Trust and estate litigation almost always occurs in an emotionally-charged environment. Our cases require an understanding of each family’s unique history and dynamics. We are able to resolve many disagreements through negotiation and mediation, but family members often have strong feelings and divergent goals such that many disputes can only be resolved through trials.
We attack and defend wills, trusts and other estate planning documents that are contested on the grounds of mental incapacity or undue influence. We represent fiduciaries (i.e., administrators and trustees) in disputes over the administration of estates, including the valuation and sale of assets, the sufficiency of accountings, and the handling of discretionary distributions. Our fiduciary clients range from family members with no prior experience handling an estate to private professional fiduciaries and bank trust departments. We also advocate for beneficiaries who have been unable to obtain information, documents or distributions from fiduciaries. We litigate financial elder abuse claims and conservatorship disputes.
We represent clients in Superior Courts across Northern California, including Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Placer County, Yolo County, El Dorado County, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Trust and estate disputes have unique procedural rules and our clients benefit from our regular practice in the field. Our firm’s litigation attorneys collaborate with our estate planning attorneys to seek optimal outcomes for our clients.