Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law

About Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law

Welcome to Probate Notes, your go-to podcast for navigating the complexities of California probate law. Hosted by R. Sam Price, a seasoned probate attorney, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and author of The 6-Stage Probate Process, this podcast breaks down probate practice with expert insights, practical strategies, and real-world solutions for attorneys, paralegals, fiduciaries, and professionals in the probate industry. Each episode dives into key topics, from foundational probate concepts to advanced litigation strategies, helping you master the nuances of probate practice. Whether it's fixing court examiner deficiencies, tackling probate litigation, or staying ahead of legislative updates, you'll get actionable guidance to streamline your cases and elevate your expertise. Expect guest interviews with top probate attorneys, fiduciaries, and legal experts, as well as a dedicated segment answering listener questions. Whether you're a seasoned probate attorney or just starting in the field, Probate Notes will help you navigate probate with confidence, clarity, and efficiency. 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. Submit your questions and be part of the conversation!

Publisher

R. Sam Price

Category

education · government

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Apr 2025

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

63 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   062: Kevin Porter on Legal Ethics, Integrity, and Building a Respected Legal Career

   Can a lawyer build a lasting reputation without acting like an attack dog? Kevin Porter says yes: preparation, honesty, and professional advocacy matter more than theatrics. In this conversation, Porter traces his path from a phone company to law school and a Victorville practice he joined in 1993. He reflects on decades of general practice, community service, and the relationships built through coaching basketball, Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and supporting a local charter school. Porter explains that admitting mistakes, keeping promises to clients and the court, and treating opposing counsel respectfully help protect credibility. He also shares how personal experience shaped his empathy for families facing difficult circumstances, and why family law eventually became emotionally draining. For new attorneys, his advice is to find work suited to their interests, seek a trusted mentor, and learn how judges and court staff view prospective firms. In this episode, you will hear: Community service through coaching, Rotary, and school leadership Integrity, honesty, and a professional reputation in legal practice Empathy for clients facing family and personal hardships Advice for new attorneys on finding a practice fit and mentor Learning about a firm's reputation from judges and court staff Resources from this Episode https://cklaw.net/ The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   061: Managing a Trust Portfolio with Jeremy Lau

   A trust can lose money through poor planning even when markets rise. That concern anchors our conversation with investment adviser Jeremy Lau about trust administration. Lau explains how trustees should assess beneficiaries' needs, expenses, liquidity, risk tolerance, taxes, and fees before deciding how to invest assets. We discuss why liquid investments matter, how trustees can work with professional advisers, and warning signs deserving review. Lau recommends checking an adviser's record and judging returns against an appropriate benchmark, not headlines or a stock index. He explains performance attribution and the risks of speculative requests. Listeners will come away with a sense of how investment guidelines can help trustees make and explain decisions in beneficiaries' interests and answer beneficiary questions clearly. Jeremy L. Lau serves as the CEO of Prudent Investors. He frequently speaks on investment management and financial planning to professional fiduciaries and trust and estate attorneys around the country. Jeremy regularly advises fiduciaries on managing their clients' assets and financial planning needs and also works with estate litigators as a financial expert witness. Before Prudent Investors, he worked in senior roles in the investment banking industry in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He graduated in Accounting from Brigham Young University and has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations. In this episode, you will hear: Fiduciary duties under the Uniform Prudent Investor Act Matching investment risk to beneficiaries' needs Planning for special needs trust expenses and liquidity Spotting portfolio and financial adviser red flags Choosing fair benchmarks and reviewing performance Using an investment policy statement to guide decisions Resources from this Episode https://www.prudentinvestors.com The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   060: Estate Planning and Wealth Management Under One Roof With Sanford M. Fisch

   Our conversation with Sanford M. Fisch, CEO and co‑founder of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and American Academy Wealth, LLC, focuses on building an estate planning firm that actually works as a business. We talk with Sandy about his path from tax specialist at Coopers and Lybrand to reshaping estate planning with Robert Armstrong and the systems thinking inspired by The E‑Myth. We walk through the Academy's paint‑by‑numbers approach to marketing, community workshops, and client meetings, and why attorneys often struggle to implement systems on their own. Sandy explains how Academy membership, coaching, and twice‑yearly summits support solos and small firms as they grow. We also cover his books The E‑Myth Attorney and The Enterprise Model Law Firm, and how integrating wealth management through American Academy Wealth helps attorneys deepen client relationships and create recurring revenue, while giving families a single, coordinated point of contact for planning and investments. In this episode, you will hear: How The E Myth inspired systematized law practice management Lead generation systems for estate planners, including community workshops The importance of following proven systems and avoiding "academy drift" What the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys provides to members Structure and purpose of the Academy's biannual summits The Enterprise Law Firm Model and integrating wealth management for recurring revenue Resources from this Episode https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-estate-planning-attorneys/ https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAcademyOfEstatePlanningAttorneys https://www.aaepa.com/ https://www.instagram.com/estate_planning_academy/ The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

Who has been a guest on Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jennifer Fejzic
• Terrence Franklin
• Brandie Cooper
• Sharon Vidano
• Daniel I Spector

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

59

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law