Frequently Asked Questions
A note before the questions: this page is general information about how my practice works and the kinds of legal questions I help clients with. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific situation, the right next step is usually a conversation.
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About the firm
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Content: My office is at 7380 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 215, San Diego, CA 92111. I serve clients throughout California and, for cross-border matters, internationally. Many of my consultations are by phone or video, so clients in other parts of California (or other parts of the world) work with me regularly without ever needing to come to the office.
Question 2:
Title: What languages do you practice in?
Content: English and Mandarin. I'm a native Mandarin speaker and one of California's first Mandarin-speaking attorneys to specialize in estate planning. Many of my clients work with me specifically because they want their legal matters handled in the language they think and feel in.
Question 3:
Title: Do you charge for the initial consultation?
Content: The initial 15-minute consultation is free. It's a chance for both of us to understand whether your situation is something I can help with, and whether we're a good fit. If we decide to move forward, the next step is a longer working consultation, which is paid and usually 60–90 minutes.
Question 4:
Title: What do your services cost?
Content: It depends on the matter. Most simple estate plans, prenuptial agreements, naturalization applications, and uncontested dissolutions are flat-fee — meaning you'll know the cost up front. Complex matters (international estate planning, investor immigration, contested probate) are quoted on a case-by-case basis. Probate fees are largely set by California statute. I'll always tell you what something costs before you commit.
Question 5:
Title: Are you accepting new clients?
Content: Yes, generally. Whether I can take on a new matter depends on the type of case and current capacity. The fastest way to find out is to schedule a free consultation.
Question 6:
Title: Do you handle matters outside California?
Content: I'm licensed to practice law in California. For matters that involve other U.S. states, I work with co-counsel licensed in those states. For international matters (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and elsewhere), I have working relationships with practitioners abroad. Cross-border work is a meaningful part of my practice.
Save
Click SAVE at the top-left.
Step 4: Send a screenshot
Once the "About the firm" section is built with all 6 questions in the accordion, send me a screenshot. I want to verify the accordion is working before you build the next 4 sections.
Pace yourself
This is a long page — 20 questions across 5 sections. My recommendation: build one section at a time and save in between. Way safer than doing all 20 questions before saving.
After "About the firm" is done, we'll do:
Estate Planning (5 questions)
Immigration (5 questions)
Family Law (4 questions)
Probate (4 questions, with the AB 2016 numbers)
Closing CTA section
Action right now
Create the new FAQ page (Page type, NOT Products/Services)
Click EDIT
Build the intro section (heading + disclaimer + 2 buttons)
Build the "About the firm" section with the accordion (6 questions)
Save
Send a screenshot when done
If Squarespace doesn't have an Accordion block built into your template, send me a screenshot of the block menu and I'll suggest an alternative.
You said: Fill in the accordion items for "About the firm" category (6 questions)
Fill in the accordion items for "About the firm" category (6 questions) For each question, you'll edit:
Title (the question — visitors see this collapsed)
Content (the answer — appears when they click to expand) - how to make this style? *
12:08 PM
Claude responded: Good question — the accordion style is a specific Squarespace block.
Good question — the accordion style is a specific Squarespace block. It's not something you build manually with text blocks; it's a single block type you add and then fill in.
Here's exactly how to find and use it.
How to find the Accordion block
When you click + ADD BLOCK in your section, you'll see a menu of block types (Text, Image, Button, etc.). The Accordion block is in there, but you might need to scroll or search to find it.
Try these in order:
Method 1: Search
Click + ADD BLOCK
At the top of the block menu, there's usually a search box
Type: accordion
The Accordion block should appear in results
Click it
Method 2: Scroll the block list
Click + ADD BLOCK
Scroll through all the block types
Look for "Accordion" — it's usually in the "Forms & Lists" or "More" category
Click it to add
Method 3: Look under "Lists" Some Squarespace versions group it under a "Lists" or "List Block" category.
What it looks like once added
When you add an Accordion block, you'll see something like this on the page:
▼ Sample Question 1 Sample answer text here... ▼ Sample Question 2 Sample answer text here...
Each row has a question (the visible title) and an expandable answer below it. Visitors will see only the questions; clicking a question opens its answer.
