Dennis Sandoval

Dennis Sandoval is the only attorney in California who has certifications in the three areas of estate planning, elder law and taxation. He received his Certified Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Specialist designation from the California Bar Board of Legal Specialization in 1998. He received his Certified Taxation Law Specialist designation in 2000, also from the California Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Dennis became a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) in 2004, after meeting all the requirements established by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) and the American Bar Association. Dennis has also holds designations as an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP) from the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils and as an Enrolled Agent (EA) from the Internal Revenue Service.

Dennis’ educational degrees include a Master of Tax Law Degree (LL.M.), a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration / Finance.

Before becoming a lawyer, Dennis owned a tax planning / preparation and financial planning firm in Orange, California. During the time he practiced in this area he received his Certified Financial Planner® (CFP) and Registered Financial Consultant® (RFC) designations. Although he no longer practices as a financial planner, the knowledge and experience he gained from serving his tax and financial planning clients is invaluable in assisting his estate planning, elder law and tax clients, as well as working with their financial advisors.

In addition to overseeing his estate planning, elder law and tax law practice in Riverside, Dennis serves as the Director of Education for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA). The AAEPA is a nationwide membership organization of attorneys concentrating their law practices in estate planning.

For many years Dennis served on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Southern California NAELA). He served as its president. He was the 2011 Member of the Year of Southern California NAELA. He also served as the Chairperson for the Estate Planning and Elder Law Section of the Riverside County Bar Association for several years.

Dennis served on the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (NAELA) and chaired many of its Sections and Task Groups. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Elder Law Foundation. Dennis also serves on many boards and advisory committees to professional groups, universities and businesses in the Riverside and San Bernardino area.

Dennis is one of only nine California members of the Special Needs Alliance, a nationwide membership organization of attorneys interested in advancing the care of special needs persons through proper planning. Dennis is active in many special needs and disability organizations,, including ARC, NAMI, TACA, the Autism Society and the Special Olympics.

Dennis is member of the Riverside County Bar Association, the San Bernardino County Bar Association, the Riverside County Estate Planning Council, the San Bernardino County Estate Planning Council, the Inland Empire Planned Giving Roundtable and the Inland Empire Chapter of the California Society of Enrolled Agents.

Dennis’ law firm is also a charter member of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association (LCPLFA). The LCPLFA is a nationwide membership organization of law firms that employ social workers and geriatric care managers as part of a holistic team of professionals to assist frail elders and disabled persons get the highest quality of care. Dennis M. Sandoval, a Professional Law Corporation is the only law firm in Riverside with a social worker on its staff. Dennis served on the Board of Directors of LCPLFA and was its Vice President in 2011.

Prior to being accepted as a member of the Special Needs Alliance, Dennis was a charter member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, a nationwide association of lawyers who specialize in planning for the legal needs of special needs persons.

Dennis is an adjunct professor at Chapman University College of Law, where he teaches various classes for its Master of Tax Law (LL.M.) program. He previously taught at other law schools and at the University of California at Riverside Extension.

Dennis grew up in Riverside, where he attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help grade school and Notre Dame High School. He, his wife and three daughters are providing care for his elderly father in his home in Riverside.

In high school and college, Dennis was active in many sports, lettering in football and wrestling. His current hobbies include building and maintaining marine aquariums, building model ships, scrimshaw, and photography. Prior to becoming paralyzed, he was an assistant scuba diving instructor for a dive shop in Orange. He lives in Norco, California with his wife and three girls, along with their menagerie of pets.