PROBATE, ESTATES & TRUSTS

Representative Cases

Settled through a mediator's proposal a highly emotional dispute between decedent's parents and life partner as to partner's petition to inherit an estate pursuant to alleged Marvin contract and promise to make a will where decedent died intestate.

Despite high emotions, settled beneficiary's petition to remove and surcharge sibling trustee with provisions for full resolution of personal property disputes, approval of prior accounting, waiver of final accounting, and plan for final distribution.

Settled trust/title dispute involving unrecorded deed of reconveyance on a secured note alleged to be outstanding for amounts due in the six-figure range.

Settled large family trust dispute involving trustor’s declining competency and continued ownership and management of family’s highly-regulated business.

Settled three-case trust dispute involving distribution of three real properties and one beneficiary’s purchase of family winery located on one of the properties.

Conservatorship estate dispute requiring resolution of investment versus sale of three real properties in various states of decline.

Claims of undue influence allegedly responsible for last-minute modifications of trust impacting familial and charity beneficiaries.

$20 million estate matter with four intertwined cases and large, competing charitable beneficiaries requiring resolution of issues involving discovery, consolidation of cases and validity of trust restatements.

Competing trust cases involving three real properties and four siblings with claims of fraud and absconding by trustee sibling.

Settled dispute over revocation of trust and intestacy and whether step-children were intended as beneficiaries.