DESERT ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL, INC.

Lisa Hughes
As founding partner, Lisa Hughes' place is at the helm of the Hughes & Hughes family law practice. As both a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Certified Public Accountant for nearly 30 years, Mrs. Hughes excels in all areas of family law and is well-versed in the complex legal and financial issues facing today's families. As a trial lawyer, she has few equals in addressing financial issues.  Named a "Super Lawyer" for many years, she has gained the respect of her peers as well as her clients.

Mrs. Hughes is driven by something many attorneys in the practice of family law lose: a passion to help others. Born into poverty, and then suffering abandonment, abuse, and neglect, she became determined at a young age to improve her life and the lives of others. Her drive to turn potentially bleak futures bright makes her stand out among others in the legal profession, and brings a warmth that is unmatched to the Hughes & Hughes practice.

As a graduate with honors from Western State University College of Law, and armed with a Master in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, Mrs. Hughes sat on the board of directors of several community and political organizations, most notably the Juvenile Justice Commission, Orangewood Children's Foundation.  She is a former member of Drug Use is Life Abuse-Project No Gangs. When Orange County faced bankruptcy, Mrs. Hughes served as a member of the Citizen's Public Finance Advisory Committee and helped bring the county back from financial disaster.

She is a member of the California State Bar Association as well as a Certified Family Law Specialist in the state of California. Additionally, Mrs. Hughes is a member of the Orange County Bar Association Family Law Section, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Mrs. Hughes is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Tax Court.  She has served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Orange County Superior Court.

Her dedication has resulted in many awards, including "Woman of the Year" from the State of California, Senate Resolution in 1994, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orange County chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

A proud wife, mother of four, and grandparent, Mrs. Hughes is inspired by her faith, family, and a myriad of barking, neighing, and squawking critters.

Bruce A. Hughes
Bruce A. Hughes limits his practice area to family law. Bruce has also been a certified public accountant since 1973.  Between 1973 and 1979 Bruce was vice president of an international subsidiary of ITT. From 1979 until 1994 he was one of the foremost forensic accountants in family law in Orange County and has testified over 2,000 times in family law matters. His expertise is in property and accounting issues, and he is involved in all complex property, high profile and high net worth cases in the office.

Bruce received his BS in Accounting from California State University at Long Beach, his MBA from UCLA, and his J.D. from Argosy Western State University in 1993. He is a member of the AICPA, the CSCPA, the ABA, and the Riverside County Bar Association and the Desert Bar Association. He has served on both the Orange County Internal Audit Oversight Committee and on various community boards in the past, including as vice chairman of the Harbors, Parks, and Beaches Oversight Committee for the County of Orange; one of five committee members of the Orange County Treasurer's Oversight Committee, which restructured the Treasurer's office after the Orange County Bankruptcy; and a member of the Orange County Treasurer's advisory board as well as various other non profit boards. Bruce is a former member of the Orange County Lincoln Club and the New Majority.

Bruce is the managing attorney of the office. He supervises the attorneys, guides them, educates them, assists them with any issues or questions they may have, and becomes active in their cases as necessary. Combining years of experience and a knack for gentle persuasion, he prides himself on his ability to settle cases and avoid expensive court litigation. Even his most ardent adversaries will agree that Bruce looks for common ground with which all parties may be comfortable.

Bruce likes to read. He actively enjoys tennis and enjoyed sailing his 52 foot sailboat, the "Me 'n Sweetie". He enjoys gardening, cooking and books. Bruce served in the Fourth Infantry Division, serving in a mortar platoon in Viet Nam between 1967 and 1968.  Bruce was given the honor of being promoted to Sergeant in his two years of service, based on his outstanding leadership abilities.

Bruce is a father of four and grandfather to four. He shares his wife's love of animals; if it barks, neighs, or squawks, it is Bruce's friend.

Bruce decided to become an attorney to compliment his wife, Lisa, who was becoming a C.P.A. Bruce not only passed both the C.P.A. exam and the Bar in one sitting, but received the recognition of "National Honorable Mention" for writing one of the top 45 papers out of 45,000 papers written in the United States, for his C.P.A. examination.

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