Rachel A. Dodson
Top rated Estate Planning & Probate attorney in Oakland, California
Ayoub & Dodson LLP
Practice areas: Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in California since: 2012
Education: University of Washington School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2015 - 2024 Details
A board-certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law, attorney Rachel A. Dodson represents a broad range of clientele from the Oakland-based law firm of Ayoub & Dodson LLP. She has practiced solely in the field of estate planning and probate since 2013.
Rachel is a professor of Wills & Trusts at UCLaw SF (formerly Hastings). She earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. She also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington, and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Rachel is an active member of the East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, and served as its president in 2024.
Practice areas
Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Wills
- 100% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 2012, California
Professional Webpage: https://ayoubdodson.com/about-estate-planning-lawyers-oaklan...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member, East Bay Tax Club (2017-2021), 2017
- Adjunct professor teaching Wills & Trusts at UCLaw SF (formerly Hastings) (2024-present), 2024
- Board Member, East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, President, 2024
- Board Member, East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, Vice President, 2023
- Board Member, East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, Chair of Estate Planning and Administration Committee, 2022
- Member, State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section (2015-present), 2013
- Board Member, East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, Vice Chair of Estate Planning and Administration Committee, 2021
- Member, East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers (2014-present), 2014
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Settled dispute regarding division of assets outside of probate proceedings, 2023
- Settled dispute among beneficiaries regarding distribution of trust, 2026
- Settled trust dispute involving seven trusts with eight beneficiaries, valued at approximately $14.5M, 2023
- Settled dispute regarding distribution of artwork from estate, 2022
Representative Clients
- Case involving three probates, one trust petition, and one trust administration, all for the same family and real properties owned by various family members, 2024
- Estate planning for client who may or may not have a taxable estate, to allow his girlfriend to remain in their home and to avoid estate taxes by use of a CRUT, with a toggle option for the trustee to only fund the CRUT if needed, 2026
- Estate planning for married couple with two residences, to allow daughter with special needs and caregiver son to remain in one residence after the couples' deaths, 2026
- Incapacity administration to add clients as trustees and agents to accounts. 15800 notices., 2024
- Trust administration where decedent owned property in Italy and US, with gifts to many parties. Use of abatement rules., 2024
- Estate planning for elderly parent adding child as co-trustee, 2024
- Estate planning for unmarried person with girlfriend, many family members, and planning for dog, 2024
- Estate planning for parent whose adult children are not financially responsible, 2024
- Estate planning for three person relationship, with two married partners and one unmarried partner, involving several pieces of real property, 2021
- Trust administration on death of first spouse, involving 8 pieces of real property (some fractional ownership), 2022
- Ancillary probate for real property held in California, 2023
- Probate involving assignments of interest, 2023
- Trust administration requiring declination to serve and appointment of successor trustee, 2022
- Trust administration requiring Heggstad petition, 2022
- Estate planning for individual with non taxable estate who holds power of appointment over trust set up by parents, 2022
- Estate planning for married couple with non-taxable estate, 2023
Special Licenses / Certifications
- California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law
Pro bono / Community Service
- VLSC Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP), volunteer (2018 - 2024), 2023
Educational Background
- Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, M.P.A., 2012
- University of Pennsylvania, B.A. in History, cum laude, 2006
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Editor of the Washington Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, University of Washington School of Law
- Estate planning 101, with focus on options for giving to charity, panel speaker, Estate Planning and Planned Giving, 2026
- Talk to residents at Piedmont Gardens regarding estate planning, including documents that make up an estate plan, when to review an estate plan, what to do if you don't have an estate plan, and documents you can and cannot prepare yourself, speaker, Let's Talk About Estate Planning, 2026
- Speaking for client of financial advisor on why you should have an estate plan, speaker, Why you need an estate plan, 2023
- Co-Author of Chapter 31: Account, Report, and Petition for Final Distribution, co-author, CEB Decedent's Estate Practice, Estate Planning And Administration, 2024
- Talk to Edward Jones clients regarding estate planning, updates to estate plan, and funding the trust, speaker, Estate Planning Updates, 2022
- Talk to Bright Spot members regarding: What is an estate plan What you can do on your own What you should not do on your own What happens if you do not have an estate plan, speaker, Estate Planning Basics, 2021
- Talk regarding charitable giving, how to talk to client, and estate planning options, speaker, Silicon Valley Community Foundation - charitable giving, 2021
- Author of CEB Practitioner, "Advance Health Care Directive - Statutory Form", Author, CEB Practitioner, "Nomination of Guardian", 2022
- Author of CEB Practitioner, "Assignment to Trust", Author, CEB Practitioner, "Assignment to Trust", 2022
- Author of CEB Practitioner, "Advance Health Care Directive - Statutory Form", Author, CEB Practitioner, "Advance Health Care Directive - Statutory Form", Estate Planning, 2022
- Co-Author of Chapter 31: Account, Report, and Petition for Final Distribution, co-author, CEB Decedent Estate Practice, Decedent Estate Administration, 2023
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Quoted in SF Chronicle as expert on Prop 19 planning, 2023
- Quoted in the Wall Street Journal regarding passing California real estate to beneficiaries at death, 2026
Honors
- Northern California’s “Rising Stars”, 2015 - Present
- Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services, pro bono, 2015
- Chair of the Art in the University of Washington School of Law committee
Selections
2 Years Super Lawyers
10 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2015 - 2024
