About Richard M. Seff – Estate Planning Attorney
Meet Richard M. Seff
Richard’s story begins long before law school. He first earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work and spent years helping adolescents and families. Later, he earned a second Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from George Washington University and worked as a hospital administrator, always driven by a passion for serving people in meaningful ways.
During his second year of law school, Richard’s grandfather passed away. Despite having an estate plan prepared by a lawyer, the family was forced into a costly and time-consuming probate process because assets had not been transferred into the trust. That painful experience revealed a widespread problem: too many estate plans fail when families need them most.
When Richard graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in 1990, he joined a respected estate planning firm. But he soon realized that the traditional “billable hour” model—charging $400 per hour in six-minute increments—kept families from forming the kind of ongoing relationship he believed was essential. Too often, clients left with documents that looked fine on paper but failed to work in practice.
As a father himself, Richard also recognized a troubling gap: traditional estate plans often failed to account for what would happen to children if their parents were incapacitated. He knew families deserved better. That realization led him to start his own practice—one dedicated to building lasting relationships, ensuring plans remain effective over time, and being there for families when they need guidance most.
Meet Richard M. Seff
Richard M. Seff is the founder and principal attorney of The Estate Planning & Elder Law Firm in Woodland Hills. For more than 30 years, he has guided families through estate planning, elder law, and probate matters with a focus on clarity, compassion, and trust. His path to the law was shaped by personal experiences that continue to influence his work today.
Personal Journey & Why He Started the Firm
Richard’s story begins long before law school. He first earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work and spent years helping adolescents and families. Later, he earned a second Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from George Washington University and worked as a hospital administrator, always driven by a passion for serving people in meaningful ways.
During his second year of law school, Richard’s grandfather passed away. Despite having an estate plan prepared by a lawyer, the family was forced into a costly and time-consuming probate process because assets had not been transferred into the trust. That painful experience revealed a widespread problem: too many estate plans fail when families need them most.
When Richard graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in 1990, he joined a respected estate planning firm. But he soon realized that the traditional “billable hour” model—charging $400 per hour in six-minute increments—kept families from forming the kind of ongoing relationship he believed was essential. Too often, clients left with documents that looked fine on paper but failed to work in practice.
As a father himself, Richard also recognized a troubling gap: traditional estate plans often failed to account for what would happen to children if their parents were incapacitated. He knew families deserved better. That realization led him to start his own practice—one dedicated to building lasting relationships, ensuring plans remain effective over time, and being there for families when they need guidance most.
Education & Professional Credentials
B.A., University of Maryland, 1974
Master’s Degree in Social Work, University of Maryland School of Social Work
Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration, George Washington University
J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, 1990
Admitted to Practice: California State Bar, 1990
Richard is also a member of ElderCounsel, WealthCounsel, and the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association. He is a VA Accredited Attorney, giving him the ability to assist veterans and their families with unique planning needs.
A Different Approach to Estate Planning
Family & Community Roots
Because Your Family Matters
Richard’s practice is built on relationships, not transactions. He works closely with clients to ensure their plans evolve as life changes—because families grow, laws shift, and circumstances change over time. Clients often say they appreciate his approachable, plain-English explanations and the reassurance of having an attorney who isn’t a “legal robot.”
A Different Approach to Estate Planning
A Different Approach to Estate Planning
Richard lives and works in Woodland Hills, where his daughters Rachel and Emily remain his daily inspiration. He is deeply connected to the community and often speaks at local events and workshops to help families better understand their estate planning options.
A Different Approach to Estate Planning
The phrase Because Your Family Matters is more than a tagline for Richard—it’s his guiding principle. Every estate plan he designs, every conversation he has with a client, is focused on protecting what matters most: family.
A Different Approach to Estate Planning
Richard’s practice is built on relationships, not transactions. He works closely with clients to ensure their plans evolve as life changes—because families grow, laws shift, and circumstances change over time. Clients often say they appreciate his approachable, plain-English explanations and the reassurance of having an attorney who isn’t a “legal robot.”
Family & Community Roots
Richard lives and works in Woodland Hills, where his daughters Rachel and Emily remain his daily inspiration. He is deeply connected to the community and often speaks at local events and workshops to help families better understand their estate planning options.
Because Your Family Matters
The phrase Because Your Family Matters is more than a tagline for Richard—it’s his guiding principle. Every estate plan he designs, every conversation he has with a client, is focused on protecting what matters most: family.
