Sussan H. Shore designs and implements multi-generational estate plans for high net worth clients, and oversees the administration of estates and trusts. For over 45 years, she has helped clients fulfill their goals to care for their families, meet charitable giving objectives and reduce estate taxes. Sussan has great compassion for her clients, quickly earning their trust through her patient approach, practical advice and straightforward communication. She is non-judgmental and creative, resolving the unique needs of clients in complex alternative and blended family structures as readily as those in traditional families.

As a certified specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization, Sussan’s practice spans the continuum from establishing an estate plan to the administration of estates and trusts. She represents fiduciaries, beneficiaries and court-supervised conservatorships and has a strong track record challenging tax authorities. When disputes arise among family members concerning estates and trusts, Sussan helps guide the parties toward resolution by focusing on the drivers behind the controversies.

Sussan is dedicated to sharing her deep knowledge of estate planning, trust and probate law with other attorneys and professionals. She has taught Estate Planning at UCLA Extension for more than thirty years, earning the coveted “Distinguished Instructor” award in 2008. Sussan also frequently lectures at estate planning institutes, and has authored technical publications on estate planning strategies. A leader in the field, Sussan is the past chairperson of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Trust & Estates Section and she served as Chairwoman of the Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

As a reflection of the quality of her work, Sussan’s peers have elected her a fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) since 1996. As trust and estate counselors, ACTEC fellows demonstrate the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience in the nation, and have made substantial contributions to the field through writing, teaching and bar leadership activities. Additionally, Sussan’s peers and clients have awarded her the rating “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0/5.0” on Martindale-Hubbell. She has been listed as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the area of Trusts and Estates by Best Lawyers since 1995, and has been named a “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers® since 2004. Super Lawyers® also continues to name her one of the “Top 50 Women Southern California Super Lawyers” and one of the “Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers.”

Education

  • J.D., Loyola Law School, 1976
  • B.A., History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1973
    • Honors: cum laude

Certification

  • Certified Specialist – Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of California, 1976
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1977
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1977
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1991

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • American College of Trusts & Estates Counsel: 1996 – present
    • Fellow
  • American Bar Association
    •  Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association
    • Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
    • Trusts & Estate Section, Chairperson, 1994 – 1995
    • Subcommittee on Probate Volunteer Panel System, Co-Chair, 1993 – 1996
  • Beverly Hills Bar Association,
    •  Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Section, Chairperson, 1985 – 1986
  • Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council Member
  • USC Probate & Trust Conference
    • Planning Committee Member
  • Jewish Community Foundation
    •  Legal Advisory Committee Member
  • Managing Partners Roundtable Member
  • Stephen Wise Temple Board Member, 2003 – 2018

Speaking & Teaching

Teaching Positions

  • Estate Planning, UCLA Extension, 1981 – 2013

Notable Speaking Engagements

  • “Attorneys and Other Advisors as Counselors: What They Don’t Teach You in Law School,” USC Gould School of Law 45th Annual Trust and Estate Conference, November 2019
  • “Major Tax Planning 2018,” USC Gould School of Law Seventieth Institute on Federal Taxation, November 2018
  • “Dealing with the Personal and Legal Issues of Incapacity,” Los Angeles Estate Planning Council, April 2011
  • Trusts 2000,” The Rutter Group, March 2000
  • Dealing with the Problems of the Incapacitated Trustor/Trustee,” USC 25th Annual Probate and Trust Conference, November 1999
  • Estate Planning for the Surviving Spouse,” UCLA-CEB 18th Annual Estate Planning Institute, May 1996
  • Selected Post Mortem Planning Issues,” Northern Trust of California Trust and Tax Forum, May 1995
  • Developments in Advanced Gift Planning Techniques,” USC 19th Annual Probate and Trust Conference, October 1993
  • Gifts to Children,” NYU 49th Annual Institute on Federal Taxation
  • Audits of Federal Estate Tax Returns,” CES Seminars, Estate and Gift Tax Issues Seminar, October 1988
  • Estate Planning and the Closely Held Corporation,” CES Seminars, Corporate Tax Issues Seminar, September 1988
  • Post Mortem Administration and Planning, California Society of CPA’s, June 1988

Media & Publications

Publications

  • Major Tax Planning 2018, USC Gould School of Law Seventieth Institute on Federal Taxation, November 2018
  • Minimizing the Impact of the Ballooning QTIP, USC School of Law Fifty-Third Institute on Federal Taxation – Major Tax Planning, 2001
  • Charitable Remainder Trusts: Tools for making the Most of your Philanthropic Assets Upon Retirement, UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute, 1996
  • Probate and Trust Notebook, USC Annual Probate and Trust Conference, 1994 – Present
  • Outright Noncharitable Gifts, co-author, Continuing Education of the Bar, 3rd Edition, 1992

Published Decisions

  • In re Estate of Lewis, 184 Cal. App. 4th 507, 108 Cal. Rptr. 3d 800 (2010).
  • Johnson v. Kotyck, 76 Cal. App. 4th 83, 90 Cal. Rptr. 2d 99 (1999).

