At The Urbatsch Law Firm P.C., we focus on special needs planning, settlement planning and related practice areas. Our geographic focus includes all counties in California but primarily San Francisco, Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.
We help clients plan for the future, preserve their wealth against the high cost of long-term care health insurance, provide for the future of their loved ones, and leave a lasting legacy. We provide services in the following areas:
- Elder Law – Medi-Cal Planning
- Veteran Benefits
- Special Needs Planning
- Settlement Planning
- Special Needs Trusts (SNT)
- Minor’s Settlement Trusts
- Medicare Set Aside Advisement (MSA)
- Qualified Settlement Funds (QSF)
- Selection/Identification of Trustee
Kevin belongs to the following organizations:
• National Director of the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP);
• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
• Editor-in-Chief for the NAELA Journal and member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA);
• California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR);
• Bar Association of San Francisco, Probate & Trust Section; and the
• State Bar of California, Trust and Estate Section.
Kevin is also a member of the following trial lawyers associations:
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
• Alameda/Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association
Kevin Urbatsch, Esq.
Kevin Urbatsch is the owner of the special needs and settlement planning law firm, The Urbatsch Law Firm P.C. located in Berkeley, California. He has practiced law for over 30-years. Kevin also serves as National Director of the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP), a national organization of special needs and settlement planning professionals. He is a State Bar of California, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate law. He is also a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Kevin served over five years as Editor-in-Chief of the National Academy of Elder Law (NAELA) Journal.
Kevin has a wealth of experience in estate planning, particularly in special needs planning and administration. He was the initial Attorney-Editor, creator, and contributing author of CEB’s two-volume treatise titled Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting and Administration. He is the author of the treatise titled Administering the California Special Needs Trust, the 3rd Edition and Administering the Michigan Special Needs Trust both published in 2020. He is the author for the 5th through 8th Editions of Nolo Press’ book titled Special Needs Trusts: Protecting Your Child’s Financial Future. He has represented clients in establishing and administering hundreds of SNTs throughout California and the United States. He is host of the annual California Special Needs Planning Symposium, a three-day event for attorneys, financial advisors, and professional fiduciaries on mastering this difficult subject. He has been certified and testified as an expert witness on the proper planning needs for Californians with disabilities in Alameda County and in Great Britain.
In 2013, Parenting Magazine named Kevin as one of the nation’s Top Child Advocates for his work in fighting for the rights of children with special needs. In May 2011, Kevin He was has been presented with the NAELA’s Presidential Recognition Award for his work in special needs planning. In each year from 2010 to 2023,For a period of thirteen consecutive years Kevin was named a Northern California Superlawyer; in 2019-2023, he was named a Michigan Superlawyer. In 2009, Kevin was named KRON-TV’s Best of the Bay estate-planning attorney for Northern California.
Kevin is a frequent lecturer to professionals and consumers on special needs and estate planning. He also is the author (or co-author) of the following books and treatises, and you can review his author’s page on Amazon.com at Kevin’s Amazon Author Page.
Kevin has been a member of the California Bar since 1993. He received his law degree from St. Louis University in 1993 and his undergraduate degree from Truman State University in 1988. He began his California law practice as a litigator, where he specialized in various matters, including but not limited to elder financial abuse, Americans with Disabilities Act public access cases, and trust and estate litigation. Kevin is married to special needs attorney extraordinaire, Michele Fuller, who practices in Michigan. The two enjoy traveling, trying to keep up with their four children, and two French Bulldogs, Buster and Posie.
Jessica Jones, Esq.
Jessica Jones (formerly Jessica Farinas) is an attorney at the special needs and settlement planning law firm, The Urbatsch Law Firm P.C., in Berkeley, California. Jessica co-authored the Ninth and Tenth Editions of the Nolo Press book entitled Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child’s Financial Future. She is also a California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) update author and has co-authored articles in the 2018 California Trusts and Estates Quarterly and the CEB Estate Planning Reporter, both covering Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts.
Jessica is a frequent presenter on special needs planning, including first party and third party topics such as settlement planning and third party special needs trusts. She is a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP) and served on the Planning Committee for their 2018 National Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has been a member of the California Bar since 2016. She earned her law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2015 and her undergraduate degree in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2011. As a law student, Jessica won a place on the Moot Court Board, founded and chaired the Estate Planning Society, and worked as an Extern with the Honorable Sandra K. Bean in Alameda Superior Court’s probate division.
Michael J. Paque, Esq.
Michael J. Paque is an attorney with the special needs and settlement planning firm, The Urbatsch Law Firm, P.C., located in Berkeley, California. Michael’s practice focuses on estate planning, special needs planning, and probate and trust administration. Prior to joining The Urbatsch Law Firm, P.C., Michael was an estate planning attorney at a firm based in Los Angeles, California.
