Trust & Estate Litigation and Probate Disputes
Courtroom-tested advocacy and strategic counsel for trustees, executors, and beneficiaries. We resolve inheritance conflicts, fiduciary disputes, and contested probate matters with discretion, clarity, and trial-ready precision.
Stonebridge Litigation is a boutique Southern California law firm headquartered in San Diego, delivering strategic and trial-ready representation in trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation. Focused on high-net-worth disputes, elder financial abuse, and probate conflicts, our team blends courtroom precision with client discretion. Whether contesting a multimillion-dollar trust amendment or recovering wrongfully transferred assets, Stonebridge delivers clarity when the stakes are personal, and the legacy is on the line.
Trust & Estate Litigation
We represent beneficiaries, trustees, and executors in trust and estate disputes before California probate courts:
- Will and trust contests involving lack of capacity, undue influence, or elder financial abuse
- Disputes over ambiguous trust provisions, amendments, and exercises of powers of appointment
- Breach of fiduciary duty claims for mismanagement, self-dealing, or failure to account
- Petitions for trust reformations, modifications, terminations or instructions
- Disinheritance and omitted heir claims challenging unequal distributions
- Legal actions for fiduciary suspension, removal, and surcharges
Probate Litigation & Fiduciary Disputes
Based in San Diego, our firm handles contested probate matters with discretion and precision:
- Will contests tied to suspicious last-minute changes or improper execution
- Intestate succession litigation and heirship verification
- Objections to fiduciary accountings, proposed distributions, and inventories
- Estate solvency disputes and creditor claim litigation
- Petitions related to spousal property, omitted spouses, and children
- Judicial guidance on fiduciary conduct and contested actions
- Fee disputes tied to fiduciary compensation
Elder Financial Abuse & Capacity Challenges
Stonebridge protects vulnerable individuals and their estates from financial exploitation and undue influence:
- Financial elder abuse claims involving coercion, fraud, or duress
- Recovery of wrongfully transferred assets, gifts, or joint accounts
- Disputes over powers of attorney and suspicious beneficiary designations
- Capacity litigation related to dementia, Alzheimer’s, and cognitive decline
- Emergency petitions to freeze assets and prevent further harm
Real Estate & Legacy Asset Litigation
From inherited homes to disputed trusts holding real property, we litigate complex legacy asset conflicts:
- Partition actions between heirs, beneficiaries, or co-owners
- Quiet title, cancellation of instrument, and adverse possession claims
- Disputes over estate-owned or trust-owned real property
- Claims involving fraudulent transfers, forged deeds, forged trust instrument or forged trust amendments, or improper titling
Litigation Strategy & Courtroom Advocacy
Our trial team develops courtroom-ready strategies that align with client goals and California legal standards:
- Case development from pre-filing through trial and appeal
- Use of mock trials, focus groups, and settlement modeling
- Aggressive representation in probate, civil, and appellate courts
- Clear advice about litigation risk and case development
What types of disputes do you handle?
We represent trustees, executors, beneficiaries and heirs in trust, estate, probate, and fiduciary disputes, including contested wills, breach of duty claims and complex litigation.
Will my case go to trial?
Not always. Many disputes resolve through negotiation or mediation, but we prepare every matter as if it will proceed to trial to strengthen your position.
How much will litigation cost?
Costs depend on the complexity of the case and whether it settles early or proceeds to trial. We provide clear budgets and updates so there are no surprises.
Can family conflicts be resolved without court?
Often, yes. Mediation or negotiated settlements can resolve disputes efficiently and preserve relationships when possible.
What happens if a fiduciary breaches their duties?
They may be held personally liable for losses. We pursue remedies for beneficiaries and defend fiduciaries against unfounded claims.
How long does probate litigation usually last?
Simple disputes may resolve in months, while complex cases—especially those involving valuation or tax issues—can take a year or more.
Do you handle appeals?
Yes. In select matters, we represent clients in appellate courts to challenge or defend trial court outcomes.
Negotiated favorable settlement in a high-value fiduciary dispute (anonymized).
Defended an executor against surcharge claims; case resolved pre-trial.
