Practice Areas

Probate & Estate Legal Services

Comprehensive representation for every stage of probate, trust, and inheritance matters — handled personally by your attorney.

Probate Administration

When a loved one passes away, their estate often must go through probate — the legal process of validating a will, paying debts, and distributing assets to heirs. In California, this process involves the Superior Court and can take 9 to 18 months or longer.

I guide you through every step of probate administration, from filing the initial petition to the final distribution of assets. You’ll understand the process, the timeline, and every decision that needs to be made.

What I handle:

  • Filing the petition for probate with the court
  • Appointment of executor or administrator
  • Inventory and appraisal of estate assets
  • Notification of creditors and resolution of claims
  • Court accountings and reports
  • Final distribution to beneficiaries and heirs
  • Probate of estates with and without a will (intestate succession)

Whether the estate is straightforward or involves complex assets, real property, or family disagreements, I handle the case personally so nothing falls through the cracks.

Trust Administration

When a trust creator passes away, the successor trustee takes on significant legal responsibilities. Trust administration involves managing trust assets, communicating with beneficiaries, filing tax returns, and ultimately distributing assets according to the trust’s terms.

Whether you’re a trustee who needs guidance on your duties or a beneficiary who wants to ensure the trust is being administered properly, I provide direct counsel and representation.

What I handle:

  • Trustee duty guidance and compliance
  • Beneficiary notifications required by California law
  • Trust asset management and accounting
  • Real property transfers and sales
  • Trust modifications and decanting
  • Trustee removal proceedings
  • Distribution disputes between beneficiaries

Trust & Will Contests

If you believe a trust or will was created or modified under suspicious circumstances — due to undue influence, fraud, lack of mental capacity, or improper execution — you may have grounds to contest it.

Contesting a trust or will is one of the most sensitive areas of probate law. It involves family relationships, grief, and high stakes. I approach these cases with the thoroughness they demand and the personal attention that makes a difference.

Grounds for contesting a trust or will:

  • Undue influence — someone pressured or manipulated the creator into changing the document
  • Lack of capacity — the creator didn’t have the mental ability to understand what they were signing
  • Fraud or forgery — the document was created through deception or is not authentic
  • Improper execution — the document wasn’t signed or witnessed according to California law
  • Revocation — a later document exists that revokes or supersedes the one being probated

I represent both those challenging a trust or will and those defending one. Either way, you get an attorney who knows your case inside and out.

Beneficiary Rights

As a beneficiary of a trust or estate, you have legal rights — including the right to information, the right to an accounting, and the right to receive your inheritance as the trust or will directs.

When trustees or executors fail in their duties — whether through negligence, self-dealing, or outright theft — beneficiaries often feel powerless. You’re not. California law provides strong protections for beneficiaries, and I help you enforce them.

Common beneficiary issues:

  • Trustee refusing to provide information or accountings
  • Delayed or withheld distributions
  • Trustee self-dealing or conflicts of interest
  • Mismanagement or waste of estate assets
  • Breach of fiduciary duty
  • Unequal treatment of beneficiaries

Conservatorships & Guardianships

When an adult can no longer manage their own financial or personal affairs due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline, a conservatorship may be necessary to protect them. Similarly, a guardianship may be needed for minor children who have lost their parents or whose parents cannot care for them.

These cases are deeply personal. The court is being asked to make decisions about someone’s autonomy and care. I handle these matters with the gravity they deserve.

What I handle:

  • Petitions to establish conservatorship of the person or estate
  • Contested conservatorship proceedings
  • Conservatorship accountings and court reports
  • Guardianship of minor children
  • Objections to proposed conservators or guardians
  • Termination or modification of existing arrangements

Financial Elder Abuse

Financial elder abuse happens when someone takes advantage of a vulnerable elderly person for financial gain. This can range from a family member draining bank accounts to a caregiver manipulating an elderly person into changing their estate plan.

California has some of the strongest elder abuse laws in the country, and I use them aggressively to protect victims and recover stolen assets.

Common forms of financial elder abuse:

  • Theft of money, property, or valuables
  • Unauthorized use of credit cards or bank accounts
  • Manipulating an elder into changing their will or trust
  • Isolating an elder from family to gain financial control
  • Scams, fraud, and predatory lending targeting seniors
  • Misuse of power of attorney

If you suspect a loved one is being exploited, time matters. The sooner you act, the more can be recovered and protected.

Need help with a probate or trust matter?

I’ll personally review your situation and explain your options clearly.