Attorney Profiles

Trust, Probate, Estate, Elder Law Attorney (Planning and Litigation)

Charles A. Shultz is a Partner with the law firm of Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten, LLP and leads the firm's Trust Litigaiton, Probate, Estate Planning and Elder Law practice group.  Working in all three of the firm's offices, Mr. Shultz represents clients in the probate courts throughout Los Angeles County and Ventura county in probate and trust litigation matters, probate and trust administrations, conservatorships, and other legal issues involving family wealth, planning and dispute resolution.

Since he began practicing, Mr. Shultz has focused on advising beneficiaries and fiduciaries in trust and probate litigation matters,  administration of trusts and estates, and estate planning.  Utilizing a master's degree in tax law from New York University, Mr. Shultz is able to handle sophisticated estate planning and post mortem tax issues.  In addition, Mr. Shultz's trial experience allows him to see, raise and address more issues for his estate planning clients.  Similarly, Mr. Shultz's planning practice and tax background provide him a significant advantage in trust and probate litigation matters.  Mr. Shultz has successfully litigated numerous trust and probate cases.  Mr. Shultz is also very effective when taking over complex matters from other counsel. 

Mr. Shultz approaches each matter differently and adapts well to each particular situation.  Mr. Shultz is very results oriented and strives to find common ground where appropriate.  While he believes in mediation and settlement, Mr. Shultz is not afraid to try matters.  

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten, LLP, Mr. Shultz maintained his own office for several years.  Mr. Shultz's experience also includes working for two prestigious Los Angeles law firms, Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen and McKenna & Cuneo, L.L.P.  Mr. Shultz also worked for a year in the family wealth planning group at Arthur Andersen, L.L.P., and prior to that worked in a small firm in Camarillo, California. 

During his employment with Arthur Andersen, Mr. Shultz was principally involved in estate tax analysis and planning for high net worth clients.  At Arthur Andersen, Mr. Shultz consulted with clients on sophisticated planning techniques, including the use of GRATS, defective trusts, family limited partnerships, irrevocable trust, dynasty trust, and qualified personal residence trusts.  Mr. Shultz continues to utilize those sophisticated planning techniques. 

Mr. Shultz serves as a volunteer Mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court, Probate Department in Van Nuys and is on the Probate Volunteer Panel for the Los Angeles Superior Court.  He is a member of the bar in the State of California and the State of New York and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Mr. Shultz is a past Chair of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association Trusts, Probate and Estate Section.  He also previously served on the Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Trusts, Probate and Estates section.  Mr. Shultz currently serves as a Trustee on the Board of Trustees for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association.