Richard Hobin, J.D.

In my biography, I want to share my background, academic credentials and professional legal experiences for the past 30 years. I have been providing legal services to Contra Costa County since 1977. Our office would like to provide your legal services.

Background I was born in Oregon and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, California. I attended Oregon State University and participated in the Naval Officer Training Program. I am a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. I graduated with high scholarship and completed the University Honors Program. I spent my sophomore year studying in London and Paris. I then spent the summer traveling by train throughout Europe. This was an incredible time spent with amazing people. I graduated from Oregon State University and received my commission as an officer in the United States Navy. I served in Vietnam. I feel strongly that if you criticize the government, you have an obligation to participate in the governmental process to make the changes you feel necessary.

After completing military service, I attended University of California, Hastings College of the Law graduating in 1977. I was licensed to practice in 1977.

My community services have included serving as president/member of both the local Kiwanis International and Rotary Clubs. I have coached your baseball, basketball and golf teams. I am an Eagle Scout and served as the local District Chair-person for Boy Scouts. I served as president/member of the Holy Rosary School Board; Delta Memorial Hospital Foundation; Annual De La Salle Golf Committee; USF Golf Committee; and president of United Lutheran Ministries and St. Andrews Lutheran Church.

Professional Legal Experience:

I began my practice working in the areas of real estate, personal injury, estate planning, business law, family law, criminal defense and civil litigation.

I worked with another attorney to operate California Trust Deed Services, Inc. The company processed foreclosures from approximately 1980 to 1985. During the foreclosure crisis of 2006 -2010, I provided legal services to both consumers and foreclosure investors. My office currently provides property management and eviction services for commercial, apartment and residential property owners. Anyone can fall on hard times. In providing eviction services, most cases are resolved by recognition of the financial difficulties and confirming arrangements for relocation.

I have handled an assortment of legal issues relating to real property throughout Contra Costa County. I have dealt with navigable water rights created prior to California statehood in 1850 to the recent sale and management of marinas on the Delta. I have made presentations to the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors regarding use land. I have litigated easement disputes between property owners and related land use issues. I handle all types of real estate disputes.

I worked criminal cases for approximately 15 years. My last criminal trial was a vehicular murder case representing the driver of a large semi truck and trailer that collided with a passenger car killing the driver. I also represented a young woman charged with the murder of her violent, abusive boyfriend. I limited my criminal practice when drug-related crimes took center stage. I still handle a limited number of misdemeanor crimes and drunk driving cases. I recently was able to negotiate a drunk driving to a “dry reckless” charge substantially reducing the client’s penalties.

I enjoy helping people in crisis resolve issues. This process occurs in every type of legal issue. I worked family case for approximately 15 years. Unfortunately, the court is ill equipped to handle and provide guidance to ensure that the children are protected from the break-up of the marriage. The division of the parties’ assets, debts and support issues are relatively easy legal issues to resolve; however, the impact on the children can be devastating. I still assist client’s without children and work through the separation of their assets and debts, but I no longer handle child custody cases. We need to create a new system or process to help and encapsulate the children from the break-up process. Raising and caring for children takes a “village.”

Personal injury cases have provided another opportunity to help people in crisis. I have worked personal injury cases for over 35 years. From approximately 1998 to 2008, I worked exclusively asbestos-related cases (i.e, mesothelioma and lung cancer). The practiced accepted cases all over the western states, but primarily California cases filed in Alameda County, California. Dealing with folks suffering from this fatal disease was intense, but the relationship with the victims and their families has been one of the highlights of my practice. After a few visits with the victim and his/her family, you became part of the family. You spent hours listening to the family stories and helping to gather the family history. The victim’s death was difficult, but the warm memories of the families’ legacy carries on. The firm has handled pedestrian/auto deaths, vehicle fatalities and life-changing injury cases, gunshot cases, major trip and fals resulting in serious injuries to seniors, savage dog bit cases to a child, etc. I have recently handled a variety of financial elder abuse cases.

Business formation, management and sales have been a steady part of our legal practice. We counsel people going in and coming out of business relationships. The most important aspect of a new business relationship is making sure that everybody has realistic expectations and understands the types of risk they will confront. New businesses generally need the protection of either a corporation or limited liability company. Nevertheless, a new business will usually have to sign a personal guarantee,for leases and major vendor accounts. When you sign the personal guarantee the corporate protections are minimized.

Estate planning and related litigation is an important focus of our firm. My son Taylor Hobin with whom I work closely at his firm, Taylor Hobin Law Office, is concentrating his practice in the area of estate planning, tax law, and related matters. Contra Costa County needs legal tax experts to help clients maneuver federal and state tax issues for their business and personal transactions. Trusts are a large part of estate planning and administration. Resolving administration issues informally and/or in a Probate Court is an important part of our practice. We have successfully resolved elder abuse related claims, fraud claims, and trust and will contest issues. A big part of estate planning is drafting the right trust documents for your needs. I have been preparing estate documents and handling probate administration for 35 years.

Hobin & Hobin LLP is a great law firm to contact to discuss your legal questions. The firm has handled a wide variety of legal matters and that expertise gives us a unique perspective to help our clients.