Meet Carmel

At New Heights Trusts & Estates, I help individuals and families protect what matters most through proactive estate planning. My approach is simple: keep families out of court and out of conflict by creating clear, thoughtful plans that reflect their values and goals.

My path to founding this firm wasn't a straight line, but every chapter of my 20-year career in the legal industry taught me exactly what kind of advocate families need.

The Foundation: 20 Years in the Making

My legal journey started over two decades ago from the ground up. Working as a legal assistant, I learned the operational ins and outs of how the law works in practice. Driven to do more, I put myself through law school at night. During those intense years of study, I found myself deeply drawn to family law, fascinated by the intersection of legal strategy and human emotion.

However, life and opportunity took me on a brief detour. Upon graduating, I stepped into the fast-paced world of telecommunications and technology law, where I spent five years helping expand digital access to underserved communities. While I loved the innovation and the mission, the work felt abstract and distant. I missed the human connection that drew me to the law in the first place.

The Catalyst: Reconnecting with My Purpose

Volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) brought me right back to my roots. Spending years advocating for two foster siblings as they moved into their forever home reminded me of what matters most: showing up for real families in real time.

At the same time, a crisis hit close to home. One of my uncles had taken the time to create an estate plan, but his documents were never properly recorded, shared, or accessible. When the time came, my cousin was left facing heartbreaking confusion, conflict, and court involvement simply because no one had a roadmap to his wishes.

It was a profound realization: A plan can exist on paper and still fail the people it was meant to protect.

The New Heights Approach: A Lifelong Relationship

Seeing that fallout up close is what ultimately anchored me in trusts and estates. It allowed all the pieces of my journey to finally click into place. Today, I combine my 20 years of legal experience and my original passion for family advocacy to serve as a Personal Family Lawyer.

But doing this work means doing it differently. My firm does not operate on the traditional billable hour. I reject the stopwatch method because billing by the minute discourages the very thing a great estate plan requires: open communication. You should never hesitate to call your attorney because you're worried about a surprise bill.

Instead, I work on a flat-fee basis so that I can truly become a partner in your family's life journey. I want to be there for your calls when you need guidance, without a ticking clock getting in the way of our relationship. Together, we will ensure your legacy is organized, protected, and fully understood, giving you true peace of mind and keeping the people you love out of court and out of conflict for generations to come.