James R. Goodwin
Of Counsel
For more than 45 years, Jim has practiced exclusively in the fields of estate planning, trust and probate law. He combines innovative strategies for wealth preservation with well-proven and time-tested techniques to achieve lasting results for his clients and their beneficiaries. Jim also represents clients in the areas of private and court supervised trust administration, probate administration and conservatorship proceedings. He was instrumental in the landmark case of Ike v. Doolittle (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 51, which affirmed a trial court’s discretion to modify a trust under “peculiar” or “exceptional” circumstances where necessary to accomplish the purpose of the trustor as expressed in the trust instrument. Jim handles dispute resolution on behalf of fiduciaries and the beneficiaries of trusts, estates and conservatorships. He is often called upon to act as a mediator in estate, trust or conservatorship disputes for the San Diego County Probate Mediation Panel. For more than 25 years, Jim has served as a member and Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Jim is frequently designated to act as an expert witness in disputed trust and related cases. He has received repeated accolades, including an AV© Preeminent© rating from Martindale-Hubbell (highest legal competence), inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© and Top Lawyers in San Diego, San Diego Magazine. Jim appears in the current edition of San Diego Super Lawyers®.
Licenses
State Bar of California 1970 (Inactive)
United States District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California
Education
Juris Doctorate in 1969 from the University of San Diego School of Law
Staff Writer on the University of San Diego Law Review
Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1966 from Whittier College
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
State Bar of California
Chairman, Working Group on Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, 1985
Member, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Advisory Commission to the Board of Legal Specialization, 1991-1995; Chairman 1994-1995
Member, Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Consulting Group, 1984 to 1987
Member, 1980 to 1983; Advisor, 1984 to 1986 to Executive Committee, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section
San Diego County Bar Association
Member, Ethics Committee 2000 to present
Member, Arbitration Committee 1978 to 1989
Chairman, Probate Section, 1980
Chairman, Client Relations Committee, 1976-1977
Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (1986-2017)
Mediator for the San Diego County Superior Court Probate Mediation Program (2000-present)
Recognition
Included in The Best Lawyers in America®, since 2006
Martindale-Hubbell, AV© Preeminent© rating. This rating reflects a determination the attorney so recognized has demonstrated the highest legal competence.
San Diego Magazine "Top Lawyers in San Diego" 2005 – 2017 editions
2007-2017 Editions of Southern California Super Lawyers®
Community
Member, St. Charles Borromeo Academy School Board, 1991 to 1993
Member, Board of Directors, Noah Homes, 1987 to 1993
Member, Board of Directors, Senior Adult Services, 1989 to 1995
University of San Diego School of Law, Board of Visitors, 2007 to 2010
Board of Directors, Whispering Winds Catholic Camp and Conference Center, 2011 – 2014
Attorneys
Partners
Associates
Of Counsel
In Memoriam