Michael earned an LL.M. in Estate Planning from Golden Gate University School of Law, graduating with honors in 2022. He has been a member of the California Bar since 2003. Michael worked for over a decade as a consultant on corporate bankruptcies and restructurings. He is a member of the Alameda County Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the California Lawyers Association, Trusts & Estates section.
Michael earned his J.D. in 2003 from the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to that, he graduated in 2000 from the University of Michigan with a double-major, earning a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Psychology. When not working, Michael enjoys running marathons and spending time with his wife and two sons.
Jessica Marmolejo
Senior Paralegal
(Hablo Español)
Jessica Marmolejo is the Supervising Senior Paralegal at The Urbatsch Law Firm P.C., a specialized law firm in special needs and settlement planning based in Berkeley, California. With nearly 30 years of paralegal experience, Jessica is crucial in supporting Kevin Urbatsch, Principal, Jess Jones, Associate, and Michael Paque, Associate. She focuses on special needs planning, settlement planning, and related practice areas, ensuring the delivery of timely, thorough, and excellent service to clients. Jessica joined the firm in June 2017 to enhance the firm’s commitment to providing a truly personal and professional client experience.
Jessica trains and supervises paralegals and administrative staff, oversees all court-supervised matters, assists with client consultations, prepares pleadings, drafts estate planning and transfer documents, completes trust administrations, handles conservatorships and probate estate cases, and aids attorneys and clients in the orderly administration of all matters. She maintains excellent relationships with clients, court personnel, attorneys, and others involved in the California probate legal system. Additionally, Jessica is a regular presenter at the annual Special Needs Planning Symposium, where she educates attorneys, fiduciaries, and other professionals across the state on specialized areas of law. She is a member of the Alameda County Bar Association, Alameda County Legal Secretaries Association, and Contra Costa County Legal Professionals Association. Jessica is fluent in Spanish and is a Notary Public.
Jessica’s paralegal career began in San Francisco, California, where she specialized in conservatorships, estate planning, trust administration, post-death administration, and guardianships. Working closely with attorneys and partners, she honed her skills and developed a passion for helping people during challenging times. Jessica volunteers at the Alameda Superior Court Limited Conservatorship and Guardianship clinics. She is an Advocate at Foster the City, an organization that inspires and equips churches to provide safe and loving homes for children in foster care.
Jessica is also a contributing member of Eastown Church in San Ramon, CA, where she supports the Hope Water Project, an initiative providing new water wells in northwestern Kenya. She shares her home with her beloved rescue cattle dog, Cali. Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, especially her three nieces and two nephews, volunteering, and traveling in her free time.
Roxanna Galvan
Paralegal
(Hablo Español)
Roxanna is a Paralegal at the special needs and settlement planning law firm, The Urbatsch Law Firm, P.C., in Berkeley, California. Roxanna is the paralegal for Jessica Jones and Michael Paque and assists Kevin Urbatsch in settlement planning, special needs planning, and trust administration. Roxanna drafts pleadings, estate planning, and transfer documents and completes all in-house accounting schedules for non-Court supervised trusts.
Roxanna joined the Urbatsch Law Firm, P.C., in April of 2021 to help with the firm’s caseload. She quickly rose to the challenge and now prepares most petitions to settle accountings for court-supervised trusts. Before joining The Urbatsch Law Firm, P.C., she accumulated over 20 years of paralegal experience working in San Francisco, California, at a probate, family, and civil law firm where she specialized in the areas of trust administration, trust litigation, tax preparation, estate planning, conservatorships, guardianships, and court accountings. She studied accounting at Chabot College. Roxanna enjoys spending time with her two growing sons.
Cris Giron
Paralegal
(Hablo Español)
Cris Giron is a Paralegal at the special needs and settlement planning law firm, The Urbatsch Law Firm P.C., in Berkeley, California. Cris’ primary duty is to assist attorneys and fellow paralegals in providing timely, thorough, and quality service to clients in all aspects of special needs planning, settlement planning, and related practice areas.
Cris aspired to work in the legal field from a very young age. He has held various positions in customer service, management, and leadership throughout his years. In 2021, he joined the Urbatsch Law Firm, P.C., as a receptionist while studying full time. In 2022, he graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. His hard work ethic, professionalism, and willingness to always go above and beyond what is asked make him a valuable asset to our team.
Denise Chacon
Executive Assistant
(Hablo Español)
Denise Chacon is the Executive Assistant to Kevin Urbatsch, Jessica Jones, and Michael Paque at The Urbatsch Law Firm P.C. in Berkeley, California. Denise brings over a decade of experience in Customer Service and Organization Development. She joined the Urbatsch Team in July of 2018 with duties in project management and operational roles. Denise earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from California State University East Bay. It has served her well professionally and personally. She earned her second Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry and is working toward her Masters in Leadership Studies.
Denise is fluent in English and Spanish and hopes to learn sign language soon. Outside of work, Denise is a passionate volunteer and a mentor for kids who have been exposed to drugs and alcohol at an early age. She leads United Woman in ministry and serves at her church’s leadership table.
