Legal Services & Lawyers

Mitchell A. Port, Esq. is an attorney in Los Angeles specializing in four areas of law: Tax Controversies, California Probate, Estate Planning, and Business Transactions.

He began his career as a lawyer with the IRS national office in Washington D.C, where he worked on tax collection and litigation matters. He later worked at two noted local law firms where he further developed his tax controversy skills and represented clients in estate planning, probate, and business transactions. Mitch is a former Internal Revenue Service revenue/collection officer.

After gaining the skills, knowledge and experience, Mitch founded the Law Office of Mitchell A. Port. As a sole practitioner, Mitch provides each client with the specialized skills, experience, personal focus and hands-on attention they need at cost-effective rates.

In addition to administering a decedent's estate as well as identifying and distributing assets to beneficiaries, Mitch also offers services for other issues that may require the attention of a probate court, including the following:

Lost wills

Will contests

The removal of executors and trustees

Petitions for probate

Trust administration

Probate litigation

Other legal matters that must go through the California
probate court, including conservatorships
(a court proceeding for incapacitated and incompetent adults)
and guardianships (a court proceeding for minors)

Post-Mortem tax planning

Our firm has also successfully represented clients in probate cases involving real estate, stocks, bonds and investments of all kinds, such as general and limited partnerships; limited liability companies; sole proprietorships; corporations; and active businesses.

In the event that your probate case involves a tax controversy matter, such as unpaid income taxes owed by the deceased or estate taxes, Mitch is an experienced specialist in tax controversy who will offer you simple yet effective solutions.

Probate is rarely straightforward. Working with your law firm should be. Probate litigation can be a stressful experience, involving high risk exposure and unpredictable results. You need a lawyer who will simplify the process and not complicate it further. At the Law Office of Mitchell A. Port, the firm is committed to helping our clients find the most direct route to a successful outcome.

When you are faced with probate, choose a law firm that will help you chart the right course. Choose the Law Office of Mitchell A. Port. Attorney Mitchell A. Port will represent you in any probate court in California.

Mitch also represents individuals and businesses with cases pending before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court and Superior Courts throughout California. He handles estate planning matters as well as trust administration services. As a business transaction attorney, Mitch provides legal advice and representation on business formation, business organization, business transactions and business tax matters.

Mitch Port translates all legal and tax jargon into plain English for his clients when dealing with tax controversy cases in the U.S. Tax Court and problems with the Internal Revenue Service, while strategizing during a California probate case and when discussing estate tax planning so that every client he works with is informed, up-to-date, aware of case developments, and able to make educated and informed decisions.

A California attorney since 1982, Mitch is licensed to practice before the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, the U.S. Tax Court and state courts throughout California. He earned an L.L.M in tax law from the University of San Diego School of Law and a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law. Mitch graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a B.A. in Political Science.

Mitch is a pro bono speaker for many professional accounting associations, service and non-profit organizations, as well as a writer whose articles have been published in several trade publications. He serves or has served on the board of directors of several non-profit organizations. Married with two daughters, Mitch is an avid and skilled cyclist who has ridden throughout the eastern seaboard and on long rides from California to Mexico. He has also backpacked in half a dozen national parks, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Canada. He is currently learning to play the piano so he can share this interest with his girls.

Consumer Bankruptcy- Chapter 7 and 13
Our bankruptcy lawyers serve clients in Orange and Los Angeles counties and throughout Southern California, providing vital information on asset protection,exemptions, debt relief and mortgage modification.

Tax Resolution
Our bankruptcy and former IRS lawyers provide advice about audits, payment plans, settlement offers, and bankruptcy relief.

Estate Administration
We represent estate fiduciaries and beneficiaries, assisting in the administration of the estate, as well as the protection of the interests of beneficiaries.

Elder Law
Elder Law is a specialized area of law that protects some of our most vulnerable citizens. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to protect the rights and financial interests of our seniors, and provides services involving Conservatorships, Financial Elder Abuse Litigation and Medicaid or Medi-Cal Representation.

Estate Planning
We represents clients in Estate Planning, Asset Protection and Estate Litigation matters.

David Klasing is an Attorney & Certified Public Accountant with 15 years of professional experience, with dual licenses to practice law and public accounting in California. Dave's specialty is taxation and he has earned a Master Of Science Degree in Taxation. (LLM Equivalent)



Education:

Juris Doctor - Western State University College of Law, Fullerton CA,

Masters Degree, Taxation (LLM Equivalent) - Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration (Option in Accounting), California State University, Los Angeles, CA

JAMES K. LEESE is a partner in the law firm of Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo, LLP. Mr. Leese is primarily responsible for the firmâs estate and business succession planning departments. He limits his practice to transactions involving business, estate and gift tax planning, preparation of trusts and wills, probate and trust administration for individuals and owners of businesses. He works in a team approach with trust officials, financial planners, insurance agents, accountants, and appraisers to design and implement plans that will best meet the clientâs needs and objectives. Mr. Leese works with the high net worth client, using sophisticated estate planning strategies and tools, as well as with the client who has non-tax related planning goals in mind.

Mr. Leese resides in Tustin Ranch, California, with his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Angela, Lauren, Alyssa, Ryder and Dylan. His youngest son, Dylan, has autism, and Mr. Leese is actively involved in fundraising to find a cure, and active with special needs trust planning.