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Northeast Los Angeles Estate Planning & Probate

Your home could be your family's biggest probate problem.

Most homes in Northeast LA aren't held in a trust. If yours isn't, your family could face a costly, public, and time-consuming court process when you pass.

16–24
Months in
Probate Court
4–5%
Of Your Estate
in Fees & Costs
100%
Fully Public
Process

Already dealing with probate? We help with that too.

Book Your Free 60-Minute Consultation 📞 (818) 370-1768
Se habla español
Why It Matters

Why Northeast LA families are especially at risk

The neighborhoods we love — El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park — share a few things that make estate planning urgent, not optional.

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Rising home values

Even if your family bought decades ago, probate fees are calculated on today's assessed value. As NELA home prices climb, so does what your family would lose to the court.

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Large, multi-generational families

Without a clear estate plan, more heirs means more potential for disagreements, delays, and disputes — the exact kind of family conflict a trust is designed to prevent.

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Most homes aren't in a trust

A surprising number of homes across NELA are held without any trust structure at all. That means a guaranteed trip through probate — and everything that comes with it.

How It Works

Three steps to protecting your family

1

Call or Book Online

Text, call, or pick a time on our calendar. It takes 30 seconds.

2

Free 60-Minute Consultation

We talk through your situation — your family, your property, your goals. No jargon, no pressure.

3

Your Plan, Done Right

We build a plan tailored to your family — and make sure every detail is handled properly.

A trust can fix this. And if probate has already started, we can help.

Whether you need a plan or you need someone to guide your family through probate, the first step is the same — a conversation. 60 minutes, no cost, no pressure.

Book Your Free Consultation or text / call (818) 370-1768
About Us

Your neighbors, your attorneys.

Ellen Farewell and Joey Farewell — Farewell & Farewell LLP
Ellen Farewell & Joey Farewell — Farewell & Farewell LLP

I'm Joey Farewell — a former college quarterback turned estate planning and probate attorney, and I live right here in El Sereno. My wife and I moved here from Glendale before Christmas 2021, and we never looked back. Our three kids — Jack, Callum, and baby Lily — are growing up in this neighborhood. They go to daycare on Tampico, and you'll find us at Guardia Park most weekends. I volunteer as a community leader and land steward at Elephant Hill, where I work alongside USC, the CNPS, and the MRCA to restore native habitat — and I've planted hundreds of trees and native plants across our local parks.

I chose El Sereno because this community is special. And I believe our families deserve estate planning that's personal, affordable, and built for how we actually live.

I work alongside my mother, Ellen Farewell — also an attorney and notary — continuing a legal tradition that started with my grandfather, Joe Edwards, who opened his practice in Glendale in the 1950s. Three generations of helping families protect what matters most.

Ellen brings over 40 years of estate planning and probate experience to every client relationship. A leader in the foothill community, she has dedicated herself to service — from women's groups to church organizations and multi-denominational faith communities. As a notary, she handles document execution in-house, saving you time and extra trips. And as a proud grandmother, she understands firsthand what it means to protect a family's legacy across generations.

We're not a big firm. We don't have big-firm overhead — or big-firm attitudes. We offer competitive pricing, honest guidance, and the kind of relationship where you know exactly who's handling your family's plan. And while we're estate planners by focus, we don't shy away from the courtroom when our clients need us.

Your family is worth protecting. That's not a sales pitch — it's why we do this work.

In the Community

Rooted in this neighborhood

We don't just work here. We live here, shop here, and invest in the people and places that make Northeast LA home.

🏔️ Elephant Hill Test Plot

Joey serves as land steward of this native plant restoration project on public land in El Sereno — a partnership with Test Plot, MRCA, CNPS, and USC.

🌱 CNPS Leadership

Conservation co-chair of the California Native Plant Society's L.A./Santa Monica Mountains Chapter, working to protect and restore native ecosystems.

🏪 Local Business Supporters

We believe in the small businesses that make this neighborhood run. When we can shop local, we do — and we encourage our neighbors to do the same.

Joey's Conservation & Community Leadership — As Featured In

Los Angeles Times LA TACO CNPS Flora Magazine Impulso Newspaper LA Public Press
What We Do

Estate planning and probate — from first plan to final resolution

Whether you're planning ahead or your family is already navigating probate, we're here to help. Every plan and every case is tailored to your family, your property, and your wishes — explained in plain language, because that's how it should be.

Living Trusts

The foundation of most estate plans. Think of a trust as a set of instructions that tells the world exactly what happens with your home and assets — without a judge getting involved. It keeps your family out of probate, protects their privacy, and makes sure everything passes to who you choose.

