosphere, unlike the high rise offices of attorneys I worked with for my parent's trust where I had to deal with parking structures, parking fees, parking validations, lobby security guards, elevators, and impersonal law firm receptionist who don't even know you, while trying to survive the Pasadena, Downtown L.A., or Century City traffic just to see them. It has been a pleasurable and rewarding experience working with Marc and Kathy while planning something as important, personal, and emotional as our estate plan and family trust. We cannot express the feeling of satisfaction and peace of mind that our family legacy is in order, and truly grateful for the expertise, professionalism, and friendship of Marc and his efficient office team to make this happen. It is also reassuring that our daughters and family will have such a dedicated and supportive team as the Garlett Law Office to be there if and when the need arises for their help and support. Thank you Marc, Kathy, Anthea, and Bari for such a gratifying experience. read more

My husband and I recently needed to update our Trust after 15 years. Marc analyzed our previous Trust and told us all the areas that were weak for current standards. He was able to answer all our questions. With Anthea's assistance, we now have an updated Trust that will serve our family's needs. They are quick to respond to emails and appointments seem relaxed, yet productive. As a resident of Sierra Madre, having his office in town was a convenient advantage. I would definitely recommend this firm! read more

Marc is extremely knowledgeable and professional. With his expertise we recently completed our Trust & Child Protection Plan. Life can take unexpected, unpredictable turns. Having the Child Protection Plan in place helps ensures that our children will be in good hands, even if we are no longer around. He is a great person and wonderful to work with! Thank you Marc! read more

I wanted to set up a trust after receiving an inheritance. I chose Marc and his associates after reading all the great reviews, and he and his staff are everything the reviews state and more. I went into the process having been Trustee on my parents Trusts, but not knowing much about setting up a trust. Marc was very thorough, and helped me set up the trust the way I wanted it, giving me excellent and informative advice that caused me to rethink some of my initial ideas. In addition to helping me set up a trust, Cali Law also helped me obtain a refund from a recalcitrant Board-and-Care after my mother passed away. Not only is Marc an excellent lawyer, he and his staff are exceptionally nice people and easy to work with. I can recommend without reservation Marc and his associates for Estate Planning and issues regarding Elder Care. read more

Marc Garlett is what all lawyers should be - not only knowledgeable, but caring, compassionate and honest. He does NOT try to nickel and dime you to death with additional charges if you have a question or two... or six. He is more interested in making sure that your trust works perfectly for you. My mom passed away several years ago and I was a successor co-trustee. It was, hands down, the worst year and a half of my entire life. My mom's (and our) lawyer charged us for every minute I talked with him, sent us incomplete and incorrect paperwork, was late for meetings by a couple hours - it was a nightmare. So when it was all done we immediately started looking for a new lawyer for ourselves. My husband was on Marc's email list for his blog and kept commenting to me about nice they were. Marc talked about fun, scary, and proud moments with his family. It almost made you feel like you were part of his family - and now that we have our Trust with him I think we are part of his family. I really can't say enough nice things about Marc. If you are even remotely thinking about getting a (new) Trust attorney, don't walk - RUN at breakneck speed to the phone and set up an appointment with him today - you will not regret it. Marc Garlett is one in a BILLION!! read more

Full disclosure; I have not used the services of Marc Garlett. My purpose was to see if Marc would be a good attorney to refer my clients to if they had the need. So I had to meet with Marc and see what he knew, how he worked, and the type of person he was. I was impressed with all three topics. I found him to be genuine, knowledgeable, personable, and efficient. I have high praise for his assistant Kathy as well. I felt a little guilty as he gave me more time than I had expected. I am completely confident when I recommend that those who have questions speak with Marc. I know that they will be treated well. And his newsletters are a must read. Never thought I'd say that about a newsletter. Most others are quite annoying and I can't delete them fast enough. But his are an honest and refreshing look into Marc, and his family. read more