How to fill in the accordion
Click on a row to edit it
A panel opens showing two fields:
Title — type the question here (e.g., "Where are you located?")
Content/Body — type or paste the answer here
Repeat for each row
To add more rows, click the "+ Add Item" button (usually at the bottom of the accordion)
To delete a row, hover over it and look for a delete icon (trash or X)
If your Squarespace doesn't have an Accordion block
Some Squarespace templates or versions don't include this block by default. If you can't find it after searching, two alternatives:
Alternative 1: Use a "FAQ" block (if available)
Search for "FAQ" in the block menu. Some versions have a dedicated FAQ block that does the same accordion behavior.
Alternative 2: Just use Heading + Text blocks
If no accordion is available, fall back to Q&A format — each question as a Heading 3 (the question), followed by a Text block (the answer). Stacked vertically. Less elegant but works.
Alternative 3: Add accordion functionality via custom code
Squarespace lets you add custom HTML/CSS via Code Blocks. This is more advanced — we'd skip it unless you really need accordion behavior.
Send me a screenshot
The fastest path: send me a screenshot of the block menu when you click + ADD BLOCK.
Specifically:
Click + ADD BLOCK in your FAQ page
The block menu opens showing all available block types
Take a screenshot of that menu (I want to see what blocks are available)
Send to me
I'll point at the right block to use, or recommend an alternative if Accordion isn't there.
Action right now
Click + ADD BLOCK in your FAQ page section
Look for "Accordion" (search or scroll)
If you find it: click to add, then start filling in titles and content
If you don't find it: take a screenshot of the block menu and send to me
Tell me what you see.
You said: how to make the cordian style?
how to make the cordian style?
12:09 PM
Claude responded: Got it — you're asking how to actually create the accordion (the click-to-expand behavior) in Squarespace.
Got it — you're asking how to actually create the accordion (the click-to-expand behavior) in Squarespace. Let me walk you through it step by step with screenshots in mind.
What you're trying to make
The "accordion" style looks like this on the published page:
▶ Where are you located? ▶ What languages do you practice in? ▶ Do you charge for the initial consultation?
When a visitor clicks one, it expands:
▼ Where are you located? My office is at 7380 Clairemont Mesa Blvd... ▶ What languages do you practice in? ▶ Do you charge for the initial consultation?
How to make it in Squarespace
Step 1: You need to be in edit mode on your FAQ page
Make sure you're inside a section on the FAQ page in edit mode.
Step 2: Click + ADD BLOCK
You'll see this button at the top of the section. Click it. A menu appears with all available block types.
Step 3: Find the Accordion block
The block menu has many options (Text, Image, Button, Form, etc.). You're looking for one called "Accordion".
Where it usually is:
Look for a category called "Lists" or "More" — Accordion is often grouped there
Or use the search bar at the top of the block menu and type "accordion"
What it looks like in the menu:
An icon that shows horizontal lines stacked
Labeled "Accordion"
Step 4: Click "Accordion" to add it
A new accordion block appears in your section with sample placeholder content — usually 2 or 3 sample rows that say something like "Sample Question" with placeholder text below.
Step 5: Edit each row
Click on a sample row. A small editor appears showing two fields:
Title field — type your question here
Content/Description field — type or paste your answer here
Step 6: Add more rows
Look for a button that says "+ Add Item", "Add Row", or "+" within the accordion block. Click it to add a new question/answer pair.
Repeat until you have all 6 questions for the "About the firm" section.
Step 7: Save
Click SAVE at the top-left.
I really need to see your screen
To give you exact guidance, I need to see what your block menu actually looks like. Different Squarespace versions have slightly different menus.
Action:
Click + ADD BLOCK in your FAQ page (in edit mode)
Take a screenshot of the block menu that appears
Send the screenshot to me
I'll point to exactly which block to click.
If Accordion isn't available
Some Squarespace templates don't include an Accordion block. If the block menu doesn't have one:
Option A: Use plain text blocks (no accordion)
Each question as Heading 3
Each answer as a paragraph below
Visitors see all the answers at once (no click-to-expand)
This is simpler but the page becomes very long
Option B: Look for "FAQ" block Some templates have a "FAQ" block instead of "Accordion" — same thing, different name.
