We recently connected with Matt Odgers and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your industry completely flip-flop or change course on something?

One of the biggest changes I have seen in estate planning is the rise of do-it-yourself estate planning. When I began my career, most people thought estate planning was something you did with a lawyer. It was viewed as a personal, emotional process requiring professional help. Clients would meet with us, share their family stories and concerns, and together we would create a plan tailored to their needs.

But then things changed.

Online platforms started offering wills, trusts, and other legal documents that you could make in just a few minutes. The message was clear and appealing: save money, save time, and skip the lawyer.

Many were motivated by the belief that technology could simplify estate planning for the average person, making it more accessible and less intimidating. The convenience and affordability of these services, especially for those with limited resources or relatively straightforward estates, made them an attractive alternative to traditional legal counsel. However, what appears to be a savings often conceals hidden costs. While individuals are drawn to the low upfront cost of DIY services, they often underestimate the potential for costly complications down the road. For example, probate costs can rise dramatically when faulty DIY plans are discovered, sometimes costing families thousands of dollars more than if they had initially sought professional guidance.

Over time, though, the problems with this change became clear. At Opelon LLP, my partner Owen and I have seen many DIY plans fall short when families need them most. The mistakes are usually not obvious when the documents are created. They often appear years later, after someone has passed away. By then, families are grieving and depending on documents that don’t fit their real situation.

To help our clients avoid these pitfalls, we offer personalized guidance tailored to each family’s unique circumstances, in direct contrast to the standardised, impersonal methods of DIY estate planning. Rather than relying on generic forms, we walk our clients through a detailed planning process, asking the right questions and addressing potential issues before they arise; tasks that DIY platforms are not equipped to perform. Our aim is to ensure that every plan reflects the client’s true intentions and is robust enough to withstand future challenges. This careful, hands-on approach provides our clients with the confidence that their loved ones will be cared for exactly as they wish.

We have worked on probates where handwritten wills were not legally valid. If a handwritten will is deemed invalid, then the state of California decides how the estate is distributed. Possibly against the deceased’s wishes.

We have seen well-designed online trusts that were never funded; if a trust isn’t funded, then it cannot protect the assets as intended, leaving them vulnerable to probate.

We have also seen beneficiary designations that override DIY wills, resulting in unintended consequences. If beneficiary designations aren’t reviewed, they might supersede the will, resulting in assets going to unintended recipients. In the saddest cases, parents accidentally left out children or left instructions so unclear that siblings argued for years about what their parents really wanted. If instructions are unclear, then family disputes can arise, leading to years of conflict and legal battles.

What I have learned is that the most significant danger in DIY estate planning is not bad intentions. The real danger is false confidence. A person fills out a form and believes everything is taken care of. Unfortunately, the form does not ask the deeper questions. It cannot identify contradictions. It does not understand blended families, strained relationships, tax issues, or the emotional complexity of future planning.

At Opelon LLP, our detailed approach involves asking critical questions that DIY tools often overlook. For instance, we inquire about family dynamics, such as whether there are any estranged members or children from previous marriages. We also explore specific tax implications linked to the client’s unique financial situation. Additionally, we discuss how changes in the client’s life may affect their estate plans to ensure every angle is considered. These are just a few of the crucial questions we believe a form will miss, but a dedicated professional will not.

A document generator can print a will, but it cannot tell you that your life insurance beneficiary might override it. Imagine a scenario where a will specifies that all assets go to the spouse, but the life insurance policy names an ex-partner as the beneficiary. In such cases, the life insurance designation takes precedence, and the ex-partner receives the payout, leaving the spouse without the expected financial support. It can make a trust, but it will not remind you to move your assets into it. It can give you paperwork, but it cannot predict family conflicts.

This change in the industry taught me an important lesson. The real value of an estate planning attorney is not just in the documents, but in their experience-based advice. The ability to listen and the experience to spot problems before they happen. Estate planning is more than filling out forms. It is about protecting people, relationships, and legacies. In essence, it’s about understanding that ‘documents can’t think; people do.’

Now, I see that families are starting to realise this again. Many people who tried DIY planning are returning to professionals because they recognise the risks. This shift suggests broader implications for the estate planning industry as a whole. As individuals experience the limitations of DIY services, there is a renewed respect for the expertise and individualized guidance that legal professionals offer. Consequently, the industry may see increased demand for comprehensive, client-centered estate planning services, reinforcing the critical role of legal counsel in navigating complex family and financial situations. Choosing convenience made sense, but it also showed how important good legal advice really is.

If I had to sum up what this industry change has taught me, it is this: in estate planning, quick fixes often turn into big problems. Unfortunately, these problems often arise when the person who created the plan is no longer available to explain their wishes.

At Opelon LLP, we focus on what really matters. Every family deserves clear answers, peace of mind, and a plan that works when it is needed. That requires more than a template. It takes a real relationship and honest talks about what the client wants for their loved ones.

Matt, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My partner, Owen Rassman, and I started Opelon LLP here in Carlsbad, California because we kept seeing the same problem across San Diego County. Families were trying to navigate some of the most important legal decisions of their lives with documents they did not fully understand, advice that did not fit their situation, or no guidance at all. Estate planning and probate can be emotional, confusing, and overwhelming, and we knew there had to be a better way to support people through those moments.

