Not Quite SkyNet: Three Reasons Why ChatGPT Is No Replacement for a Good Attorney
By Scott E. Rahn and Meagan A. Paisley Anxiety over the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has been on the rise over the last
Scott Rahn
Founding Partner
Scott Rahn resolves contests, disputes and litigation related to trusts, estates and conservatorships, creating a welcome peace of mind for clients. He represents heirs, beneficiaries, trustees and executors. He utilizes his experience to develop and implement strategies that swiftly and efficiently address the financial issues, fiduciary duties and emotional complexities underlying trust contests, estates conflicts and probate litigation.
Credentials
University of San Diego Law School
1999-2002, Juris Doctor, San Diego
University of Wisconsin, Madison
1997-1999, Bachelor of Arts: Spanish
& International Latin American Relations. Clubs: Alpha Kappa Psi, Pre-Law, Spanish Club, Bate Papo
Best Lawyers in America – Trust and Estates & Litigation
2018-2024
Chambers & Partners – High Net Worth Guide, Private Wealth Disputes
2021-2023
Super Lawyers – Top 100 – Trust and Estate Litigation” Southern California Super Lawyers
2017-2024
Los Angeles Business Journal – Top Litigator,” Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers
2020-2023
Los Angeles Times – “Legal Visionary,” Business of Law: Trends, Updates & Visionaries
2021-2023
Los Angeles Business Journal – “Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s,”
2021
Southern California Super Lawyers – “Super Lawyer,”“Rising Star” since 2006
2014-2024
Century City Bar Association – “Trusts and Estates Litigator of the Year”
National Law Journal – “Elite Boutique Trailblazer”
Martindale – Hubbell – Rated AV Preeminent® 5 out of 5
Avvo – Rated “Superb 10”
The American Lawyer – “West Trailblazer,”
2022
President Emeritus Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council
Board Member California Alzheimer’s Association, Southland Chapter
Speaker/Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association – Trusts and Estates Section
Speaker/Member, Private Client Global Elite
Speaker/Member, Society of Tax and Estate Planning Professionals (STEP) – Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association – Trusts & Estates Section
Member, Professional Fiduciary Association of California
Member, Independent Trustee Alliance
Member, ProVisors
Member, University of Wisconsin Alumni Association
Speaker, California Society of CPAs (CALPA)
Speaker, Fiduciary Round Table of the San Gabriel Valley
Speaker, San Fernando Valley Bar Association – Trusts and Estates Section
Speaker, South Bay Bar Association – Trusts and Estates Section
Speaker, San Luis Obispo Bar Association – Trusts and Estates Section
Speaker, Ventura County Bar Association – Trusts and Estates Section
Speaker, Woodland Hills Trust and Estate Planning Council
“Anticipating the Secret Scion in Estate Planning”
CSQ, Author
11/22/2019
“Take Care to Learn the Changing Rules for Hiring and Paying Elder Caregivers”
CSQ, Author
03/05/2020
“How to Plan Your Estate Amid a Global Pandemic”
CSQ, Author
04/20/2020
“Expect a Post-COVID-19 Tsunami of Financial Elder Abuse Case”
CSQ, Author
10/12/2020
“Debtors and Probate: What Not to Do”
CSQ, Author
02/23/2021
“I’ve Been Named a Trustee. Now What?”
CSQ, Author
12/02/2021
“Britney Spears sees a possible end to conservatorship path”
STEP, Author
04/21/2021
“Why a Conservatorship for Britney, But Not for Kanye?”
Attorney at Law – Magazine, Author
12/05/2022
“Relieving the Burden”
LA Times – Senior Living Magazine, Author
04/2021
“Legislative Reform Needed to Address the Oncoming Financial Elder Abuse Tsunami” STEP, Author
03/2021
“Trust Litigation: What Does It Entail?”
