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This year marks a major milestone at Herbert Law Office—our founding attorney, Marc Herbert, is celebrating 30 years since taking the oath to practice law. Over the past three decades, Marc has built a career grounded in integrity, service, and a deep commitment to helping families protect what matters most. From his early days in general practice to his focus on estate planning and probate, Marc’s passion for guiding clients through life’s most important decisions has never wavered.

To mark this occasion, we sat down with Marc for a candid Q&A about his journey, the lessons he’s learned, and what continues to inspire him after three decades in the legal profession.

Starting Out:

Q: What inspired you to become a lawyer?
Marc: Actually, I had no interest in the law until I was 28 years old and watched an attorney make a terrible mistake. I was working with disabled adults at the time, and one of my clients inherited too much money in the wrong way. The County terminated all of his benefits (although he had been severely disabled since birth), which could have easily been avoided if the attorney had just built a Special Needs Trust. As a result, I got motivated to go to law school so that sort of thing would never happen again.

Q: How did you feel when you took the oath?
Marc: Nervous and excited. Nervous because it is a lot of responsibility to give legal advice to people who trust in my opinions, and excited because I knew that I would be able to improve the lives of thousands of families.

Q: If you could give yourself one piece of advice on the day you took the oath, what would it be?
Marc: Trust your instincts.

Q: What made you decide to focus on estate planning after practicing in other areas of law?
Marc: I went to law school to learn how to create estate plans, especially for families with disabled heirs. After law school, I worked at two local offices that focused on all types of law, including personal injury, business law, criminal law, and estate planning. Once we opened our own office in 2001, I was able to eventually focus on estate planning exclusively, which has been fantastic. It’s great to get back to my first interest in law, helping people to avoid Probate Court and unnecessary taxes by building a customized estate plan.

Reflections & Insights:

Q: What’s one thing you wish people knew about estate planning?
Marc: Estate planning is the best protection for middle-class families. If you have a house in California, you probably need a Trust; if you have kids, you probably need a Trust; if you are single, you probably need a Trust. And we make it affordable to get a high-quality estate plan to protect yourself and your loved ones in case you become incapacitated or pass away.

Q: What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in estate planning over the years?
Marc: Probably the changes in federal and California tax laws, which have expanded over the past three decades. It is a constant challenge to be aware of recent changes and to predict where the law may change in the future, so we can protect our clients now.

Moments & Memories:

Q: What’s one thing that’s always motivated you as a lawyer?
Marc: Before law school, I was a social worker who was motivated to make my clients’ lives better. I carry the same motivation forward now that I’m a lawyer: since every client is unique, we work together to develop unique options and to craft a solution that fits their specific needs and concerns.

Q: What’s the funniest or most surprising thing that’s happened during your practice?
Marc: I’ve been surprised and very happy to serve several generations of many families with estate planning. Some clients refer their children, or their siblings, or even their parents to our office, and we create a unique estate plan for each person or couple.

Q: What’s your favorite part about working with clients on their estate plans?
Marc: I’m from a military family and a history nerd, so I enjoy hearing stories from current military or veterans, and first responders about their family histories. As a lawyer, it is a privilege to help so many good people and to learn about their lives.

Q: Do you have a favorite story or case that sticks with you?
Marc: We did a case for a man in his 90s, who was married to a woman for three years before she passed. Unfortunately, she did NOT have a Trust for about 10 houses, and her family was thrown into Probate Court. As the surviving spouse, our client was legally entitled to 1/3 of her assets, but he chose to waive his inheritance rights to benefit her children because, as he said, “they deserve it, not me.” When I shared his decision with the judge, he was so surprised that he ordered me to bring my client into Court so he could waive his rights “on the record.”
Our client showed up, dressed in his best suit, and calmly stated that he wanted her properties to be distributed to her children. When the judge confirmed that he was giving up over a million dollars in assets, the client said, “That sounds about right.” No one in the courtroom could believe it, but he had always been very consistent in our conversations, and I was proud to represent someone who put his principles of his rights.

Personal Favorites:

Q: What’s one thing you always keep on your desk?
Marc: Pictures of my wife and kids.

Q: Favorite legal movie or TV show?
Marc: For movies, either “Lincoln Lawyer” (mystery) or “My Cousin Vinny” (comedy); for TV, either “Blue Bloods” or early seasons of “L. A. Law.”

Q: Outside of law, what’s your favorite hobby or pastime?
Marc: I enjoy spending time with family, listening to music, reading, baseball, and hiking.

Q: Coffee or tea (or both!)?
Marc: Coffee. And more coffee.

Thirty years in law is no small feat, but for Marc Herbert, it’s never just been about the legal work—it’s about people, families, and legacy. His dedication to making estate planning approachable, personalized, and proactive has left a lasting impact on the clients and community he serves.

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with Marc and grateful to walk alongside him in the important work we do every day. Here’s to the next chapter and to helping even more families protect their futures with clarity and confidence.