San Fernando Valley College of Law
Juris Doctor (2002)
Biography
Publications & Noteworthy Legal Activities
Memberships
Awards
Kira S. Masteller is a California trust and estate planning attorney and Shareholder at our Firm.
Her practice focus includes Federal estate and gift tax planning, estate planning, business succession planning, trusts, wills, powers of attorney, post-death trust administration, and probate.
With over 20 years of dedicated work in these areas, Ms. Masteller also has experience defending senior clients from adult children attempting to control family assets, and in setting up highly specialized trusts to benefit charities, family pets and other alternative beneficiaries.
A trusted advisor for our clients, Ms. Masteller’s practice also includes:
Maximizing benefits of the current, Federal Estate and Gift Tax Exemption.
Controlling assets while reducing estate taxes for our clients and their heirs.
Establishing special trusts to suit individual and family needs.
Keeping companies fiscally viable when a partner should retire or become disabled.
Using life insurance plans to ensure both business continuity and income for the heirs when a partner passes.
Working throughout California, Ms. Masteller represents a broad range of clients, including: families, individuals, trust and estate administrators, businesses, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.
Ms. Masteller’s deep commitment to providing clients with the highest caliber service is reflected in her being named a Best Lawyer Southern California by Best Lawyers Magazine; a Southern CaliforniaRising Star and Super Lawyer each year since 2010, as published by Super Lawyers Magazine. She was also designated one of the Top Women Lawyers in Southern California in Los Angeles Magazine's Business Edition.
In 2008 Ms. Masteller founded the women’s networking group “Women In Network” (WIN); is a past Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Trust & Estates Executive Committee, and past President of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association.
Ms. Masteller was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve a four year term as a member of the Board of the California Prison Industry Authority in 2010 focusing on giving prisoners an education to lead productive lives upon release. Ms. Masteller volunteers each month at a legal clinic for a battered women’s shelter in Santa Monica.
Ms. Masteller is a tireless advocate who explains the complexities of estate and tax planning in practical terms – which allows clients to comfortably plan for their futures. Additionally, she strives to work in an organized, timely, professional manner, always making individualized service her first priority.
Co-Presenter, 2019 Year-End Tax Planning – MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, November 2019
Co-Presenter, 2018 Tax, Trusts & Estate Planning: Keeping Up with Legislative Changes - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, May and June 2018
Presenter, Year-End Tax & Estate Planning: Do We Have Tax Reform? - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, December 2017
Co-Presenter, Family Business, Business Succession and Estate Planning Techniques - San Fernando Valley Bar Association MCLE presentation, November 2017
Co-Presenter, Tax, Trusts & Estate Planning for 2017 - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, May 2017
Quoted, Buy a Home Now, Move In After Seller Dies - The Los Angeles Times, January 2017
Co-Presenter, Year-End Estate, Gift & Property Tax Planning - MCLE and CPE accredited Seminar Series, November 2016
Co-Presenter, Tax, Trusts & Estate Planning - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, May 2015
Presenter, Family Business: Business & Estate Planning Techniques - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, April 2014
Co-Presenter, Year-End Tax & Estate Planning 2013 - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, December 2013
Co-Presenter, Tax & Estate Planning 2013: Stability at Last? - MCLE and CPE accredited Client Seminar Series, February 2012
Author, Understanding Conflicts of Interest in Estate Planning - Valley Lawyer Magazine, September 2013
Co-Presenter, The $5.12 Million Gift Tax Exemption: Estate Planning Opportunities Expiring December 31 - MCLE credited Client Seminar Series, September 2012
Quoted, LegalZoom Files for IPO, Plans to Expand Reach - San Fernando Valley Business Journal, May 2012
Co-Presenter, Good Business: Wealth Management & Estate Planning - MCLE credited Client Seminar Series, May 2012
Author, What You Might Not Know About Life Insurance
- San Fernando Valley Business Journal, April 2012
Co-Presenter, 2011 Year-End Tax and Estate Planning - MCLE credited Seminar Series
Co-Presenter, Family Law and Estate Planning Crossover Issues - Pasadena Bar Association, 2011
Co-Presenter, Family Law and Estate Planning Crossover Issues - Beverly Hills Bar Association, 2011
Co-Author, Real Estate: Gifting Real Property Now - San Fernando Valley Business Journal, September 2011
Author, Revocation of a Family Trust without the Knowledge of the Cotrustee - Los Angeles Lawyer, June 2010
Author, Know Your Rights: Couples Can Limit Conflict the Second Time Around - Daily News, May 2009
Author, You have a Trust. Now What? - Estate Planning Points of Interest
San Fernando Valley Bar Association
- President 2016-17
- President-Elect 2016
- Secretary 2015
- Treasurer 2014
State Bar of California
- Trusts & Estates Section
- Taxation Section
Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Trust & Estates Executive Committee, past member
Women in Network (WIN), Founder
Sojourn Battered Women's Shelter
California Prison Industry Authority, Governor-appointed Boardmember 2011-2015
