Business Profile: Law Offices of Marc G. Garlett

Garlett’s children inspired him to reinvent himself as a family trust attorney, helping families prepare for the future through estate planning. – Courtesy photo

Leaving a Legacy of Love: Garlett Law

By Emily G. Peters

When Sierra Madre attorney Marc Garlett launched his legal career, he thought he’d find fulfillment in what he described as the “all-out pitched battle” of litigation. And though the firm he established was successful, the contention and negativity took a heavy toll.

With the birth of his children, a light switched on. His new role as a dad—and his own eye-opening experience creating his family’s first estate plan— caused him to realize his calling was to help people to prepare for the future care and financial stability of their loved ones.

Enter Garlett’s specialty: estate planning, or the legal organization of what you’ll leave behind for your family and loved ones. Though seemingly a dark process, this planning can free families from the stress, expense and legal complications that can arise when we pass on.

Garlett offers a unique estate planning experience that focuses on creating lifelong relationships with his clients and their families. His extensive services range from establishing wills to trust administration to kids protection planning to legacy preservation and much more. In addition to estate planning, Garlett also offers community outreach and fundraising programs with free group talks, seminars and workshops. These programs target parents who are hungry for estate planning information and legal counsel to help them prepare for their children’s future.

To dispel the common frustrations when working with lawyers, Garlett is invested in making estate planning as supportive and transparent as possible. “I don’t want to just prepare a set of documents for my clients and then send them on their way without any real guidance,” said Garlett, who chose to eliminate hourly fees in favor of a flat-rate structure. This structure, along with a free estate plan review every three years, lets his clients ask as many questions and make as many changes as they need.

“I like to have regular contact with (my clients) without them worrying about paying extra for it,” said Garlett. “That enables us to build a real relationship based on trust and friendship throughout both of our lives.”

As an attorney and father to two young kids, Garlett’s tender spot for families has unraveled legal intricacies specific to married parents, single parents, life partners with children, and those who simply want to leave something to those they love. Given this focus, Garlett Law’s offices seem to have found a perfect home base in their small foothill town. “We love Sierra Madre,” said Garlett. “It makes sense for us to be located in a community that is so family friendly.”

Now moving into his seventh year of business, Garlett’s mission is to educate as many families as possible on how to leave a legacy of love and financial security behind for their loved ones.

“What I’m really all about is helping clients make the very best legal decisions during their lifetimes,” said Garlett. “It’s making sure someone—the right someone—is there for their family after they’re gone.”

The Law Offices of Marc G. Garlett are located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Suite G in Sierra Madre. To prepare for the future and secure peace of mind, make an appointment online at www.garlettlaw.com or call (626) 355-4000. Keep in the know by following the firm’s estate planning blog, YouTube Channel and Facebook page @GarlettLaw.