Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP is a boutique Santa Barbara law firm providing sophisticated counsel in trusts, estates, and business succession. Founded by John Ambrecht and Leticia “Leti” Martinez, the firm serves individuals, families, and business owners throughout California, combining decades of experience with attentive, personal service.

Our clients come to us with questions that connect their financial lives with their closest relationships. How should a family business pass to the next generation? What will an inheritance mean for children with different needs? How can a plan provide for loved ones while supporting the causes and commitments that matter to them?

We begin by listening carefully, explaining the choices, and helping clients consider how decisions made today may affect their families in the years ahead. Our work brings estate and tax planning together with family governance and multigenerational wealth preservation. Alongside the legal structures for transferring assets, we help families consider how future generations will participate in decisions and prepare for the responsibilities of stewardship.

Our services include wills and revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, irrevocable trusts, estate and gift tax planning, asset protection, charitable planning, and business succession. We advise clients establishing their first estate plans as well as those managing substantial estates, real estate portfolios, closely held businesses, and complex family circumstances. Each plan reflects the client’s priorities, with careful attention to how its different parts will work together.

When a loved one dies, we guide trustees and personal representatives through trust administration and probate with clear explanations and practical support. We help them understand their duties, address required notices and distributions, coordinate tax matters, and communicate with beneficiaries. The firm also provides counsel in estate and probate disputes involving inheritance, fiduciary responsibilities, and estate administration.

We work closely with clients’ accountants, financial advisors, and other trusted professionals when appropriate, coordinating legal strategies with the broader financial picture. As families grow, businesses change, and priorities evolve, we help clients revisit their plans and make informed adjustments.

Throughout our work, we pair technical precision with respect for the personal significance of these decisions. Our goal is to help clients move forward with a clear understanding of their options and a plan grounded in the people, values, and responsibilities that matter to them.

To learn more, visit ambrechtmartinez.com or call (805) 779-8160.