My partner and I recently relocated to the Los Angeles area, mostly to be nearer to his father, a widower. We needed to help him get an estate plan in place as the will he had was dated. We reviewed ratings of an attorney that was referred to us, and after deciding that this lawyer was not the best for his dad's purposes, I decided to search Yelp for a better fit. In addition, we wanted to find an attorney closer in proximity. I found Marc and his associates and after reading the stellar reviews, passed the information along to my partner. We mentioned all of this to his dad, who was grateful that we found someone, and amenable to meeting with them. My partner then contacted Marc's office to make an appointment. I am THRILLED that they chose to work with Marc's office. Not only are Liz (the Associate Attorney who handled our case) and Kathy (the Client Services Director) the friendliest, most sincere people, they are extremely knowledgeable and professional. Everything was presented to us in a clear manner and ALL questions were answered in a timely, concise way. If we didn't understand something, they took as much time as needed to explain the facts to us. We felt the pricing that we could choose from was a great value. They do not charge based on billable hours; they use a flat fee system which is phenomenal because you aren't charged every time you have a question or concern. You know right up front what you are paying and there are NO hidden costs or fees. The three of us HIGHLY recommend Marc to anyone looking for peace of mind. They are accessible, highly qualified, competent, easy to deal with, and could not be any nicer. We will definitely use them again for any needs that arise in the future. read more

I had a great experience at Cali Law recently. They are a very professional group who are also extremely knowledgeable in their field. I highly recommend my attornies Anashe and Marc. read more

We contacted Marks firm after a friend told me she was updating her trust. My husband and I had been thinking of doing the same, but it was always a "maybe tomorrow". Until I realized that our old trust had our ex son in law (persona non Grata) as our executor--RED FLAG. We were going to New Orleans and did not want to take the chance. Mark and Kathy were so accommodating at rushing the paperwork it was incredible. We were able to sign the new executor paperwork in less than 3 weeks,(unheard of). We finished signing the rest of the new Trust today. Mark explains everything very clearly and makes sure that we know he'll be there for anything we may need in the future. We are very pleased with the firm in general, friendly, polite, and professional. read more

We just finished our Trust and Will with Marc and his associates. It was a first class pleasure dealing with Marc and Kathy. We felt very listened to and all the information provided to us was easy to follow. If you need the perfect place to plan out your estate needs this is the place to do it. We are sorry it's come to an end but look forward to updating it in a few years. Thank You Marc Garlett and Kathy,, read more

I was looking for an estate planning attorney to refer my clients to when I was first introduced to Marc by another advisor who spoke very highly of him and his firm. Marc and I spent around 90 minutes together discussing his practice, his processes and his experience. I was really impressed by Marc's ability to communicate complicated legal jargon in simplified terms. Most clients don't understand estate planning concepts but Marc explained them in such a way that anybody will understand. I have since referred clients to Marc with complete confidence. Thank you Marc for being a trusted advisor and making the complicated simple to understand. Estate Planning is a must for everyone and Marc is someone who will guide you along the process to make sure you and your family are protected and that your legacy is in order. read more

I first met Marc at a presentation he did at a local library, for parents looking for more information about Child Protection Plans (guardianship, estate designations etc...). While we had done a very basic Family Trust many years ago, we had done nothing with it for years...and it had not been updated since having children. Not only was the presentation super informative and enlightening, but I also found Marc to be personable in his demeanor and authentic in his authority as a legal professional. My husband and I decided to go ahead and have a consultation with Marc to see what it would take to get our estate plans/trust/children's guardianship in order. From the moment we sat in his office, I felt that Marc was really listening to our questions (some that were VERY specific!) and he took the time to explain what could be accomplished with a comprehensive plan. His fee's were also in line with what we were expecting (having done a little homework), and most importantly, we felt fairly confident that he was going to put in the work to make sure to take care of all the little details. Over the next couple of months, his office worked with us to have us think through our wishes for the future, gather the information we needed to have documents prepared, as well as a clear path to make sure all parts of our plans would flow through in any given circumstance. Marc made himself available to answer questions via phone or email (no additional charge...just part of the process!) and in a shorter time than I imagined, we were walking out of his office with a binder full of everything we wanted -- all our bases covered. I can't tell you what a great feeling it was to finally have that peace of mind. My husband and I both found the decisions we made and the things we had to consider in this process to be deeply personal and emotional. If you are looking for an attorney to handle your estate/trust/guardianship/child protection plans, I think it's essential to trust in the person with whom you will be working. We found that in Marc Garlett, and couldn't be happier about our choice. read more

Marc is helping us get our trust in order, especially now that we have a child. My life is super busy, and it's something that's easy to forget. This is not something I want to forget! It's my job to make sure my daughter is protected "just in case." Marc is making the process easy and smooth, and I am grateful. read more

