Probate Litigation

Trust and probate disputes are becoming more common as wealth transitions from the Greatest Generation to Baby Boomers, especially in the South Bay of Los Angeles, CA. At Baker, Burton & Lundy, our team of probate litigation attorneys, Brad Baker, Albro Lundy, Evan Koch and Mary Korkodian, combines trial and estate planning expertise to provide top-tier representation. From our welcoming office in Hermosa Beach, we assist families facing conflicts over wills and trusts.

Trust and probate litigation involves legal disputes over the administration of estates, often focusing on:

• Will & Trust Contests: Challenging wills or trusts due to incapacity, undue influence, fraud, or menace.
• Fiduciary Disputes: Addressing breaches of fiduciary duty by trustees or executors or forcing them to account for their actions.
• Property Recovery: Recovering assets belonging to a decedent or incapacitated individual.
• Elder Abuse Claims: Pursuing cases of financial or physical abuse in civil or probate court.

Navigating these disputes requires knowledge of key legal principles like “standing,” which limits who can bring probate actions, and the potential impact of no-contest clauses. At BB&L, we help clients understand their rights and avoid costly missteps in litigation.

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Determining Probate Eligibility

No Contest Clauses in Estate Planning

No Jury Trials in Probate Court

At Baker, Burton & Lundy, we leverage our extensive experience to realistically evaluate the best course of action for complex probate litigation matters. Our clear and concise communication with clients and opposing counsel helps minimize litigation’s financial and emotional costs. We believe that common sense, often missing from legal processes, is critical to our approach. Our results include winning $7 Million for clients injured by  Executor Malfeasance as well as $2.85 Million for beneficiaries in a Trust Litigation conflict.

Our firm applies a simple yet effective criterion when deciding whether to accept a probate litigation matter. If we do not believe we can deliver substantially more value to our clients than the cost of our services, we will decline the case. This principle has allowed us to build lasting relationships with high-quality clients and grow our practice to its current standing. It is good business for our clients to receive a more significant benefit than we do.