Option C: Use a Code Block with custom HTML This is more advanced — adds true accordion behavior via custom code. We'd only do this if needed.
Take that screenshot
Send me what you see when you click + ADD BLOCK. That's the fastest way for me to point you at the right next step.
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English and Mandarin. I'm a native Mandarin speaker and one of California's first Mandarin-speaking attorneys to specialize in estate planning. Many of my clients work with me specifically because they want their legal matters handled in the language they think and feel in.
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The initial 15-minute consultation is free. It's a chance for both of us to understand whether your situation is something I can help with, and whether we're a good fit. If we decide to move forward, the next step is a longer working process, we offer both flat fees and hourly fee services.
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It depends on the matter. Most simple estate plans, prenuptial agreements, naturalization applications, and uncontested dissolutions are flat-fee — meaning you'll know the cost up front. Complex matters (international estate planning, investor immigration, contested probate) are quoted on a case-by-case basis. Probate fees are largely set by California statute. I'll always tell you what something costs before you commit.
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Yes, generally. Whether I can take on a new matter depends on the type of case and current capacity. The fastest way to find out is to schedule a free consultation.
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I'm licensed to practice law in California. For matters that involve other U.S. states, I work with co-counsel licensed in those states. For international matters (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and elsewhere), I have working relationships with practitioners abroad. Cross-border work is a meaningful part of my practice.
Estate Planning
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For many California families, yes. A will alone usually means your estate has to go through probate — a court-supervised process that takes 12–18 months for a simple probate and costs a percentage of the estate. A revocable living trust avoids probate entirely, keeps your affairs private, and makes things much simpler for your family, and often provide asset protection for your beneficaries. Wills still play an important role (especially "pour-over wills" used alongside a trust), but for anyone who owns real estate or has significant assets, a trust is often the better foundation.
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A revocable trust can be changed or revoked during your lifetime. You stay in control of your assets, and the trust is mostly used to avoid probate and provide for smooth succession. An irrevocable trust generally can't be changed once it's set up. It's used for more specific purposes — asset protection, estate tax planning, special needs planning, or sheltering assets from long-term care costs. Most clients start with a revocable trust; some add irrevocable trusts for specific goals. However, a revocable living trust may become irrevocable when certain things happen - incapacity, death, etc.
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Significantly. If you have real estate, bank accounts, or family members in another country, your estate plan needs to account for cross-border tax issues, foreign inheritance laws, and the practical reality of administering assets in two jurisdictions. This is one of the most common reasons clients come to me — many estate planning attorneys aren't equipped for it. The earlier you address it, the more options you have.
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Almost always before, if you have meaningful assets. Once you become a U.S. resident, you become subject to U.S. estate and gift tax rules — and the planning options that were available to you as a non-resident largely close. Pre-immigration planning is a specialized area, and the savings can be substantial. If you're contemplating a move to the U.S., it's worth a conversation as early as possible.
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It’s recommended review the estate plan every 3–5 years, plus an immediate review whenever something significant changes — marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death in the family, a move to a new state or country, the sale of a major asset, or a substantial change in your finances. Estate plans aren't one-and-done documents. They need to reflect the life you're actually living.
Have an estate planning question that isn't here?Schedule a Free Consultation
Immigration
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For a green card application based on marriage to an US citizen and already in the US., the adjustment of status process typically takes 12–18 months from filing to green card approval, sometimes faster. For someone abroad, consular processing through the U.S. embassy in their home country usually takes 8–14 months. Specific timelines depend on the home country, the case type, and current USCIS and consular processing times — which change frequently.
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Both are investor visas, but they're very different. EB-5 is an immigrant visa — it leads to a green card and eventually U.S. citizenship. It requires an investment of $800,000 to $1,050,000 (depending on the location) and creates 10 jobs. E-2 is a non-immigrant treaty visa — it's renewable indefinitely but does not lead to a green card. It requires a "substantial" investment (typically $100,000+) and is only available to nationals of treaty countries. (China is not a treaty country; Taiwan is.) Which visa is right depends on your goals, your country of nationality, and the size of investment you can make.
