This guy is NOT an attorney. He will kinda do some stuff for you. He will make it sound like he's an attorney but he is not. Don't trust him with your finances. Your family will get screwed. He preys on elderly people to think he's knowledgeable. He is not. Hire an actual attorney. read more

Many years ago my parents met with Jim Mariani to put together their joint family trust and associated documents, like powers of attorney, medical power of attorney, wills, etc. Later my parents went over their trust and provided me with a copy as I was a successor trustee. Jim is not an attorney, but rather a legal document provider. he provides a very excellent package of necessary documents which are each to complete and then be compiled in a tabbed binder. He can advise on the use of the forms, but if you have a complicated estate you will want to tap an attorney to ensure that your trust will be as you like it to be. Jim's services help to ensure that your family is in charge of meeting your desired goals as to property and healthcare decisions, rather than the State of California. Having a living trust is a crucial tool to keep you in control of your estate. The trust was re-stated/rewritten when my mother died so the trustee was my father. It was done very quickly, just 18 days after my mother passed. Jim was right there. A bonus that I appreciated was a video, taken by Jim Mariani, of my dad, sitting in his chair answering Jim's questions: Why did you establish your trust? What do you want to happen to your estate after you die? Who do you want to manage your estate if you cannot do it? How do you want the assets of your trust distributed? This was an excellent way to capture my dad's intent as to his trust and his assets. Especially if you anticipate any challenges to your trust, this is a great way to demonstrate exactly what the owner of the trust wants. I kept a copy of this video. As dad aged, he became frustrated with the work that he normally did, like paying bills, contributing money to charities and doing the accounting work on his investments. He asked me to take over doing this for him, but I ran into the reality that the trust is very restrictive. Jim gave us the way forward through another re-statement of the trust. My dad would, in writing, resign as the trustee, appointing me as the new trustee. I would reply, in writing that I accepted the trustee position and duties. The new trust did have me as the trustee. Then came the many transactions, such as selling property, opening and closing accounts and other financial dealings. What Jim set up was clear as can be as I would lay out the sequence of events relative to the trust management for title companies, financial institutions and medical facilities. I could not have effectively managed my dad's trust if the re-statements had not been crystal clear. Now dad has died. He had a great run at life passing at 99 years and 8 months of age. Assets of the trust stayed exactly where they are and the paperwork is minimal. HomeTrust and Jim Mariani are super to work with, reasonably priced and accessible by phone and electronics. Jim is easy to work with and in effect became a family member. Thanks, Jim for helping me avoid a lot of pain and confusion with my parent's estate. read more

Just had Jim and Marco prepare my living trust. Such an awesome experience. Great communication, very knowledgeable, efficent, affordable and friendly. Great people. Will refer to family and friends!!! read more

Started with Jim in 2005. Jim goes above and beyond expectations! EXTREMELY knowledgeable and UNBELIEVABLE service!! read more

James and Marco helped my family in settling my brother's Living Trust. We live over 400 miles away and they were so helpful and knowledgeable in all the aspects of the settlement even from a distance. They were responsive and available for all my calls, explained things in a manner that I was able to understand. I ran into several roadblocks along the way from the bank where the trust account was opened and James helped me deal with the issues, offered solutions and followed up afterwards. read more

If I could give no stars I would. Mr. Mariani took care of my mothers trust. After my Mothers passing last year, Mr. Mariani was giving my siblings/ trustees of the estate advice he wasn't legally qualified to do. My family and I found out about it after we hired an attorney. There are several things he did that I found questionable when dealing with my elderly Mother. One being he offered her a discount for his fees when updating her trust if she agreed to use a real-estate company/agent he knew. The agreement between our Mom and Mariani was... if we didn't sell her house within 6 mo. the company/agent from Pacific Sothebys would become the listing agent. That same agent, came to my Mother's home before she had even been buried and offered us $250,000.00 furniture and all. That wasn't going to happen in this market!!! AND IT DIDN'T. Good job Mariani read more

I first got my living trust through James in 2003. I Have had him come out to amend some papers twice. I highly recommend him for anyone who is looking for a living trust. He's the best! He Is so helpful and kind, and has a great sense of humor. Thoroughly enjoy doing business with him. read more