Lawyer Monthly, Author
10/2020
VHollywood cases provide teachable moments in estate planning”
Daily Journal, Author
05/23/2019
“Sorting Aretha Franklin’s wills could take longer than the Prince estate”
Daily Journal, Author
05/31/2019
“Bill that would have brought back state gift and estate taxes fails to pass”
Daily Journal, Author
06/13/2019
“Finally, an effort to end elder isolation in California”
Living Brentwood, Author
10/2022
“I’ve been named a trustee. Now what?”
Living Brentwood, Author
01/2022
“When Probate Meets Prenup”
Living Brentwood, Co-Author
08/2023
Latest Articles from Scott
The Abuse of Anti-SLAPP Motions in Probate and Civil Matters
Litigants are still finding new applications for California’s powerful (and sometimes infamous) anti-SLAPP statute in civil matters, and as evidenced by the recently resolved Starr
Can You Inherit a Family Business?
It is possible to inherit a family business. In fact, family businesses are often passed down from generation to generation through a will, a business
Can Lottery Winnings Be Inherited?
Winning the lottery gives a lucky person access to substantial financial resources that can help them achieve their financial goals and dreams. But what happens
What Is the Fair Market Value of Inherited Property?
Inheriting property can be a complex process, with numerous factors to consider. Before you decide whether to keep, donate, or sell your inherited property, it’s
Can You Sell Stock In a Trust After Death?
Whether you can sell stocks in a trust after death generally depends on the specific terms and conditions of the trust and the laws of
Speaking Engagements
Beverly Hills Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
5/16/2023 | Co-author, Panelist
Strafford Publications
Trustee’s Obligation to Inform Beneficiaries: Avoiding Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
3/22/2023 | Panelist
Ventura County Bar Association
Recent Updates in Probate, Trust, Estate Planning & Conservatorships
2/23/2023 | Co-author, Panelist
Private Client Global Elite
Obtaining Information relating to Private Client Structures
2/13/2023 | Panelist
Wealth Counsel
5 Estate Planning Fails (and Lessons) from the Probate Crypt
12/14/2022 | Lecturer
Private Client Global Elite
International Incapacity
1/30/2022 | Panelist
South Bay Bar Association
Trust and Estates Litigation Update
11/16/2022 | Co-author, Lecturer
Professional Fiduciary Association of California
Tales (And Lessons) from the Probate Crypt
11/3/2022 | Author, Lecturer
Private Client Global Elite
‘The King Must Die’: Pre-Death Litigation
7/15/2022 | Panelist
Beverly Hills Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
5/17/2022 | Co-author, Panelist
Ventura County Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
2/24/2022 | Co-author, Panelist
Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
2/7/2022 | Co-author, Panelist
South Bay Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
11/18/2021 | Co-author, Panelist
Los Angeles Paralegal Association
Probate Litigation 101
10/16/2021 | Author, Lecturer
Fiduciary Roundtable of the San Gabriel Valley
Britney Spears’ Conservatorship
9/8/2021 | Lecturer
Beverly Hills Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
5/18/2021 | Co-author, Panelist
San Luis Obispo County Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
4/28/2021 | Co-author, Panelist
Private Client Global Elite
Attacks on Trusts
4/8/2021 | Panelist
Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
3/1/2021 | Co-author, Panelist
Ventura County Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
2/18/2021 | Co-author, Panelist
Los Angeles Paralegal Association
Probate Litigation 101
10/17/2020 | Author, Lecturer
Woodland Hills Tax and Estate Planning Council
Estate Planning Pitfalls
10/7/2020 | Co-author, Panelist
South Bay Bar Association
Trust, Probate & Conservatorship Annual Litigation Update
6/17/2020 | Co-author, Panelist
Estate Planning Council of San Bernardino
The Unknown Child: DNA Testing and Estate Planning, and Trust Administration
2/19/2020 | Author, Lecturer
San Diego Estate Planning Council
Fear and Loathing the Unknown Child, California’s new probate code authorizing limited use of DNA
10/15/2019 | Author, Lecturer
Citrus Estate Planning Council
Genetic Tests, Probate & You
9/30/2019 | Author, Lecturer
California Society of CPAs (CALCPA)
Genetic Testing Effects on Estate Planning
7/16/2019 | Author, Lecturer
Society of Tax and Estate Planning Professional, Los Angeles Chapter
Darth, Are you my father? The use of DNA evidence in Probate Organization
6/27/2019 | Author, Lecturer
Jonathan Club Breakfast Club
Fear and Loathing the Unknown Child, California’s new probate code authorizing limited use of DNA
6/24/2019 | Author, Lecturer
Woodland Hills Estate Planning Council
Fear and Loathing the Unknown Child, California’s new probate code authorizing limited use of DNA
2/5/2019 | Author, Lecturer
Featured In
Michael Lockwood Is 'Ready, Able and Willing to Protect' Twins amid Lisa Marie Trust Battle, Says Lawyer
Lockwood filed to be their legal guardian ad litem in March. The petition was granted Thursday...