Wills

A will names who inherits what, who cares for your children, and who you trust to carry out your wishes. It works alongside a trust to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Powers of Attorney

If you're ever unable to make financial decisions — due to illness, injury, or age — a power of attorney lets someone you trust step in and manage your affairs without going to court.

Healthcare Directives

Also called an advance directive. This tells doctors and your family exactly what kind of medical care you want if you can't speak for yourself. It takes the burden off your loved ones.

Trust Amendments

Life changes — new baby, new home, marriage, divorce. Your trust should change with it. We update existing plans so they always reflect your current wishes and circumstances.

Property Transfers

A trust only works if your property is actually in it. We handle the legal transfer of your home and other assets into your trust — the critical step most people miss.

⚖️ A Core Part of Our Practice

Probate & Trust Administration

If your family is already facing probate — or you've been named as a trustee or executor and aren't sure what to do next — we'll guide you through every step. Probate is a major part of our practice, and we know how overwhelming it can be for families who are already grieving.

We handle court filings, creditor notifications, asset inventories, accountings, and distribution — all the details that come with settling an estate properly. And when disputes arise, we stand up for our clients. One of the proudest moments of our practice was winning a significant adversarial court victory on behalf of a family who needed someone in their corner.

Already in probate?
We can step in at any stage of the process and help your family move forward.
Named as trustee or executor?
We'll explain your responsibilities and make sure you fulfill them correctly and on time.
Disputes or contested estates?
We advocate for fair, transparent administration — and we've won in court when it mattered.
Get Help With Probate

Why an online form isn't enough to protect your family

We understand the appeal of an online trust for a few hundred dollars. It sounds easy and affordable. But estate planning isn't a form — it's a plan. And when the plan fails, your family pays the price.

The unfunded trust trap

An online service gives you documents — but doesn't transfer your home or accounts into the trust. Without that step, your family still ends up in probate.

California law is specific

Generic templates miss California's community property rules, execution requirements, and Probate Code formalities. Even a missing signature can invalidate an entire plan.

Real families are complicated

Blended families, children with special needs, family members with debt or addiction, multi-generational households — online questionnaires can't handle any of it.

Banks can reject DIY documents

If a bank won't accept your power of attorney and you're already incapacitated, you can't sign a new one. Your family ends up in court — the exact thing you were trying to avoid.

Nobody reminds you to update

Online services hand you documents and disappear. A new baby, a divorce, a move — your plan goes stale and nobody tells you. An attorney relationship means someone is there when life changes.

A false sense of security

The worst outcome isn't having no plan — it's thinking you have one when you don't. Your family discovers the problems at the worst possible moment.

Your family is worth more than a template. We offer competitive pricing, a free 60-minute consultation, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing it's done right.

Let's Talk

Rooted in Northeast LA. Founded in Glendale. Serving all of Southern California.

Our family practice has served Los Angeles families for three generations. Whether you're down the street or across the county, we're here to help.

El Sereno Lincoln Heights Eagle Rock Glassell Park Highland Park Cypress Park Montecito Heights Hermon Glendale South Pasadena Alhambra Pasadena Burbank Greater Los Angeles
Get in Touch

Let's talk about protecting your family.

Your first consultation is free — 60 minutes, no pressure, no obligation. Just an honest conversation about your situation and what makes sense for your family.

Here's what to expect

We'll sit down together — in person, by phone, or by video call, whatever works best for you — and talk through your situation. Your family, your home, your goals. No legal jargon. No hard sell. If a trust makes sense, we'll explain exactly what it involves and what it costs. If it doesn't, we'll tell you that too.

Worried about cost? Most of our estate plans are more affordable than people expect — a fraction of what probate would cost your family. We'll walk you through pricing during your free consultation so there are never any surprises.

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Text or Call
(818) 370-1768
✉️
📍
El Sereno Office
3848 Portola Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90032
📍
Glendale Office
1601 Grandview Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201
🗣️ Se habla español
⏰ We typically respond within one business day
🤝 Free 60-minute consultation — no obligation
💰 Competitive pricing with no big-firm overhead
📍 Available in person at either office, by phone, or video call
Book Your Free Consultation
Pick a time that works for you. 60 minutes, no cost, no obligation.

No cost. No pressure. Just a conversation about protecting your family.

Your family is worth protecting.

Whether you're planning ahead with a trust or your family is already navigating probate, we're here to help. No big-firm fees. No pressure. Just honest guidance from people who care.

📞 (818) 370-1768 text or call — whatever's easier Se habla español