Probate court and DMV hearings are among the most stressful legal proceedings individuals can face, often involving high stakes for families and their futures. In Los Angeles, attorney Rodney Gould brings over three decades of courtroom experience to these challenging areas of law, providing clients with a litigator's perspective that goes beyond mere paperwork.
Gould, who leads the Law Office of Rodney Gould in Sherman Oaks, has been practicing law since 1991. His career began as a civil prosecutor for the United States Postal Service, handling mail fraud cases in Washington, D.C. He later served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia with the Department of Justice. Transitioning to private practice, he represented major national companies including Starbucks, MCI, USAA, and Bank of America. This blend of government litigation and corporate defense work informs his current approach to probate and administrative cases.
Probate disputes rarely remain simple. Heirs disagree, wills are challenged, and administration can drag on when documents are unclear or contested. Gould has handled numerous probate cases in Superior Courts across California and has argued appeals in several districts of the California Courts of Appeal. This litigation background is crucial when a probate matter turns contentious, as Gould has stood before a judge defending an estate plan, not just drafted one hoping it holds up. His probate practice covers trust administration, affidavits of heirship, and determination of heirship cases, along with the broader estate planning documents—wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives—that often become the subject of probate disputes when poorly drafted or contested.
Beyond probate court, the firm represents clients at DMV hearings, an area of law that receives little attention but can carry serious consequences for a person's ability to drive, work, or maintain independence. These hearings involve their own procedures and deadlines, and having an attorney who understands how to present a case to a state agency can change the outcome. Gould's litigation experience, built across federal and state courtrooms, directly informs how he prepares clients for these proceedings.
Gould grew up in Michigan and earned his bachelor's degree from Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, before completing his law degree at the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana. He now runs his practice out of Sherman Oaks, serving clients throughout the Los Angeles area. He also stays active in the community, serving on the boards of organizations including AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, his alma mater Eureka College, the National City Christian Church Foundation, the Disciples Seminary Foundation, and Christian Church Homes of Northern California.
For families facing a contested probate case or an unexpected DMV hearing, the stakes are high. Having an attorney who has litigated these exact issues provides a real advantage. Gould's decades in courtrooms across the country back up the guidance he gives clients, ensuring they have a strong advocate when complications arise. For more information, visit the Law Office of Rodney Gould website.