Father of Lisa Marie Presley’s youngest daughters petitions to represent them in battle over estate
A court hearing was held in Los Angeles on Thursday related to the petition Priscilla Presley filed in...
Here's Exactly What Needs to Happen for Britney Spears to End Her Conservatorship
An attorney who specializes in these cases walked us through what's next for Britney Spears, step by step...
Co-conservator of Britney Spears’ estate asks to withdraw
Just one day after a judge denied Britney Spears’ request to remove her father as a conservator...
Britney Spears hearing: What to expect
The court is faced with three options this week: terminate Britney Spears' conservatorship, leave it and replace...
What Real Conservatorship Attorneys Think About Britney Spears’ Legal Case
"There's no way she would, in my mind, qualify for conservatorship under normal circumstances."
Britney Spears wants out of her conservatorship. Experts say a long fight could lie ahead
The pop star’s dramatic testimony has fueled calls for the court to end the arrangement immediately,...
Lisa Marie Presley's ex 'ready to protect the twins' after being granted custody
Michael Lockwood has been granted legal guardianship of the teen twins he shared with Lisa Marie...
Britney Spears wants out. What happens next in her conservatorship?
Britney Spears has made clear how frustrated she is with the legal arrangement that has controlled...
Britney Spears asks judge to end her conservatorship
Britney Spears issued an emotional plea asking the judge to end her conservatorship.
Scott Rahn Discusses: "Framing Britney" sparks fresh scrutiny into pop star's longstanding conservatorship
Scott Rahn, Founding and Managing Partner of RMO LLP, shares his thoughts on conservatorship and the...
Britney Spears Expected to Get Psychiatric Evaluation for Conservatorship Battle
Britney Spears is raising concerns about the fate of her conservatorship battle after she posted racy...
Could Kanye West Be Placed in a Conservatorship?
With the recent controversy surrounding Kanye West, some people are wondering if it would be in his...
How Can Britney Spears Perform Hundreds of Shows But Still Be Under Conservatorship?
Britney Spears has captivated the world since she was propelled to fame at age 16 more...
How Britney Spears Could Fight Conservatorship Abuse in Court
Britney Spears has announced her wish to file formal abuse charges against her father, Jamie Spears...
Who is Jodi Montgomery? Britney Spears Asks to Replace Her Father as Conservator
Britney Spears' conservatorship is in the news again—this time the star's legal team has filed...
Britney Spears’ Conservatorship Nightmare Explained
The #FreeBritney movement has brought attention to Britney Spears’13-year-long conservatorship battle and has raised ..
BRITNEY SPEARS CONSERVATORSHIP REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK RECAP
Attorney Scott Rahn discusses the latest update to the Britney Spears conservatorship. Last week Britney Spears...
Jamie Spears Insists Britney Spears Can End Her Own Conservatorship — Is He Right?
Trying to make sense of Britney Spears' complex and unique conservatorship case is difficult, even if...
Britney Spears’ ‘toxic’ conservatorship is over — why all Americans, especially older ones, should take notes
Britney Spears’ conservatorship is finally over, after more than a year of actively fighting it and...
Paulina Porizkova hires lawyer in late husband Ric Ocasek’s estate case
Paulina Porizkova, the estranged widow of late Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, has hired a lawyer to...