Dara Joy Goldsmith
Dara J. Goldsmith was born and raised in Southern California. She enrolled at California State University Northridge at the age of 16, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1987. While at Northridge, Dara was active in a wide range of campus and community activities and was selected the University’s 25th Homecoming Queen.
After graduating from Northridge, Dara attended Pepperdine University School of Law, where she earned a Juris Doctor in 1990, followed by a Masters of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.) from the University of Miami (1991 curriculum/1994 thesis).
After completing her coursework at the University of Miami, Dara moved to Las Vegas, where she passed the Nevada Bar Exam and began her legal career. Dara joined forces with Marjorie Guymon to establish Goldsmith & Guymon in 1996. Dara is also licensed in California, Arizona, and Hawaii.
Dara has been involved in many professional and philanthropic organizations throughout her career, including serving on the Nevada State Bar Board of Governors, as President of the Clark County Bar Association, and as Chairperson of the Nevada Community Foundation and of the Nevada Law Foundation/Justice League.
In addition to being recognized as a Nevada Super Lawyer, a Mountain States Super Lawyer, and one of the Top 50 Women Mountain States Super Lawyers, Dara has received numerous awards, including the Nevada Legal Services Pro Bono Guardianship Attorney of the Year, the Presidential Award and the Medal of Justice from the State Bar of Nevada, and the Lloyd D. George Award of Professionalism from the Clark County Bar Association and State Bar of Nevada.
Dara holds an AV Preeminent rating, the highest rating possible as voted by her peers, and recognized through Martindale Hubbell.
Dara is an accomplished swimmer and triathlete and can often be found in a pool, ocean, lake, or river. A competitive swimmer on Las Vegas Masters Swim Team, Dara competes in pool and open water meets throughout the country.
- Business Law
- Estate Planning
- Tax Law
- Elder Law
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
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Free Consultation
Free 30 minute probate consultations. Most other initial consultations range between $100-300. - Credit Cards Accepted
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Contingent Fees
Only in probate matters in accordance with Nevada law. -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees range from $225-$525 per hour for attorneys in the firm. My rates range from $475-$525 per hour.
- Arizona
- State Bar of Arizona
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- California
- ID Number: 153754
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- Hawaii
- Hawaii State Bar Association
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- Nevada
- State Bar of Nevada
- ID Number: 4270
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- Spanish: Spoken, Written
- University of Miami School of Law
- LL.M. (1994) | Taxation
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- Pepperdine University School of Law
- J.D. (1990)
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- California State University - Northridge
- Undergraduate Degree (1987) | Economics with an Emphasis in Finance
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- Activities: Alpha Phi Fraternity, Panhellenic Council- Vice President
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- Guardianship Attorney of the Year
- Nevada Legal Services
- Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
- Legal Aid Cetner of Southern Nevada
- President's Award
- State Bar of Nevada
- Lloyd D. George Professionalism Award
- State Bar of Nevada
- Philanthropy
- Nevada Women of Distinction
- National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
- Member
- Current
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- Southern Nevada Estate Planning Counsel
- Member
- Current
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- California State Bar # 153754
- Member
- - Current
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- State Bar of Nevada
- Member
- - Current
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- State Bar of Nevada
- Board of Governors
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- Clark County Bar Association
- Board of Directors
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- Activities: Chairperson, 2000
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- Q. How can I find out if Medicaid Estate Recovery will file a claim on family estate?
- A: Before filing you could call MERS and inquire if either your grandmother or mother owe MERS money. You would need to then file 2 Petitions for Set Aside, assuming MERS is not owed money or you are going to pay MERS to the property. MERS needs to be noticed in both your grandmother's and your mother's estates of the Petitions to Set Aside. MERS will file an objection if it is owed money for either your grandmother or mother.
- Q. Can I write my own will in Nv ? I have beneficiaries on financial accounts bought townhouse 3 yrs ago and have car paid
- A: You would benefit from speaking with an attorney about Will substitutes that avoid probate. There are a few options you may want to consider. Also if you decide a Will is right for you, there are a number of benefits of having an attorney prepare it, including have powers of attorney and a living Will prepared as well.
- Q. I have a check that says "pay to the order of (my father, deceased, c/o (sister)". I am the executor of his will.
- A: Do you have a court order appointing you executor and Letters testamentary? If so, present those two court filed pleadings and the bank should allow you to open the estate account, not trust. If not, you may need to open a probate estate through the courts. I encourage you to speak with a Nevada estate attorney, if you do not possess a court order or Letters to determine the next steps. Best of luck to you.