Our family has worked with Marc's office and known him personally for many years. He is always available and always quickly responds whether by phone or by email, and he is proactive in making sure issues get addressed, often before we are even aware of them. It is great to have a personal, knowledgeable family attorney, especially as more and more services move to generic internet sites that don't understand your specific situation. I would highly recommend Marc. read more

My wife and I have been wanting to put together a trust for years but didn't know where to turn. We found Marc Garlett on Yelp. After our first initial consultation we were pleased with how precise and thorough he and his staff were with all the details. They communicated with us about what we needed and what to do throughout the whole process. We got more than what we expected. More importantly, it was well worth the piece of mind we now have knowing our family legacy is in order. Kathy was great at being patient with us and all our questions. Thanks Marc and staff for a job well done. read more

We appreciate Marc's attention to detail as he thought of so many things that we did not know about. We had no knowledge of the process, but we knew a trust was important. We trust that Marc has our best intentions in mind and feel good that we can reach out and ask for help as well at any time. He is a family man and it shows in his commitment and dedication toward protecting our family. read more

Marc and Anthea were wonderful to work with completing my estate plan. Responsive, organized, knowledgeable, transparent. Great value and the feeling of a job well done. I strongly recommend this firm. read more

I needed to update my Will and Trust. The attorney who originally set it up has moved out of state so I had to find a new attorney to help me. I am so glad to have found Marc. He and Kathy have been just wonderful guiding me through all the technicalities of estate planning. Mark takes the most complicated legal jargon and makes it possible to understand. Nothing is completed without a full discussion to make sure the client understands it. I now have my new Trust and Will and I'm so relieved and happy. The reviews on Yelp were a major part of my decision to go with Marc. Marc is everything and more that you see written by all his reviewers - he has my highest recommendation. read more

Ever since we had our first child we said we needed to assign guardians, but we never followed through. It was in the back of our minds for a 11 years and 2 more children later. Then we happened to attend a Guardianship Workshop that Marc G. Garlett was offering. After his concise explanation we realized we couldn't wait any longer to take care of such an important matter - who would take care of our children temporarily and permanently if the unexpected happened. After the workshop, we decided to continue with Marc to plan a family trust. It was the best decision we could have made for our family. The peace of mind of knowing our children will be in the hands of those we chose is very important, and knowing our assets will not go into probate is a relief. Marc is professional but also very personable. He took the time to get to know us so he can help make the best family trust. He is upfront about his costs. What he quotes at the first meeting is the actual cost without hidden fees. His staff is friendly, easy to communicate with, puts everything together, and tells you what is needed. We would highly recommend Marc. read more

My husband and I recently completed a trust, will, advanced directives with Marc and would highly recommend the office as a whole. We sought referrals from friends in the Pasadena area, and were a bit overwhelmed by the process, of sifting through services, pricing etc. Marc was referred to us by a friend who had worked with the Garlett offices team after the death of her parents and after our first meeting, there was no question in our mind that we wanted his guidance in this process. Marc is friendly, makes complexities plain, and is patient with questions. We loved getting to know a little bit more of his story and why he got into estate planning, and ultimately felt he demonstrated the most holistic approach. While we may have been able to secure a cheaper option, my guess is it may have felt more transactional and less comprehensive - ultimately it was well worth it to us to have peace of mind in working with Marc and his fantastic team. Kathy is lovely and quick to respond to emails and we felt well taken care of navigating the entire process. We have already referred Marc to our friends (and family!) and encourage you to consider a meeting in their quaint Sierra Madre offices. I have no doubt you'll be put at ease by their genuine care, leave more equipped to make informed decisions about how to care for your estate and family, and eager to make Marc your attorney. I'm so glad we did. :) read more

Marc is a thorough, honest and efficient attorney. I had a complimentary review of my documents by him and he carefully, patiently and diligently explained to me what was wrong with the documents. He was honest and straightforward and genuinely cares about the best interests of every client. His assessment of my documents were accurate and confirmed by another attorney as well. His staff was very friendly, efficient and provided guidance on the entire process. The entire process of setting up a complimentary review was smooth and professional. Estate planning is a tricky area where until you die you don't know if your attorney did a thorough job on it, and by then your family would be in a messy situation and you are not there to make the attorney accountable. With Marc you can be 200% sure that you and your family are in safe hands and have the plan in place that is best for your family's interests. I can't complete the review without saying his office is very warm and has a nice play area for kids which makes you welcome to discuss your concerns more openly. read more

