Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC Serving Los Angeles
Trust Litigation
Trust Litigation Attorney in Los Angeles
Legal Representation for Beneficiaries, Trustees & Heirs
When a trust dispute reaches the point where informal conversation has failed, court involvement becomes necessary. Trust litigation is the legal process for resolving contested claims connected to a trust, whether those claims involve how the trust was created, how the trustee is managing assets, or what beneficiaries are owed. Disputes can arise among a trust’s settlor, beneficiaries, trustee, or the assets held within the trust itself.
If you’re a beneficiary, trustee, or heir involved in a contested trust matter in the Los Angeles area, we’re prepared to help you understand your options. Call (213) 798-4854 to speak directly with the attorney who can handle your case.
What Attorney Reyes Brings to Trust Disputes
Attorney Kenneth U. Reyes brings a background that’s uncommon in trust disputes: he is both a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist and a former Certified Public Accountant with a decade of accounting experience, including work at Arthur Andersen LLP and Bank of America. That financial background matters when litigation turns on disputed trust accountings, asset valuations, or records of trustee conduct. In addition to family law, he handles estates and trust matters and is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Estates and Trusts Section.
Our firm assigns one dedicated attorney to each case from start to finish. Clients communicate directly with the attorney handling their matter, not a rotating team. Our attorneys bring over 46 years of combined legal experience to the cases we take on.
Common Grounds for Trust Disputes
Trust litigation covers a range of disputes. The issues clients most often bring to us include:
Breach of fiduciary duty: A trustee who engages in self-dealing, mismanages trust assets, or refuses to provide a proper accounting may have breached their fiduciary duty, the legal obligation to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries.
Trust contests: A trust or amendment can be challenged on the grounds that the settlor lacked mental capacity, was subject to undue influence, or that the document itself involved fraud or forgery.
Distribution and accounting disputes: Beneficiaries and trustees often disagree over the timing or amount of distributions, how assets have been valued, or whether trustee compensation is reasonable.
Petitions to remove or instruct a trustee: When a trustee fails in their duties or the trust document is ambiguous, a court petition can compel action, clarify terms, or replace the trustee.
How Trust Disputes Proceed in Los Angeles
Most trust litigation in California begins with a petition filed under Probate Code section 17200, which allows a trustee or beneficiary to ask the court to resolve questions about a trust’s internal affairs or even its existence. Standing to file generally extends to current and contingent beneficiaries, trustees, and, in some cases, heirs. The petition is broad in scope: it can be used to compel an accounting, instruct the trustee on how to act, seek the removal of a trustee, or obtain redress for a breach of trust.
In Los Angeles County, these matters are heard in the Probate Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court, with the Stanley Mosk Courthouse serving as the primary location for probate proceedings. Knowing how that court calendar operates and how probate judges approach contested petitions is part of handling these matters effectively.
Negotiation and Mediation Before Trial
Litigation isn’t always the endpoint. Many trust and inheritance disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation before a matter reaches a contested hearing. Where that path is available and serves our client’s interests, we pursue it. When informal resolution isn’t possible, a formal court petition puts the dispute before a probate judge who can order a resolution.
“Consultation is answered swiftly (same day inquiry and feedback), provides assistance in every step of the way, application is processed promptly.”
“Consultation is answered swiftly (same day inquiry and feedback), provides assistance in every step of the way, application is processed promptly.”
L.M.
“Everyone was very attentive and accommodating. I truly recommend him and his firm.”
“Everyone was very attentive and accommodating. I truly recommend him and his firm.”
M.Z.
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“Day or night, he was available to offer not just his legal expertise, but practical and honest advice as well. ”
S.M.
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“Kenneth took the time to sit down with us to explain the process”
“Kenneth took the time to sit down with us to explain the process”
L.P.
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We represent beneficiaries, trustees, and heirs throughout Los Angeles and in Santa Monica. Regardless of where a client is located within the county, trust matters are filed and heard in the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Probate Division, so your location within the area doesn’t change where the case is decided.
Discuss Your Trust Dispute With the Attorney on Your Case
If you’re facing a contested trust matter, whether you’re a beneficiary concerned about a trustee’s conduct or a trustee seeking court guidance, we can review your situation and explain your options. At Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC, the attorney you speak with is the attorney who handles your case from the first call through resolution. Call us at (213) 798-4854 to get started.