I've been referring to home trust for most likely 30+ years. I started using them as part of my insurance brokerage services. 20 years after selling the business I am still referring to Jim and his team when I can. A great and needed service including knowledge regarding Trust & Wills whether it is for financial planning or end of life considerations. Home Trust out performs all of the Trust attorneys I new, many have told me they have used Home Trust and added a fee to their clients invoice. They will take care of of you and thank you Jim for taking care of my clients and friends. read more

James the legal aid came to my brother's rescue as quickly as could be expected. Jerry was not expected to live beyond 6 months and needed all his legal documents Updated. James did so in a timely manner and sufficient for his needs. After my brothers passing, James once again visit me to file the final necessary paper work with all agencies that needed to know of his passing. I would recommend this man to any one of any adult age needing counseling on wills, trust, deeds etc. call him, I am sure glad I did. Thanks Sherry for recommending James. read more

James is a trusted person that help not only me but my brother and mother with our important documents. I recommend him highly. Very warm and personal. You're in good hands with James. read more

If you have been procrastinating getting around to establishing a will & a living trust, Hometrust makes it easy to get your things in order & gives you the piece of mind in knowing your loved ones won't be stressed & the government won't put your estate through probate. Totally affordable... You don't need a lawyer to put it together. James can do it for a fraction of the cost of a legal eagle. So glad I called James & got it together... read more

I have never done an one line review before. I feel compelled to let everyone know how grateful I am to James Mariani HomeTrust. I am retirement age and have a business. On the years I have had several trust revisions and have dealt with many attorneys. I thought James was great. He is knowledgeable and gives honest clear answers. He was very responsive to making trust changes in a timely manner. We recently had a legal issue and James was the person we called. His fees are very reasonable and he came to my home. We weren't satisfied with previous help. I am so glad we found James! Thanks James Ann R read more

James Mariani was a wonderful help in implementing my families trust . James is very thorough in all areas of the living trust. Even though he is not an attorney James knows all areas of a living trust. Costs are very reasonable. read more

We had such a great experience working with James. He was very easy going, simplified and explained legal terms with us, made sure that we were aware if our decision and gave us valid options. We are very grateful that we can trust James in preparing us for the future and making sure all the legalities are taken care of should anything come to happen. My in laws used him for their work, my Father did as well, and my family looks forward to working with James again. If you need a trust made be sure to schedule an in home appointment with James. read more

The Home Trust Company recently provided their services in helping my wife and I understand the benefits and boundaries of a Living Trust and subsequently prepared our Living Trust Document. This was a very enlightening and great learning experience and very enjoyable because of the Business Acumen, Knowledge and aproachability of Mr. James Mariani. Based on the excellent overview of the Living Trust and explanation of its contents by Mr. Mariani, we immediately established our trust in him and felt comfortable sharing such important information with him during the privacy/secracy of our conversations. The following attributes were witnessed during the two meetings that we had with Mr. Mariani that resulted in the successful implemention of our Living Trust. ATTRIBUTES: - He is very Knowlegable of the Living Trust Requirements. - He knows the Law and DO'S and Don'ts and conveys this to his Clients. - He is very open, Honest and Professional. - He is Customer Oriented and Aims to meet their needs. - He has a very secure process and back up system to protect his Client's personal information. - He is always available and approachable (There is no dumb questions with him so ask and he will reply in a manner to ensure you understand). - His word is his bond and he will standby it. - He goes beyond the call of his normal duties to satisfy his Customers. - He has some 10,000 Clients and we are number 10,001 and very satisfied. In summary, we highly recommend Mr. James Mariani for the development of your Living Trust Documents and for future maintenance/updates for the same. Satisfaction Garanteed. read more

James was great! He was flexible with scheduling and came straight to us. He explained everything in detail and he was easily accessible, just a phone call or email away. I would definitely recommend Hometrust to friends and family. read more

Many thanks to James for all his help in creating a will and living trust for my father. He explained legal details and gave us guidance and answers to all of our questions. I thought creating a trust was so involved and complicated so I had put it off but after talking to James I realized I was making a huge mistake. It really gave me a sense of relief having it done. After being completed, several months passed and I had more questions. I didn't hesitate to contact James and he responded quickly and patiently (I cannot emphasis this enough) answered my questions. James is very professional, informed, has a wonderful witty sense of humor and I would highly recommend him. Jeannette S. read more

