Ambrecht & Martinez LLP

Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP is a boutique estate planning law firm in Santa Barbara, California, serving individuals, families, business owners, and trustees throughout Santa Barbara County, the Central Coast, and California. The firm provides estate planning, trust administration, estate and gift tax planning, business succession planning, asset protection, charitable planning, and family governance counsel.

Founded by attorneys John W. Ambrecht and Leticia “Leti” Martinez, the firm helps clients organize complex estates, provide for loved ones, and prepare family wealth and businesses for the next generation. Its approach combines thoughtful legal structures with an understanding of the relationships, responsibilities, and values behind each plan.

Professional Recognition

Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP was recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®. Managing Partner Leticia Martinez was selected by the Daily Journal for its Top Estate & Wealth Management Lawyers 2026 special report, which recognized 45 California attorneys. Her professional honors also include the Pacific Coast Business Times’ Top Women in Business and 40 Under 40 programs.

John W. Ambrecht has been recognized by Best Lawyers® for Tax Law since 2006 and was selected to Super Lawyers from 2007 through 2024. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.

Education and Experience

Leticia Martinez earned her Bachelor of Arts with high honors from the University of California, Davis, and her Juris Doctor from UC Hastings College of the Law, now the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. During law school, she served as Managing Editor of the Hastings Law Journal. Her practice focuses on sophisticated estate planning, trust administration, business succession, family governance, and multigenerational wealth preservation.

John W. Ambrecht earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating from his MBA program with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. He earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School and his Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University. He brings more than five decades of experience in estate planning, taxation, and family business succession.

Estate Planning and Trust Administration Services

The firm prepares and updates wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Its attorneys advise on estate and gift tax strategies, multigenerational wealth transfers, substantial real estate holdings, charitable goals, and the coordination of estate plans with business ownership.

For trustees and families navigating trust administration after a death, Ambrecht & Martinez provides guidance on fiduciary responsibilities, beneficiary communications, asset distributions, and coordination of tax matters. Business owners receive succession planning counsel designed to support leadership transitions, ownership continuity, and long-term family objectives.

The firm collaborates with clients’ accountants, financial advisors, and other professional advisors to align legal planning with broader financial and personal priorities. Clients receive individualized attention, clear communication, and counsel grounded in judgment, foresight, and stewardship.

Located at 1828 State Street in Santa Barbara, Ambrecht & Martinez helps clients create lasting structure for their wealth, their families, and their legacies.