Welcome to our trust and estate litigation blog. Inheritance disputes are on the rise nationally as the baby boomers age and wealth passes from one generation to the next. This is high-stress litigation, often pitting sibling against sibling or second spouse against step-children.
We cover hot-button issues in California trust litigation and probate litigation, ranging from the flash points that we see in our cases to recent developments in the field. We discuss trust contests, will contests, and administration disputes. We explore issues of mental capacity, undue influence, fiduciary duty, and financial elder abuse. We follow how California courts grapple with dementia attributed to Alzheimer’s disease, which is becoming more prevalent in our population. We comment on local court practices, including procedures in Department 129 (the probate unit) of Sacramento County Superior Court. We hope that our blog will be of interest to estate planning professionals and to family members immersed in trust and estate disputes. We invite you to follow our blog and to get to know us through our posts.
Blog Editor
Blog Contributors
 Tyson E. HubbardEmailTyson Hubbard is a partner at Downey Brand focusing on trust and estate litigation. He represents institutional and individual clients. For example, he represented University of the Pacific in a dispute in San Joaquin Superior Court involving John Muir’s papers. Tyson, who grew up on a farm, enjoys helping family members navigate their fiduciary roles as trustees, which is usually an unfamiliar role and often a challenging one. He also advocates for family members who seek to obtain their fair shares as beneficiaries. Tyson works with clients to develop a strategy, and then he stays in close contact with them as he pursues it zealously. (Read more…) View all blog posts |  Christopher Miles KolkeyEmailChristopher Kolkey, a partner at Downey Brand LLP, litigates trust and estate cases. Chris grew up in Granite Bay. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from UCLA and then worked at a Los Angeles law firm for four years before joining Downey Brand. (Read more…) View all blog posts |
 Dani NafekhEmailDani Nafekh, an associate at Downey Brand LLP, assists clients with a variety of matters, including estate planning, trust administration, probate, and corporate and real estate transactions. (Read more…) View all blog posts |  Hannah A. ShakinEmailHannah is a senior associate in Downey Brand LLP’s wealth transfer practice group and is certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law. Her practice concentrates on creating and developing highly tailored and comprehensive estate plans, with an emphasis on addressing each client’s unique individual needs and concerns. (Read more…) View all blog posts |