Legal Insurance
Legal Insurance
Bay Area Estate Attorneys accepts legal insurance from the following companies:
- ARAG
-
LegalEASE
-
LegalShield
- MetLife
Check with your HR benefits representative to see if your employer offers legal insurance today!
Bay Area Estate Attorneys accepts legal insurance from the following companies:
LegalEASE
LegalShield
Check with your HR benefits representative to see if your employer offers legal insurance today!
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you Julie & team for walking us through the entire process with patience. This is the first time we've ever set up a will and Julie did a great job of explaining everything we needed to know. She was thorough and knowledgeable. All assisting staff were also very helpful and friendly - both in person and over email. They were very proactive and helped us move along the process even when it got really busy on our end. Happy to have worked with them all. Thank you!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I engaged the services of Ms. Sowards in July of 2022 for the purpose of drawing up my will and establishing my living trust. She carried these out to the highest standards, thus relieving me of a major concern. I highly recommend her to my friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who need this done.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had been looking for an Estate Attorney to redo my existing outdated Trust. I heard excellent remarks about Bay Area Estate Attorney and gave them a try. I was more than pleased with their service. They were helpful and extremely accommodating. With their help guiding me through the process and helping me with excellent suggestions, the entire trust was re-written and all changes had been incorporated in a very timely manner. Due to a physical handicap, I needed special help (with timing, assistance and extra work). The entire staff at Bay Area Estate Attorney was there to help me every step on the way. They were helpful and guided me through the process to change my trust correctly. I cannot recommend Bay Area Estate Attorney highly enough, I could not have done it without their help and friendly support. This firm gets my highest recommendation, in fact they re-kindled my trust in people wanting to help, because they enjoy doing the job right in a timely fashion and with a smile.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Julie took care of creating a living trust for us seamlessly and very professionally, and helped create one for my parents as well. Kelsey was also very helpful and responsive in ongoing correspondence. Thanks so much!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Julie has been an absolute rock star in helping us get our trust affairs in order. From start to finish, she’s been knowledgeable, attentive, and incredibly patient — making what can be an overwhelming process feel seamless and stress-free. Her professionalism and genuine care shine through in every interaction. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to guide us through this important step. Highly recommend Julie and the entire team at Bay Area Estate Attorneys — they’re simply the best!
Early Background
Miriam earned her Political Science degree from Loyola Marymount University, where she co-founded the Pre-Law Society and Mock Trial Team. At Southwestern Law School, her academic excellence earned her the John J. Schumacher Scholarship for exceptional leadership potential.
During law school, she worked with an established estates attorney, discovering her passion for helping families honor their loved ones’ legacies while minimizing conflict.
Community Commitment
Miriam serves on the board of Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity, applying her legal skills to support affordable housing initiatives—reflecting her belief that legal knowledge should serve both individual clients and the broader community’s need for justice.
Personal Philosophy
“Probate proceedings occur during one of the most difficult times in families’ lives. Miriam brings both professional knowledge and genuine empathy to every case, recognizing that behind every probate file is a family grieving the loss of a loved one while trying to honor their memory. Her goal is to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible while ensuring families feel supported and informed throughout the journey.”
Her services also include retitling of real estate deeds and county assessor forms. She is very familiar with the California Court procedures and each specific rule of Court based on the County.
She is a graduate of the University of California Riverside, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy Law and Society.
At Riverside Community College Maribel graduated with an Associates in Paralegal Studies, where she was inducted in the Lambda Epsilon Chi National Hono Society in Paralegal Studies.
Maribel has vast experience in probate and trust administration for the past 15 years.
Maribel likes to volunteer at her local senior center and her children’s schools.
She is a key element in our firm’s outstanding customer service and is primarily responsible for walking new clients through booking their consultation and providing continuing support to current clients.
Gabrielle manages the attorneys’ calendars ensuring our office runs smoothly, as well as overseeing our data management system.
Kelsey graduated Cum Laude from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology after completing an Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Business with Paralegal focus.
Outside of the office she enjoys crafting, spending time with her family and pets, and is a member of the American Cribbage Congress.
Kelsey was excited to join Bay Area Estate Attorneys, P.C., because of the firm’s commitment to mentoring and their dedication to fostering personal and professional growth.
At Bay Area Estate Attorneys, P.C., the emphasis is on empowering our clients to protect their legacy for their beneficiaries and assisting them through the difficult time after losing a loved one.
As a veteran of probate and trust litigation, she has vast experience acting on behalf of beneficiaries and strongly believes in enforcing their rights.
One particular field of interest for her is estate planning after divorce and the complexities of dividing marital assets. In these matters, she often draws on her tax background to prepare customized and precise documents.
Julie also has a mentorship program at her law firm helping staff prepare for law school, through law school and the California Bar exam in order to become attorneys themselves. Julie also mentors other women starting their own legal practice and the flexibility it benefits us all as a community with raising a family.
Outside of work, this Bay Area native enjoys spending time with her family, playing sports, and traveling the world.
Prior to working at our office, Maureen was a full time student. She graduated from Ohlone Community College with an A.A. in Human Development Studies, A.A. in Sociology and A.A. in Political Science; all with Honors. She then transferred to San Jose State University where she recently graduated in May 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and Minor in Legal Studies. She has been admitted to law school and will start in August 2023.
Maureen was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a proud South Bay native. Outside of studying, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and closest friends. She also enjoys traveling and taking SoulCycle/CycleBar classes. Maureen has a passion for the legal field and is excited to continue her journey to becoming a lawyer.
Cathyana always considers the people behind the numbers. That personable approach to planning, coupled with her experience as a tax attorney, creates solid bonds between Cathyana and her clients. Cathyana also consults on tax planning and asset protection strategies such as creation of business entities, irrevocable trusts and charitable trusts.
Experience
News
6/1/2020
Marvin Brown, Tera Coleman, Cory Davis, Cathyana Jean-Baptiste, Marcus McCutcheon Listed Among “Top 40 Under 40 National Black Lawyers”
Publications
5/1/2020
The New Paradigm: Wealth Transfer Planning During an Economic Downturn
Pro Bono
Represented a low-income client regarding IRS tax collection and Maryland tax authority procedures.
Services
Admissions
California and District of Columbia
Education
Languages
Englisth, Haitian Creole (Fluent) and French (Basic)
She is knowledgeable in real estate transactions from trust transfer deeds to transferring title of the real estate to the trust beneficiaries.
EDUCATION:
We can help with the planning of inheritable real estate and keep in line with Prop 19 and exclusion from reassessment of property tax! Give us a call today!