H. Christopher Heritage, Esq.
Chris is the Founder and Principal of Heritage Legal, PC, with offices in Palm Springs. Heritage Legal, PC offers legal services in the general areas of Estate Planning (Wills and Trusts), Trust Administration, Trustee and Executor services, Probate, and Family Law. Chris has focused an important part of his practice on the unique estate and relationship planning needs of the LGBT community and other non-traditional families. Chris earned his B.A. in Russian Area Studies from the University of Maryland, and his Juris Doctorate from The American University, Washington College of Law, in Washington, D.C.
Chris is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States; California Supreme Court; and all Federal Courts in California. Chris is also a member of the Family Law and Trust & Estates Sections of the California State Bar.
Chris is a frequent contributor of feature articles for publication and is oftentimes asked to speak on various legal topics. Chris is actively involved in local and national issues, and contributes his time and resources to supporting the community.
Randall S. Ahrens, Practice Manager
Rand was a global and domestic Fortune 100 executive with a track record for leading new, strategic ventures and multimillion-dollar enterprises. He has consistently built and managed deft and efficient teams who have confronted some of the most vexing challenges, from strategy, marketing, business development and business optimization to governance, finance, restructuring and re-direction. A resident of the Coachella Valley since 2006, his present-day interest shifted to local opportunities and he has now turned his attention to the legal profession. Rand is responsible for practice growth, innovation, overall management, and customer satisfaction.
Tara Hazher, Paralegal
Tara lives in Joshua Tree near the entrance to the National Park with her daughter who will soon graduate from college. In 1992 she moved to California from Long Island, New York. She first worked in the desert as a legal assistant and then
obtained her paralegal certificate in 2007. Tara’s extensive work experience in legal support services covers various areas of the law such as Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Probate, Family Law and Real
Estate. Tara has been a Commissioned Notary Public since 2005. She is a nature lover, an animal lover, and a voracious reader. She loves to spend her free time volunteering, hiking in the Joshua Tree National Park, and playing with her pup.
Lesley Renner, Trust Administrator
Lesley’s broad-based experience in senior-level administrative support, operations management and human resources have proven essential in the legal field, where she has over six years of experience assisting attorneys in estate planning. A native of Canada, Lesley holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta. She spent two years teaching English in Osaka, Japan before moving to the United States. She has lived in the Coachella Valley since 2006. In her free time, Lesley and her husband foster homeless animals. They share a home with their two whippets, Violet and Kylie, and a tortoiseshell cat named Clementine.
Pat Baughman, Legal Assistant
After growing up in the Chicago area and living in Minneapolis for 25 years, Pat and her husband decided they had lived long enough in the cold and snowy weather. It was time to move. After visiting the Coachella Valley over the last 30 years, they decided to make Palm Springs their full-time residence.
Pat’s legal career began in 1989 when she worked as a Judge’s Clerk. After working in the Court system for over 5 years, Pat joined various law firms where she worked as a Legal Assistant in corporate, business
litigation, employment law, real estate and tax. Pat joined Heritage Legal in August 2016, where she helps manage estate planning matters, and trust administrations.
Pat has two grown children living in the Bay Area, and loves tennis, biking and hiking in her spare time.
Kathleen Huffman, Administrative Assistant
Kathleen boasts more than two decades of expertise in regional marketing management within the dynamic hospitality sector. During her journey in the that market, she traveled regionally, spearheading the development and execution of highly effective marketing programs customized for each distinct market location. Her strategic acumen and dedication to quality consistently delivered impressive results, pushing monthly revenue of each location into the multi-million-dollar range. Transitioning from the corporate realm, Kathleen embarked on an entrepreneurial path, nurturing her own business from inception to a thriving enterprise, culminating in a successful sale. Residing in Palm Desert since 2000, she finds joy in exploring scenic trails, indulging in tennis matches, attending concerts, and devoting time to volunteering alongside her beloved AKC Certified Therapy dogs, Hanna & Sir Paulie.
Tassos, Director of Public Relations
Tassos is Director of Public Relations at Heritage Legal, PC. He has been with the firm since early puppyhood, and is an experienced meeter and greeter who understands the importance of the legal services we provide to our clients. Tassos brings smiles of joy to the faces of everyone he meets.