Tony Bayard de Volo
I started this practice in 2003 after years inside large firms, and I kept it deliberately small. One attorney, one office on The Alameda, and a phone number that reaches me rather than a receptionist.
Most people aren’t avoiding estate planning because they don’t care. They’re avoiding it because no one has told them what it costs, how long it takes, or what a trust actually does. So they wait, and their family pays for that wait in California probate court.
Because I’m also a licensed California real estate broker, the deed that moves your house into your trust is prepared here, by me, as part of the same flat fee. That step is where most DIY trusts quietly fail.
Want to talk it through first? The first twenty minutes are free, and you’ll speak with the attorney doing the work.
- State Bar of California, admitted attorney
- Licensed California real estate broker
- Boston University School of Law, JD, top 10% of class, tax law emphasis
- University of California, Berkeley, graduated with high honors
- Prior practice: large firms in Chicago, Illinois and Newport Beach, California
- Volo Law, San Jose, founded 2003
Innovative Value Billing
I offer a flat fee, non-hourly billing. My goal is to become your long-term legal counselor. I mostly offer flat fees. By doing away with hourly billing, clients are free to call with me with questions and feel free to get their legal work done without the “meter running.” When it’s more convenient to charge by the hour for longer term engagements, my hourly fee is just $350 an hour. I have low office overhead and I am able to do the same work of other law firms for half the price.
Personalized Legal Counseling and Advice
I offer the benefits of specialized experience, usually found in larger firms, but with personal attention found in smaller firms. I take special care to understand my clients’ needs and objectives while providing personalized advice. I take the time to counsel my clients on available options, the pros and cons of each option, the likelihood of success, and the ramifications of decisions for which they may not be aware. In short, I take the time to know my clients and provide them with my very best legal counseling and advice.