Meet Our Team

Joseph C. Girard, Esq., has been practicing law in California for 34 years. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the California Association for Nursing Home Reform, and the Culver-Marina Bar Association. Joe has a passion for community building and works to create and improve services for the elderly in the Los Angeles area.

Walter C. Whitaker, J.D., M.B.A., has forty years of experience in estate and financial planning. He has served thousands of clients and has been retained by two major financial services companies to establish their financial planning departments. He currently teaches Estate Planning and Investments for Financial Planners at UCLA and UC Irvine. Walt has educated many consumers and professionals through numerous classes, seminars and workshops.

Ann Smeltzer, M.F.A., is our Office Manager. Ann oversees all aspects of accounting and daily operations. Her background in psychology and business assists in balancing both the personal needs of our clients and the legal issues at hand.