James assisted wth our will and trust, and has been so helpful with the paperwkor I am dealing wwith as the exacutor of my mother's estate. As an LDA he is so knowledgeable and I highly recommend him to anyone thinking of getting a trust or will. read more

The time you need a Living Trust or help settling one can often be stressful. I have known and worked with James Mariani for many years. He has always been responsive, and has provided great guidance and advice. He handled all the paperwork after my father's passing and set everything up for when the time comes for my mother. I have recommended him to several people including family members and he's done a great job with everyone. His paralegal Anna Thomas is also a pleasure to work with. She's professional, efficient and has become a trustworthy friend. James is upfront and honest about the fact that he is not an attorney. I took a trust he had drawn up for me to a trust attorney when there was a discount offered. I thought the attorney would find flaws with the document because of their advanced education or experience, but the things that were pointed out were small and inconsequential. I decided to stick with James because his fees were significantly less. Why pay more for the same result which is a legally sound document that serves the same purpose? I have just contacted him to help my daughter with a quick claim because I wasn't sure where we could turn or who we could trust. He was "James on the spot" with sound advice and started his research right away. I highly recommend James Mariani with Hometrust. In addition to quality work, you get a funny sense of humor! read more

James helped me form my trust in 2005 and has updated it twice since then. Not only is he a very experienced LDA (Legal Document Assistant) he is a joy to work with, adding a level of comedy to what could be a morbid process. He knows the forms and can guide you through them expertly. I am especially impressed with his practice of using live video to make your wishes known in an indisputable format. I'll probably never die, but if I do, I feel much more prepared. read more

I can't believe the poor rating by the previous writer. We've had James write our trust 20 years ago and updated 5 years ago. Our friends and relatives have used him also. He's very thorough and clarified all questions my mother in law had. He has an A+ rating from the BBB. Our friends can't believe the huge organized binder of our trust that he compiled. Every single detail is spelled out for our executor and heirs. I recommend him with confidence. read more

My mother, recently widowed, hired Mr. Mariani to restate the trust that he did initially. She was charged nearly $5000. This seems excessive for doing some administrative work. I am trying to protect my mother from opportunist that count on you not shopping around and not knowing what the going rate for their services are. This seems more than what a licensed attorney would charge. And on top of that he tried to sell my mother on a reverse mortgage that she didn't need and had the audacity to say that this is what my dad would want for her. read more

I've known James for almost twenty years. He is upfront about his status as a legal document expert and that he is not an attorney. He helped an elderly friend of mine update her last will and trust. He is very good at what he does, offering a less expensive way to get your affairs in order. He takes time explaining the documents and videos his conversations so that there is clear evidence of people's capacity to understand what they are signing, preventing litigation down the road for families. I recommend James highly. He comes to your house making the entire process easier on families. read more

I can't say enough great things about working with James!!! Not only does he know this business inside & out, he makes it easy for common folk like me!! Plus he is funny & a joy to work with! We have been with James for many year, and will continue with him....until death do us part! ;-) read more

I cannot thank James enough for all the help he gave me navigating through all the paperwork involved after my dad and his wife passed away. He was very friendly and professional, and quite empathitic with my situation. He also helped with my own trust paperwork and documents so I now have a peace of mind with my own affairs. He had contacts with attorneys to use in case I needed legal advice which was not required, as he helped me understand all the "legalese" in the documents. I would highly recommend James and his company for anyone looking for a legal aid to assist with a trust. read more

James was extremely helpful in this difficult time. His assistant Chris a big help also. Many questions were answered and solutions easily achieved with their help. James is an LDA Legal Document Assistant and was very helpful! read more

James was very informative and guided us through this process which can be uncomfortable in talking about death. But he did it with sensitivity and realistic explanations. I appreciate his assistance in this and recommend him to anyone looking for their trust creation. I understand James is not an attorney but has extensive knowledge on the forms and examples to give for making the right decision for us and our family trust. Thank you James. read more

Hometrust, James, has been a blessing to me and my family. I can't believe how the trust saved my parents home. Thank goodness I don't have to go through probate, and lose money. James has a charming personality which really helped my mom understand everything she was signing. He has expert advice on so many issues. He helped me after the passing of my dad with all the paperwork, bills, deed, financial issues, credit cards, social security etc. Thanks for all your help James, you truly are an amazing man with a wealth of knowledge. read more

