When families face a probate dispute or an unexpected DMV hearing, the stakes can be high, affecting their finances, daily life, and independence. In Los Angeles, attorney Rodney Gould brings over three decades of courtroom experience to these challenging legal matters, distinguishing himself from attorneys who handle such cases primarily from behind a desk.
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., and later serving as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia with the Department of Justice. He then transitioned to private practice, representing major national companies including Starbucks, MCI, USAA, and Bank of America. This unique combination of government litigation and corporate defense work shapes his approach to probate and administrative cases today.
Probate disputes rarely remain simple. Heirs disagree, wills are challenged, and administration drags 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 matters when a probate matter turns contentious, as Gould has stood before a judge defending an estate plan, not just drafted one and hoped it holds up. His probate work encompasses trust administration, affidavits of heirship, and determination of heirship cases, along with broader estate planning documents, including wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, which often become the subject of probate disputes when poorly drafted or contested.
Outside of probate court, the firm also represents clients at DMV hearings, an area of law that gets 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.
A contested probate case or an unexpected DMV hearing can upend a family's finances and daily life fast. Having an attorney who has litigated these exact issues, rather than one who only handles the paperwork side, gives families a real advocate when things get complicated. Gould's decades in courtrooms across the country back up the guidance he gives clients facing these situations. For families in Los Angeles dealing with a probate dispute, a DMV hearing, or related estate planning and elder law matters, the Law Office of Rodney Gould offers a free consultation to talk through the details of a case.
