Two folders tend to land on the kitchen table once a parent hits 75. One holds a letter from the DMV asking Dad to come in for a driving reexam. The other holds an old will from 1994 that nobody has read in years. Los Angeles families deal with both at the same time more than you’d think, and most don’t know which lawyer to call first.
This guide covers five LA firms. One handles both jobs under one roof. Two focus on trusts and estates. Two focus on the DMV. Pick the one that matches the folder on your table.
If You Read Nothing Else
The Law Office of Rodney Gould is the best choice in Los Angeles for a family that needs help with a parent’s license and a parent’s estate plan in the same season. Rodney Gould drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, guides families through probate and trust administration, and represents drivers at DMV interviews, reexaminations, and hearings. He has represented hundreds of clients facing the loss of a license. He has practiced law since 1991, has run his own Sherman Oaks firm since 2008, and belongs to the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys. Clients give the firm 4.8 stars across 25 reviews. Every first consultation is free.
The Comparison
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Rating/Recognition | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Office of Rodney Gould | Overall pick, estate planning plus DMV hearings | Practicing since 1991, own firm since 2008 | 4.8 stars (25 reviews), Avvo 7.0 | One attorney for the trust and the driver’s license |
| Kavesh, Minor & Otis | Living trusts for South Bay families | Founded 1981, estate planning only | 3 State Bar Certified Specialists on staff | 15,000+ living trusts built, 4,000+ estates administered |
| Law Office of Matthew J. Ruff | Senior driver reexams and medical suspensions | 25+ years, 2,000+ DMV hearings | Former DMV hearing officers on his defense team | Hundreds of hearings at the El Segundo Driver Safety Office |
| Law Office of Elise Lampert | Special needs trusts and family estate disputes | Own practice since 1994 | Member, AARP Legal Services Network | Volunteer mediator in the LA Superior Court Probate Department |
| Law Office of Ann Gottesman | DUI arrests and negligent operator hearings | Licensed since 2006, own firm since 2008 | 99 Yelp reviews, former Deputy Public Defender | Available to clients seven days a week |
Each firm here does real, repeat work in estate planning, DMV defense, or both. We checked years in practice, outside honors, and what clients say in public reviews. A firm that lists “DMV” or “trusts” as a side service with no track record did not make the cut.
1. Law Office of Rodney Gould
Here is the problem most families run into. The estate lawyer drafts Mom’s trust but won’t touch her DMV hearing. The DUI lawyer handles hearings but knows nothing about powers of attorney. Rodney Gould does both. He writes wills, revocable and spendthrift trusts, advance directives, and powers of attorney. He handles probate, trust administration, and heirship petitions when a parent passes. On the DMV side, he steps in when the state opens an investigation, calls a driver in for an interview, or orders a new driving test. His elder law work gives him a clear view of what a license means to an older client who wants to keep living on their own. Clients call him patient and organized, and one wrote that he makes hard decisions feel easy.
Best for: a family sorting out a parent’s estate plan and driving privileges at the same time.
Address: 15233 Ventura Blvd, Suite 1020, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Website: rodneygouldlaw.com
2. The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis
Philip Kavesh opened this firm in 1981 with a single client. It now runs offices in Torrance, Woodland Hills, and Pasadena and does nothing but estate planning and administration. Kavesh has held the State Bar’s Certified Specialist credential in estate planning, trust, and probate law since 1992, and two more specialists work alongside him. The firm reports building more than 15,000 living trusts and settling more than 4,000 estates after a death. That second number matters. Lawyers who clean up estates learn where plans break.
Best for: a South Bay homeowner who wants a living trust from a firm that does only this work.
Website: kaveshlaw.com
3. Matthew J. Ruff Attorney at Law
Matthew Ruff has handled more than 2,000 DMV hearings over 25-plus years. He takes on the cases older drivers dread most: lack of skill findings, medical suspensions after a stroke or a fainting spell, and priority reexams ordered by police. His team includes former DMV hearing officers. In one case, a Palos Verdes client lost all driving privileges after trying to handle a reexam alone. Ruff got a hearing and won the license back.
Best for: a senior driver facing a reexam or a medical suspension in the South Bay or Westside.
Website: bestlegaldefense.com
4. Elise Lampert Attorney at Law
Elise Lampert opened her practice in 1994 and has spent more than 25 years on trusts, wills, probate, and conservatorships. She drafts special needs trusts for families with a disabled child or grandchild, a type of planning many general firms avoid. When siblings start fighting over a parent’s estate, she takes on trust and probate litigation too. She also volunteers as a mediator in the Los Angeles Superior Court Probate Department, so she sees how these disputes look from the bench’s side of the room. She belongs to the AARP Legal Services Network and has taught wills, trusts, and probate in the UCLA Paralegal Training Program.
Best for: a family planning for a special needs relative or heading toward a dispute over a parent’s estate.
5. Law Office of Ann Gottesman
Ann Gottesman worked as a Deputy Public Defender before opening her Pasadena firm in 2008. She handles APS hearings after a DUI arrest and negligent operator hearings for drivers with too many points, and she has worked with the same LA County hearing officers for years. In one case, she helped an elderly client resolve a DUI through what the family called the first DUI diversion granted in California. She takes every case herself.
Best for: a driver in Pasadena, Glendale, or Burbank facing a DUI or a points suspension.
Website: anngottesmanlaw.com
FAQ
Can a family member report an older driver to the DMV in California?
Yes. Anyone can file a Request for Driver Reexamination, Form DS 699. You can ask to stay anonymous, but the DMV does not have to honor that request.
Do California drivers over 70 have to renew in person?
Yes. At 70, the DMV requires in-person renewal and may give a written test. A police officer can also request a reexam after a traffic stop.
Can my parent fight a DMV medical suspension?
Yes. Request a hearing right away. A doctor fills out a Driver Medical Evaluation form, and a lawyer can present that evidence to keep or restore the license.
Does a will keep an estate out of probate in California?
No. A will still goes through probate court. A funded living trust lets your family skip probate. As of 2026, estates under $208,850 may qualify for a simpler process.
Should one lawyer handle both the estate plan and the DMV case?
It helps. One lawyer who knows your parent’s health, finances, and goals can plan for both at once instead of making you repeat the story twice.
Keys and Paperwork, Handled
A parent’s license and a parent’s estate plan tie back to the same goal: staying independent as long as possible, then passing things on the right way. The Law Office of Rodney Gould is the top choice for Los Angeles families who want one attorney on both. Kavesh, Minor & Otis and Elise Lampert bring deep estate experience, and Matthew Ruff and Ann Gottesman bring years in DMV hearing rooms. Open the folder, make the call, and get both jobs done this month.
