NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2016!

About Altshuler & Spiro
The firm was founded in 1959, by Bruce Altshuler's father Leo Altshuler and partner James J. Brown. Randy Spiro joined the firm in 1987, after Brown passed away.

Randy Spiro and Bruce Altshuler work together on will, trust and business issues that lead to litigation. Most of our clients utilize the firm for all legal matters.

Our firm does not maintain any barriers between the lawyer and the client. Every matter receives our utmost, personal attention. At the same time, every member of the firm maintains good relations with judges, other attorneys and professionals in the community. Some of our clients have been with our firm for more than four generations; yet we always strive to develop new clients from the community.

Bruce Altshuler has been an Attorney Settlement Officer since 2005, for the United States District Court-Central District of California. He is also available as a private Mediator, and has developed a program for management entitled "Preventing Sexual Harassment Claims," to satisfy California mandates for companies.

Randy Spiro is a frequent lecturer on estate and wealth planning to civic groups, accountants, financial planners and insurance agents.

Bruce Altshuler and Randy Spiro have the highest peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubble, the most trusted source for attorney referral information. In their areas of practice, each have earned the highest rating AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 where A=Highest Legal Ability and V=Highest Ethical Rating.

Bruce Altshuler
Bruce J. Altshuler has been practicing law with Brown & Altshuler and now Altshuler & Spiro since 1974, specializing in business and corporate law, contracts, labor and employment, entertainment, real estate, trust and will disputes, and civil appeals. He is the Managing Partner of the law firm of Altshuler & Spiro.

Mr. Altshuler has lectured to civic, law and classroom groups on topics including "Employee Non Competition Agreements" and conducts a special seminar on "Preventing Sexual Harassment Claims" to employer groups. He handles both litigation and transactional matters as part of his varied practice, and has tried dozens of jury and non-jury trials. Mr. Altshuler is also available for private mediations, having mediated several federal cases with a settlement rate of over 90% of his mediated cases. He is also available for his "Preventing Sexual Harassment Seminar" at a flat rate.

Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Beverly Hills Bar Association
US Supreme Court and US 9th Circuit Bars

Education
Bachelor of Arts-UCLA (1971), Magna Cum Laude
Juris Doctor-Loyola Law School (1974), with Honors

Professional Associations and Memberships
Judge Pro Tem for the Small Claims Court of Los Angeles County for over 20 years
Attorney Settlement Officer for the US District Court, Central District of California, since 2005 (over 90% settlement rate)

Landmark Cases
• Pringle vs. Financial West: At the time, the largest consumer arbitration award ever against a securities broker before the Pacific Exchange, award of $1.15 Million.
• Prescod vs. AMR (2004): The first time an airline was held liable for a death caused by lost or misplaced baggage, a landmark case in aviation law. Case 383 F.3d 914
• Norton vs. Norton: Permitted the court to award attorney fees in divorces based on the other spouse's misconduct.

Ratings
Martindale-Hubble: Peer Review AV® Rating: AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5

Randy Spiro
Randy M. Spiro has been practicing law since 1978, specializing in the area of estate planning. He represents executors in probating estates and trustees in administering trusts. He prepares federal estate tax returns, wills, revocable trusts and irrevocable trusts. He also assists clients in funding trusts by transferring assets into the trust and in changing the beneficiary of IRAs, retirement plans and life insurance policies.

Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Beverly Hills Bar Association
United States Tax Court

Education
Bachelor of Arts-UCLA (1975)
Juris Doctor-Loyola Law School (1978)
Masters of Science in Taxation-Golden Gate University (1980) Certified Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law
Certified Specialist in Taxation Law

Professional Associations and Memberships
Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council- Past President

Honors and Ratings
AVVO Rating = 10.0 (Superb Attorney in Estate Planning)
SuperLawyer rated Top 5% in area of Estate Planning
Martindale-Hubble: Peer Review AV® Rating: AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5

Jamie Kleinman
Jamie K. Kleinman has been practicing law since 2006, specializing in labor and employment, business and corporate law, contracts, entertainment, real estate, trust and will disputes, and civil appeals.

Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
United States District Court, Central District

Education
Bachelor of Arts-Brandeis University, Waltham MA (2001)
Juris Doctor-Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles CA (2004)

Bruce Altshuler's Client Memos On Various Issues

1. Business Owners - Employee Loans
2. Business Owners - Insurance Coverage for Employment Claims
3. Business Owners - Memo on Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace
4. Property Managers - About Resident Manager Compensation Sample Time Sheet
5. New Wage Theft Protection Act
6. Attachments to Wage Theft Protection Act
7. Required Reimbursement for Employee Cell Phones in California

Frequently Asked Questions about Current Estate Laws

What is the difference between a Will and a Living Trust?

A Will covers assets in the name of a person when he or she dies and these assets then go through a court process called probate. A Living Trust is a document separate from a Will, and if assets are transferred to the Trust while the creator of the Trust is alive, they do not go through probate at the person's death.

What other ways can probate be avoided?

IRAs, retirement plans, annuities and life insurance allow a beneficiary to be designated. Bank and brokerage accounts can designate a beneficiary by words such as 'ITF' (in trust for) or 'POD' (payable on death). Assets held in joint tenancy pass to the surviving joint tenant(s) when one joint tenant dies.

How are probate fees for attorneys calculated in California?

.............4% of the first $100,000
.............3% of the next $100,000
.............2% of the next $800,000
.............1% above $1,000,000
.............0.5% above $10,000,000
.............Reasonable fee-portion above $25,000,000
These fees are calculated based on the gross value of assets

What is the tax identification number of a revocable trust while the creator or while both creators of the trust are acting as trustee(s)?

The creator's social security number.

Will there be a property tax re-assessment when real property is transferred to a revocable trust?

Not if a preliminary change of ownership form is filed along with the deed in which the appropriate exclusion is claimed.

What is a Pour-Over Will?

When a revocable trust is signed, a separate Will should be created that says that any assets not transferred to the trust during the creator's life are to be given to the trust at the creator's death.

Why should I sign a durable power of attorney for health care?

To name someone to speak for you at the hospital when you are unable to communicate. To give that person the right to consider relief of suffering in determining whether or not to withdraw life support.