I am very impressed with Marc's vision for estate planning and the protection of children. His approach is proactive and unique. I highly recommend Marc to young families in need of the beginning stages of estate planning. read more

My husband and I switched from a trust attorney in a large Pasadena firm to Marc Garlett after hearing his presentation at a Rotary Club meeting. We cannot stop singing praises for Marc and his able assistant, Kathy. Both are kind, patient, competent, and professional. Marc's level of service far exceeds that of our previous high priced attorney who charged us for every brief issue we called her to clarify. Marc encourages clients to call him with follow up questions and does not charge additional fees. The documentation he presents to clients at the conclusion of the trust preparation is thorough and well organized.. We are so pleased and highly recommend the Law Offices of Marc G. Garlett. read more

Marc is a genuinely good human being. The fact that he's an attorney is a means to an end for helping people, with empathy, and doing the right thing. My wife and I set up our family trust with him for the benefit of our new family. We feel empowered knowing we've taken this important step and having Marc guide us through the process was like having a collaborator on our team ensuring everything was done properly, thoroughly, and with the utmost care. We recommend Marc and call him a friend. read more

After years of postponing, my husband and I finally reached out to Marc Garlett for help with our trust. As we left our initial meeting with Liz, we literally felt a huge weight lifted. Not only is Liz organized and highly skilled, she is also personable and so easy to communicate with. She makes a very challenging task not only more manageable but also enjoyable. My husband and I could not be happier knowing that Marc and Liz are there to guide and support us. We also feel reassured knowing that our girls and family will have such a safe and welcoming environment and team to support them if/when the need arises. We simply cannot recommended Marc and Liz more highly. read more

My husband and I had been putting off our estate planning for quite some time, but after hearing Marc give a presentation at my daughter's school, we finally stopped procrastinating. Marc and his staff were extremely professional and went above and beyond to make sure we ended up with a product that we were happy with. I couldn't have asked for a better team to help us with this very important part of our lives. I feel confident that the plan we've put in place will fulfill our wishes when we need it to. I'm also confident that we've found a family lawyer for life. Thank you Marc and Kathy! read more

Marc is helping us set up our trust along with the child protection plan. He is approachable and will work around your schedule. He is knowledgeable and interested in protecting our interest. I am glad I have him in my corner. read more

We interviewed several estate planning lawyers and decided to work with Marc. It was an easy choice and turned out to be a great decision for us. Marc is knowledgeable, professional and, most importantly, has our best interests in mind. read more

Marc and his team recently helped my Mom put together her family trust. During our initial "complimentary" consultation with Marc, Mom came away with the feeling that Marc would be looking out for her best interests and would help shield her estate from the dreaded word "probate". It is important to note that Marc and his staff are quick to respond to any questions or concerns you may have that arise during the process. If you are looking for a professional that is knowledgeable and passionate in estate planning I highly recommend that you schedule an appointment with Marc. read more

My wife and I used the Law Offices of Marc G. Garlett and are very pleased with the results. We had an existing family trust that needed to be replaced. Marc and his staff communicate very well, explaining what needs to be done to protect yourself and your family. We are very pleased with the results and recommend his firm. read more

We could not be more pleased with our experience working with Marc and his staff. They are very friendly and very helpful. We met Marc through a workshop to set up legal guardianship for our kids and he offered us a consultation. I really like that when we met with him we did not feel like it was a "business transaction" and instead it felt like a conversation about our family. I was not staring at the clock worried that I was being charged in 15 min increments either. He also allowed us to set up the package that best suited our needs and budget. He also allowed us to set up a payment plan so we did not feel overwhelmed with the cost or prohibit us from moving forward. It is not a pleasant thought to think about what happens to your kids if something happens to you...but the thought of what happens if you do not have your affairs in order is even scarier. We work hard for our money and home so we want to make sure everything goes to our kids. The best part (besides having your assets protected) is the legacy video. I am so happy that our kids will have a video of us sharing our values, stories and advice forever. Thank you Marc and Garlett Law Staff!! read more