Michelle L. Upp-Cruz is a Trust and Estate paralegal who brings extensive experience to Lamb & Kawakami LLP’s Trust and Estate Practice Group. Michelle provides high-level support to the firm’s trust and estate attorneys, trustees, guardians, conservators, and executors/administrators. Michelle is a graduate from Pasadena College where she obtained her ABA approved Paralegal Certificate. Prior to joining Lamb & Kawakami, LLP, she worked at Rodi, Pollock, Pettker, Christian & Pramov, in Los Angeles, California, as a trust and estate paralegal to the Senior Partner, John D. Pettker, for 14 years, and prior to that, Michelle worked at Helms, Hanrahan & Myers, boutique law firm in Arcadia, California, where she also worked for the Senior Partner, James R. Hems, Jr., for 13 years.

I work closely with clients from the onset of the matter to the closure. I assist with trust and estate administration, trust funding, preparation of federal estate tax returns; preparation of court documents and filings for Probate, Conservatorship, Guardianship, and Court supervised Trust proceedings; and, prepares inventories and accountings.

I assist clients in marshaling assets, arranging for the appraisal of assets, sale of assets, and the preparation of fiduciary accountings.

Because I have personally been an Executor, Conservator and Trustee on several occasions, I have a strong compassion for our clients and feel that because of these experiences, I am better able to assist them as they navigate through the process and procedures. My thoughtful and compassionate nature assists our clients during their estate, conservatorship and estate planning process.

My twenty seven (27) year career in the legal industry strengthens the services and cost-effective results the firm delivers to clients. My thoughtful and considerate demeanor and the ability to communicate clearly, eases the client from worry and stress. I take great pride in delivering a quality work product in each case that I am involved in.
It is my genuine desire to assist people in what are often emotional and complicated times in their lives. I enjoy getting to know clients and their family history. I have a great deal of compassion and understanding for each client and their loved ones.