California inheritance disputes
If a trustee, executor, or family member is keeping money, property, or answers from you, you may have legal options. We'll help you understand what's happening and what to do next.
Trust Disputes Stolen Inheritance Trustee Misconduct Will & Trust Contests
Confidential Case Review • California Matters
When a loved one passes away
The first question is simple: did your loved one leave a trust, a will, or nothing at all? The answer decides the path. We can help with all three.
Usually the easiest path. The trustee manages the assets and pays beneficiaries — no court needed.
A will usually still goes through probate court. The executor asks the court for approval before paying heirs.
Everything goes through probate. California law decides who inherits — usually spouse, children, or close family.
Start with the problem
The person controlling the money or property may also control the information. You may be left waiting without a clear explanation.
Understand your position
Every situation is different. Depending on the documents, assets, and conduct involved, beneficiaries may have legal options.
Review the trust, will, amendments, probate records, and documents controlling the assets.
Determine whether the issue is delay, missing information, a disputed transfer, misconduct, or a document challenge.
Options may include requesting information or an accounting, demanding distribution, challenging transactions, contesting a trust or will, or seeking court relief.
Choose a response based on the documents, evidence, timing, and practical needs of the matter.
A website cannot determine the legal merits of your individual matter. An attorney can review the specific facts and documents involved.
Your situation
Choose the situation that sounds closest to yours.
Depending on the facts
Not every option applies to every matter. The appropriate path depends on the documents, conduct, evidence, and timing.
Why it feels difficult
You do not have to understand every legal issue before contacting an attorney. Start by explaining what happened.
Tell Us What HappenedHow we may help
These examples show how an inheritance concern may be approached. They are not client testimonials or promises of a particular result.
An attorney may review the trust, accountings, communications, and administration timeline to identify what information or action may be appropriate.
Ownership records, deeds, statements, beneficiary forms, and probate filings may help show what happened and whether a disputed transaction should be examined.
Prior documents, timing, capacity, influence, witnesses, and the preparation process may be reviewed to assess whether legally recognized concerns exist.
Illustrative situations only. Every matter depends on its documents, evidence, deadlines, and individual facts.
Our Attorneys
For more than 25 years, our attorneys have specialized in recovering inheritances — when trustees or executors don't pay beneficiaries, when a will or trust must be contested, and when an estate with no will or trust must go through probate.
We negotiate firmly to resolve matters quickly, and when that fails, we litigate aggressively in court. Together, we have recovered more than $300 million for our clients.
Each attorney specializes in probate, litigation, demand letters, or trust disputes. Your case is assigned to the right one, working with your case manager from start to finish — one flat-fee retainer, no hourly charges, the rest on contingency.
How we work
Fill out our short, confidential form about what happened.
Elina, our intake specialist, calls you to get the key facts and clarify your answers.
We only accept cases we know we can help. If yours qualifies, Elina connects you to Martha during the call. Martha explains how we can help and the strategy for your case.
Your retainer is sent to you electronically. Review and sign it from your phone or computer.
Each of our attorneys handles specific cases: probate, litigation, demand letters, or trust disputes. Your case goes to the right one.
Your case is in our system. We keep you notified about every stage until final distribution.
Clear, simple fees
These cases are complex. They often involve many beneficiaries, a lot of paperwork, review of the trust, and negotiation. You pay one flat retainer fee of $3,800 — the only amount you pay upfront. It is one of the lowest retainer fees in California for this type of case. The rest of our fee is on a contingency basis.
Submitting the form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after a signed retainer.
Free confidential case review
Takes 1 minute. Next, you can add more details so our team can review your case faster.
Common questions
General information to help you understand what may come next.
A clear next step
If you're named as a beneficiary but money, property, documents, or answers are being withheld, start by telling us what happened. We can review the basic facts and determine whether the firm may be able to help.
