×
Go back to Martindale-Avvo ➔
Lani Meanley Collins
Pro

Lani Meanley Collins

4.1
8 reviews

213 West Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3706

Trusts and Estates, Wills, Probate and 5 more

About Lani Meanley Collins

Phi Beta Kappa. Member, Moot Court Board. Director, 1987-1993, Vice-President, 1989 and President, 1990-1992, The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. Director, 1983-1985 and Treasurer, 1984-1985, Barristers Club of Santa Barbara. Instructor: Employment Law, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1995; Laws for Nonprofit Finance and Fundraising, University of California at Santa Barbara, 2001. Speaker, Estate Planning and Administration: Annual Recent Developments, Continuing Education of the Bar, 2000-2003. Director, 1973-2000 and President, 1997-1999, Santa Barbara Historical Society. Director and President, The Howard Carden School, 2000-2002. Executive Board, 2009-2011, President's Cabinet 2012-, District Commissioner and 2011-, Los Padres Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc.

 

Lani Meanley Collins (Santa Barbara, California) View website

Awards

Client Reviewed
This badge is granted to attorneys who have been reviewed by a past client.
Champion Badge Reviewed
Distinguished Peer Rated
This award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 3.0 to 4.4.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer BV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Lani Meanley Collins got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for Lani Meanley

Have you consulted or hired this lawyer?

Leave a review about your experience with this lawyer.

Write a Review

Overall Rating
4.1
See All Reviews
8
1.3
Lawyers.com
1
4.2
Martindale
6
5.0
Avvo
1
Showing 1-1 of 1 client reviews from Lawyers.com
Lawyers.com Rating Snapshot
5 stars
0%
4 stars
0%
3 stars
0%
2 stars
0%
1 star
100%
What do people say on Lawyers.com?
Communication
1.0
Quality of Service
2.0
Responsiveness
1.0
Value for Money
1.0
Wills and Probate
Posted by anonymous
July 25, 2025
Hired Attorney

My father hired Lani for estate planning purposes to create two trusts to avoid probate. Her services spanned almost 2 years! my father passed away suddenly and due to Lani’s slow work ethic, need to over complicate things, and plenty of vacation days, the estate planning was left unfinished and probate was required. avoid.

From the Martindale-Avvo Legal Network

Services

Areas of Law

  • Trusts and Estates
  • Business Law
  • Contracts
  • Other 5
    • Wills
    • Probate
    • Trust Administration
    • Nonprofit and Tax Exempt Organizations
    • Business Formations

Practice Details

  • Payment Information
    Payment & Cost Features
    Fixed hourly rates
    Fixed fees available
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Partner
    Firm Name
    Collins & Associates
    Firm Onwership
    Minority Owned

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1981, California
    Memberships
    Santa Barbara County and American Bar Associations
    State Bar of California (Member: Nonprofit Organizations Committee, Business Law Section
    Exempt Organizations Committee, Tax Section
    Estate Planning Section
    Delegate, Conference of Delegates, 1986 and 1988
    Member, 2002-, Vice-Chair, Website, 2006-2008, Chair, 2008 -2011 and Adviser, 2010-, Nonprofit Organizations Committee of the Business Law Section)
    Santa Barbara Women Lawyers
    California Women Lawyers
    Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council (Secretary, 2010
    Vice-President/Programs, 2011
    President, 2012)
    Santa Barbara Planned Giving Round Table
    National Committee on Planned Giving.
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Cornell University
    Class of 1981
    J.D.
    Other Education
    University of California at Santa Barbara
    Class of 1977
    B.A.
    with highest honors
    Legal Certifications
    Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Contact Lani Meanley Collins

Partner at Collins & Associates
4.1
8 reviews

213 West Canon Perdido StreetSanta Barbara, CA 93101-3706U.S.A.

Show on map
Office Hours:
  • Monday 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Tuesday 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Wednesday 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Thursday 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Friday 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Saturday By appointment

Email Lani Meanley Collins

Case type is required.
A valid zip code is required.
A valid city is required.
State is required.
Country is required.
Outside the US or Canada?
Message is required.
0/1000 characters

Contact Information

First name is required.
Last name is required.
A valid email address is required.
A valid phone number is required.

By clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Lawyers.com and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

Thank you! Your message has been successfully sent.

For your records, a copy of this email has been sent to

Summary of Your Message
Case Type:
Zip Code or Postal Code:
City:
State:
Country:
Case Description:
Contact Information
First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Phone Number:
Return to Profile

Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    Lani Meanley Collins was admitted in 1981 to the State of California.
  • What is this attorney's primary practice area?
    The practice area Lani Meanley Collins spends the most time on is Trust Administration.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Lani Meanley Collins attended Cornell University.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Collins & Associates was established in 1994.
  • Is the law firm that this attorney is affiliated with minority owned?
    Yes, the firm Lani Meanley Collins is affiliated with is a minority owned business.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

These FAQs include information about a lawyer's background, but do not evaluate their knowledge of the law, past performance on individual cases, personality, or communication skills.

It is solely the responsibility of lawyers and law firms to ensure that any information they provide complies with all applicable laws and rules of professional conduct.

You should be aware that the information we rely upon may not be comprehensive, or frequently updated.

Always research the lawyer further to get a better understanding of their license credentials, disciplinary status, background, and experience.

Lawyers.com Client Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.

The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.

Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page

Martindale Peer Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.

What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*

• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.

Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.

For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™, please visit our Ratings Page on Martindale.com and our Frequently Asked Questions

Avvo Client Reviews

Ratings and reviews are feedback from people who have either consulted an attorney about an issue (but may not have hired the attorney) or people who hired an attorney as a current or former client and provided their feedback to our sister site, Avvo.com.