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The path depends on the employee and the role. The most common options are H-1B (for specialty occupations, requires a U.S. bachelor's-equivalent degree), L-1 (for transferring an employee from your foreign office or parent company), and employment-based green cards (for permanent positions, usually preceded by a PERM labor certification). The first step is usually a strategy conversation about which path fits your business and the employee's situation. There are also compliance obligations — I-9 paperwork, prevailing wage requirements, and others — that I help businesses stay on top of.
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For some matters, yes — naturalization applications and simple family-based petitions can be done by determined non-lawyers. But the consequences of errors are severe: delays of years, denials that affect future applications, and in some cases removal proceedings. For anything more complex (employment-based, investor, contested family-based), the cost of getting it wrong is almost always much higher than the cost of getting it right.
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It depends on the type of denial. Some denials can be appealed; some can be cured by re-filing with additional evidence; some are final. The first step after a denial is a careful review of the denial notice to understand the basis. In many cases, there is a path forward — but the steps must be taken thoughtfully, because a poorly-handled response can make things worse.
Have an immigration question that isn't here? Schedule a Free Consultation
Family Law
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A prenuptial agreement isn't about anticipating the marriage failing — it's about being clear, as adults, about how you'll handle finances together. It can protect family wealth, business interests, and assets you bring into the marriage. It can clarify spousal support expectations. It can prevent the most expensive and emotional kind of conflict — the kind that happens when two people who love each other try to figure out money under stress, years later, without ever having talked about it. A well-drafted.
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In contested divorce, usually each spouse hires their own attorney, and the attorneys negotiate (or litigate) on behalf of their clients. It's adversarial by design. Uncontested is while still go through the court proceeding: the spouses usually reach an agreement on therir own or sit down together with a neutral mediator (often a lawyer) who facilitates conversations to reach agreements. The goal is resolution, not victory. Mediation is usually faster, cheaper, and emotionally healthier — especially when there are children or shared family. It works best when both spouses are committed to a respectful proce
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My family law practice is focused on the planning and non-adversarial side — prenups, postnups, mediation, uncontested dissolution, collaborative divorce, and similar matters. For contested cases involving custody battles, I'll happily refer you to colleagues who specialize in that work. There's no shame in needing aggressive representation — but it's not what I do, and you deserve a lawyer whose practice is built around what your case actually requires.
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California has a mandatory 6-month waiting period from the date the divorce papers are served before a divorce can be finalized. So even the simplest, most cooperative uncontested divorce takes at least 6 months. With straightforward cases, the practical timeline is usually 6–8 months from filing to final judgment.
Have a family law question that isn't here?
Probate
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Maybe — California has multiple simplified procedures that can avoid full probate, and recent changes (AB 2016, effective April 1, 2025) significantly expanded who qualifies. The two main thresholds for deaths on or after April 1, 2025 are:
Personal property (bank accounts, vehicles, investments, personal belongings) up to $208,850 can transfer through a small estate affidavit, without court involvement
A primary residence in California valued at $750,000 or less can transfer through a streamlined "Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property" — much faster and cheaper than full probate
The two thresholds are separate. If a parent left a $700,000 home and $150,000 in personal assets, both qualify for simplified procedures. If the home is worth $800,000, the residence may need full probate even if other assets are minimal.
Other paths to avoid probate include living trusts (assets held in trust pass entirely outside probate), joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and named beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance. Whether your specific situation qualifies depends on how the assets were owned and titled.
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Don't make any major moves until you've had legal advice. The early days after a death are when well-meaning executors can create personal liability for themselves — paying the wrong creditors first, distributing assets too early, missing deadlines. The most important early steps: secure the property and important documents, locate the will or trust, identify the assets and approximate values, and get a handle on what you're being asked to do. Then talk to a lawyer about how to do the rest.
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Most full probates for uncontested matters take 12–18 months from filing to close, depending on complexity. Simple probates with no disputes can sometimes close in less. Cross-border probates, contested wills, or estates with complicated assets can take 2 years or more. Trust administration (when a loved one had a living trust) is usually faster and entirely out of court
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The estate is "intestate," and California law determines who inherits. The order is generally: spouse first, then children, then parents, then siblings, and so on. The estate still goes through probate, but the court appoints an administrator (rather than an executor named by a will) and follows the statutory rules. Intestate estates are often more complex than testate ones, because there's no document to look to for the decedent's intent.
Have a Probate question that isn't here?