C. Kipp Wordell graduated from U.S.F. Law School in 1996.  That same year he began his career as a litigator at a firm in Palo Alto.  During his first year as an attorney, he successfully argued a client’s case through to the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Court.  The case became legal precedent and was ordered published. Soon thereafter, he was involved in a case sent to the United States Supreme Court.  He was an integral part of researching for and preparing the brief submitted to the Court.  After litigating numerous cases during his first two years, Kipp learned that many of his clients were subjected to frivolous lawsuits designed to harass or intimidate them.  It was both expensive and time consuming for these clients, and their assets were exposed to possible judgment.  This led Kipp to get involved with asset protection techniques and strategies designed to thwart his clients’ exposure to liability.  After becoming involved in this area of law, it became apparent that such techniques worked hand in hand with estate planning, and this led Kipp to move into that direction. 

In 1999, Kipp and his family moved to the Sierra Foothills where he opened his own estate planning practice. He is experienced in advanced as well as basic estate planning strategies designed to protect clients’ assets, reduce their exposure to unnecessary taxes, avoid probate, and prevent them from being subject to a conservatorship.  These techniques include the use of various types of business entities, irrevocable trusts, family foundations and/or a combination of these.  When using these techniques, however, Kipp is always mindful of the clients’ goals and desires.  In order to accomplish this, Kipp regularly communicates with his clients and each of their professional advisors.  Kipp believes that a team approach is the only way to ensure that his clients’ goals are met.

Kipp is a member of the Sacramento, Placer, and Nevada County Bar Associations.  He is the director of the Nevada County Bar’s mandatory continuing legal education classes, and is on the board of the Nevada County Lawyer Referral Service.  He is a frequent speaker on estate planning and asset protection.  Kipp is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and Wealth Counsel.  Both of these organizations include members throughout the United States and other countries as well.  They provide a community atmosphere for attorneys to share relevant information, which includes new estate planning and asset protection techniques and laws.  Kipp donates much of his time to non profit groups geared towards the elderly, long-term care and education.  Many of these groups have invited him to speak at their seminars.   Kipp has also been active in state politics involving financial abuse towards the elderly.  In 2002 and 2003, he was invited by Senators Jackie Speier and Jack Scott to testify at two state senate hearings in support of Senate Bill 620, which was drafted as an effort to curb abusive sales of financial products to the elderly.  These hearings led to the passage of the bill, and it has made an impact in protecting the elderly. 

Kipp is also on the Board of the Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a member of Roots and Wings, which is a local nonprofit designed to raise funds for our public schools.