I am grateful for my ongoing trust work with James. The expertise he brings as a Legal Document Assistant is invaluable. He is a joy and pleasure to work with and doesn't miss a beat. I highly recommend him. read more

James was incredibly knowledgeable and thorough when he met with my mother and I to update the family trust. He went above and beyond-I highly recommend him! Very reasonably priced and has your best interests in mind. read more

I met James a LDA(Legal Document Assistant) in 2006 when my husband was battling cancer and we need to set up a Trust. James was very helpful and when I needed help when my husband passed James took care of all paperwork so I did not have to worry. I am forever grateful for James"s help at a very difficult time, read more

We have been customers of James for 20 plus years. They have always been very pleasant and professional. Even though they are not attorneys or cannot give legal advice they can guide you to what you need. If you are in need of a Trust, do your self a favor and go to James at Hometrust. read more

My experience was very good, James provided good explanation and was very detailed with helping me establish a living trust. I am very satisfied with the help I received. read more

James is the best Legal Document Assistant I know. He worked with my parents a decade ago and we had to recently update our entire trust after my father passed away. He took the stress away by making everything very easy. He is a very likable person, very thoughtful, and has a great energy. He handled everything for my mom and even physically drove her to the banks, DMV, etc to change everything that use to be joint accounts to only hers. I highly recommend James as he is very detailed oriented, which is what you need when it comes to a family trust! read more

James Mariani has been the Legal Document Assistant for our family for many years. He set up a Living Trust for my parents when they were alive which I am forever grateful. He handled all the necessary paperwork for my mother after my fathers passing ten years ago and assisted my brothers and myself with the paperwork for my mothers recent passing. This has all been a new experience for me as the Trustee for my parents estate and I would be lost without James expertise. James has set up a Living Trust for all of our family members and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for someone who is knowledgeable, organized and personable to help you get through what can otherwise be a very difficult time. Thank you James for being there for us and helping us work through all the confusing legal documents. read more

James Mariani and his competent associates have just guided us through the difficult process of both settling my cousin's estate and creating our own Living Trust. With a warm, engaging personality, he quickly settled our anxieties in document navigation during a painful time of loss. His experience extends back in our family to my cousin and his grandmother before him. The diligence and concern James exhibited during the past three weeks was thorough and genuine. As a legal document assistant, he is the guy you want to watch your back. Thank you James, for treating my wife and I like family. read more

Want to express my sincere thanks to James after updating family trust here. He has been a blessing. May I add this Legal Document Assistant knows his stuff. Have used him over the years 3 different times. My Jim would be so thankful that I called on James to help with what I had to do here as he recently passed and there were things to take care of. Thanks for helping me through a very difficult time James. Brightest blessings........, read more

Have used James Mariani's services as a Legal Document Assistant a number of times over the past 20 years. He did my father's trust. Upon father's passing, James filed all the necessary docs to settle the estate. He did my wife's and my trust. Most recently, after my divorce, he did my trust and filed all docs to transfer real property into that trust. Very efficient and cost effective. You won't be disappointed using his services. read more

I met James in 1996 when I was diagnosed with a "terminal cancer" and needed help preparing a trust to protect my teenaged son in event of my passing. I was a single mom so, needless to say, I needed someone trustworthy and kind. He went the extra mile for me, coming out on a holiday to get it done. He was both warm and extremely professional, not to mention reasonable in cost. So much so that when I recovered miraculously! and returned to work, I referred him to many of my patients (in similar situations) and consistently got from them very satisfied feedback. I trusted him again to serve my dad when he moved to San Diego; he helped to re-state my father's trust which had been executed in Florida. James made everything easy. And yet again when my aunt needed help last year -- so timely and supportive! As it turns out, my financial planner has run across his work numerous times and is very complimentary -- "You don't have to worry about James' documents, always thorough and reliable." Another feature I should mention is that he has taken to doing a short video when executing a document package for someone--making wonderful evidence of that person's spirit and intention. As another commenter said, I will continue with him till death do us part! read more

My mother utilized the services of Mr. Mariani of Hometrust. I was asked to be present to sign some documents. Mr. Mariani was arrogant and condescending in a sing-song tone of voice. He did complete the documents after a "misunderstanding", but I would not reccomend him to anyone. read more