Honors & Awards

  • “The Best Lawyers in America®,” Best Lawyers, 1995 – Present
  • “Leaders in Their Field – Private Wealth,” Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide, 2019 – Present
  • “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 / 5.0” Peer Review Rated and Client Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
  • “Southern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2004-Present
  • “Top 50 Women Southern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2005 – Present
  • “Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2009-2015, 2017 – Present
  • “Five Star Professional – Estate Planning Attorney,” Los Angeles, 2014
  • “Distinguished Instructor,” UCLA Extension, 2008
  • “Most Influential Women Lawyers,” Los Angeles Business Journal, 2019

Related News

View all related news

January 10, 2024

Jessica Babrick, Martin Neumann, and Sussan Shore Included in Thomson Reuters’ 2024 “Super Lawyers” Top Lists

Jessica Babrick, Martin Neumann, and Sussan Shore were recently included in Thomson Reuters’ “Top 100: 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers List.” This recognition is given...

Read morearrow
August 17, 2023

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Named to 2024 “Best Lawyers in America”; Six Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Jessica Babrick, Gary Borofsky, Jonathan Forster, Jeffrey Geida, Martin Neumann, Diane Park, Blake Rummel, Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz,...

Read morearrow
March 28, 2023

Sussan Shore Featured in Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Special Report: Who’s Who In Law”

Sussan Shore was recently profiled in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Special Report: Who’s Who In Law” interview series, spotlighting Sussan’s career at large, from...

Read morearrow
January 13, 2023

Jessica Babrick, Martin Neumann, and Sussan Shore Included in Thomson Reuters’ 2023 “Super Lawyers” Top Lists

Jessica Babrick, Martin Neumann, and Sussan Shore were recently included in Thomson Reuters’ “Top 100: 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers List.” This recognition is given...

Read morearrow
January 10, 2023

Ten Weinstock Manion Attorneys Selected to 2023 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

The firm is pleased to announce that ten of its attorneys have been named to Thomson Reuters‘ 2023 list of Southern California “Super Lawyers.” Robert...

Read morearrow
August 18, 2022

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Selected to 2023 “Best Lawyers in America”; Three Selected to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Jessica Babrick, Gary Borofsky, Jonathan Forster, Jeffrey Geida, Martin Neumann, Diane Park, Blake Rummel, Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz,...

Read morearrow
January 20, 2022

Ten Weinstock Manion Attorneys Selected to 2022 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

The firm is pleased to announce that ten of its attorneys have been named to Thomson Reuters‘ 2022 list of Southern California “Super Lawyers.” Robert...

Read morearrow
January 20, 2022

Sussan Shore, Martin Neumann, Jessica Babrick Included in Thomson Reuters’ 2022 Top “Super Lawyers” Lists

Sussan Shore and Martin Neumann were recently selected for inclusion in Thomson Reuters’ “Top 100” list for the 2022 edition of Southern California “Super Lawyers.”...

Read morearrow
August 19, 2021

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Selected to The Best Lawyers in America – 2022; Three Selected to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Jessica Babrick, Gary Borofsky, Jonathan Forster, Jeffrey Geida, Martin Neumann, Diane Park, Blake Rummel, Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz,...

Read morearrow
January 27, 2021

Martin Neumann, Sussan Shore, and Neil Solarz Included in Thomson Reuters’ 2021 Top Super Lawyers Lists

Martin Neumann, Sussan Shore, and Neil Solarz were recently selected for inclusion in Thomson Reuters’ “Top 100” list for the 2021 edition of Southern California...

Read morearrow
January 21, 2021

Ten of the Firm’s Attorneys Selected to 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers

Robert Strauss was selected for Estate Planning & Probate and Closely Held Business; Neil Solarz for Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, and...

Read morearrow
August 20, 2020

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Selected to Best Lawyers in America 2021; One Selected to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz, Jonathan Forster, Martin Neumann, Robert Strauss, Blake Rummel, Gary Borofsky, Jeffrey Geida, Jessica Babrick,...

Read morearrow

Contact Us

Call (310) 553-8844