Trust and Probate Litigation

While your estate plan will minimize the risk of trust and probate litigation, avoiding disputes is often a daunting challenge for trustees, executors, family members, and beneficiaries alike. Family dysfunction can often be exposed and aggravated by the death of a loved one, and family disputes and conflicts are often played out in court in protracted and expensive trust and probate litigation.

I have enjoyed great success in collaboratively resolving trust and probate disputes without resorting to litigation, but I also have the experience and expertise to guide my clients through litigation disputes when they occur. Many estate planning attorneys have substantial experience in routine planning and administration of a trust or estate, but little to no experience in litigation. Litigation requires a wide range of legal skills. Your attorney should not only be knowledgeable and experienced in the substantive law involved, such as the laws and procedural rules relating to trusts, probate, wills, and state and federal taxation, but should also be familiar and well-equipped to deal with the laws and procedural rules relating to preparing a case for hearing or trial, and actually trying the case.

What Types of Disputes Can Lead to Trust or Probate Litigation

  • Contesting the validity of a will or trust
  • Contesting the appointment of an executor, administrator, or trustee
  • Resolving title disputes to real and personal property
  • Proceedings to determine entitlement to estate distribution (heirship)
  • Actions by and against a personal representative, including:
  • Compelling an accounting and report of information
  • Raising objections to an accounting
  • Claims for mismanagement or misappropriation of property
  • Obtaining a surcharge for breach of fiduciary duty
  • Compelling the removal of a representative
  • Actions to resolve disputes among family members and beneficiaries

Call Today for a Free Consultation

If you are facing a dispute as a trustee, executor, family member, or beneficiary that you believe may lead to trust or probate litigation, please call me today to schedule a free consultation. I have represented several hundred clients in these matters for almost 50 years and look forward to serving you.
My office is conveniently located at 2945 Townsgate Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village, CA 91361, and you can reach me by phone at (805) 492-4044, or by e-mail to GSindon@Sindon-Law.com. You can also see my LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-sindon.