Both Owen and I came into this work from very different paths, which is part of what makes our partnership so strong. Owen has an LL.M. in Taxation and an MBA, and he has a deep understanding of the financial and tax side of estate planning. He is the person who can unravel a complicated trust, answer every “what happens if…” scenario, and translate it all into something that makes sense. I spent more than a decade building a practice that focused on making estate planning approachable and client-friendly. I saw how intimidating the traditional law firm model could feel, and I wanted to create an experience that was clear, warm, and accessible.

When we eventually decided to merge our individual firms and form Opelon LLP, it felt like a leap, but also like the most natural next step. We shared the same values, the same vision for how clients should be treated, and the same belief that estate planning should give people confidence, not stress.

At Opelon, we focus on estate planning, trust administration, and probate. That includes everything from living trusts and wills to guiding families through probate court when a loved one has passed. What we really provide, though, is clarity and peace of mind. Many clients come to us during major life changes, and our role is to walk them through the legal maze with patience and empathy. We believe strongly in flat fees, transparent expectations, and explaining things in a way that clients actually understand. No rushing. No judgment. No confusing legal jargon.

One of the things that sets us apart is that we really listen. Estate planning is never just about assets. It is about relationships, family history, concerns about the future, and the desire to protect the people you care about most. We take the time to learn what matters to each client so we can build a plan that will hold up in real life, not just on paper.

We are proud of the reputation we have built here in San Diego County. Our clients consistently tell us that they felt heard, respected, and supported. Some came to us after trying DIY estate planning tools that left them more confused, and some came to us during incredibly difficult periods of loss. Being trusted in those moments is something we never take for granted.

What we want people to know about Opelon is simple. We are a boutique estate planning and probate firm that combines depth of expertise with genuine care for the families we serve. We built this practice to offer a more human approach to law, and every day we work hard to live up to that mission.

If someone in San Diego County is looking for an estate planning or probate attorney who will take the time to understand their story and guide them with clarity, compassion, and experience, that is exactly why we are here.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Working with families in Carlsbad and across San Diego County has shown us that a law firm’s reputation comes from more than just marketing. It depends on how clients feel when they leave our office, how well we help them through tough times, and whether they feel heard. For us, our reputation starts with the relationships we build with the people we serve.

When we started Opelon LLP, we promised to treat every family like our own. Estate planning and probate can be personal, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. Many clients come to us during uncertain or difficult times, looking for clarity, stability, and patience. By taking our time, asking good questions, and making sure clients understood each step, we built trust one conversation at a time.

Much of our reputation in Carlsbad comes from the feedback clients share online. Many say they felt relieved after finishing their estate plan or supported during probate. Others mention that we explained things in plain English and made a complex process easier. These reviews mean a lot to us because they show what we work toward every day. They also help new clients feel confident choosing a firm that will take time to understand their family and guide them with care.

We believe our reputation grew because we focused on doing the right work, not on being the biggest firm. We are a small practice with a clear purpose: to bring clarity and peace of mind to families in San Diego County. We designed our approach around personal attention, transparency, and a real interest in each client’s story. Word spread quickly because people noticed the difference between a routine experience and a truly personal one.

Simply put, our reputation comes from being consistent. We are there for our clients, we keep our promises, and we stay easy to reach. We take pride in offering quality work with a personal touch. Our clients have shared their experiences with others through reviews and referrals, and we are grateful for that.

If there is one thing we are especially grateful for, it is that our community in Carlsbad saw our intentions from the start. We are here to help families protect what matters most, and the trust they give us is the most valuable part of our work.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Most of our new clients at Opelon LLP come from referrals by people we have already helped. In estate planning and probate, trust matters most. Clients often face personal issues, and when they feel supported and respected, they share that with those close to them. Many people in Carlsbad and San Diego County come to us because someone they trust said, “You should talk to Opelon. They helped me, and they will take good care of you, too.”

Getting clients through referrals means a lot to us. It shows that our efforts to listen, explain, and guide are valued. Estate planning can be overwhelming, and probate is often emotional. When clients finish the process feeling calm and clear, they often recommend us to others. Having someone trust us enough to refer a friend or family member is one of the best compliments we can get.

We also receive many referrals from other professionals in the community. Financial advisors, accountants, realtors, and other attorneys. We also get many referrals from other professionals in the community. Financial advisors, accountants, realtors, and other attorneys often send clients to us because they trust we will take good care of them. When someone recommends us, we know they are putting their reputation on the line, and we take that seriously. We make sure their clients get the same attention, communication, and care that have always defined our firm. For us, growth means our experience is personal, not transactional. Clients remember how they felt during the process. Professionals remember how smoothly the matter was handled. Those experiences become stories they share with others, and those stories bring new families through our door.

Our success does not come from aggressive ads or complex strategies. It comes from doing good work for real people and treating every client with real care. When you focus on that, referrals usually follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://opelon.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/OpelonLLP
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/opelonllp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/opelon-llp
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/opelonllp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@opelon
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/opelon-llp-a-trust-estate-and-probate-law-firm-carlsbad

Image Credits

Renata Terra Lutz- The Portrait Momma