Palm Springs Trust and Estate Administration Disputes Attorneys 

California firm assists trustees, estate personal representatives and beneficiaries 

Disputes over the administration of an estate or trust can arise when there are disagreements about how the property is being managed, what the governing documents mean or whether someone has acted improperly. At the Palm Springs law firm of Schlecht, Shevlin & Shoenberger, we help trustees, estate personal representatives, heirs and beneficiaries resolve conflicts alleging breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence and other irregularities. Our law firm has provided knowledgeable and effective legal support in trust and estate administration disputes to clients in the Coachella Valley since 1951. 

Common types of conflicts in trust and estate administration 

Conflicts over management or distribution of assets may arise between beneficiaries or between beneficiaries and personal representatives or trustees. Contests can include any of the following: 

• Disputes over the validity or interpretation of documents — There may be claims of the testator’s lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud or improper will execution. There can also be contests based on ambiguous or conflicting terms in a will or questions about whether later changes to a will are authentic and enforceable.
• Conflicts involving fiduciary duty — There may be allegations that the trustee or personal representative mismanaged assets, acted in self-interest or failed to provide information or accountings about transactions, valuations and distributions. In some cases, removal of the trustee or personal representative may be sought.
• Disputes over assets and distributions — These can include issues of whether property belongs to the estate or to someone else; questions about of unequal or delayed distributions; and disagreements over valuation of assets.
• Creditor and financial claims — There may be challenges to the validity or priority of debts claimed against the estate or issues involving partnerships, buy-sell agreements or ongoing business operations.
• Trust modification or termination — There may be requests to modify or terminate a trust based on changed circumstances, disputes over a trustee’s discretionary distributions or allegations of trust mismanagement.

Whether your dispute is with a trustee, an estate representative or a beneficiary, we want to help you resolve it in the most efficient manner possible while protecting your interests. 

Methods for resolving disputes during estate settlement 

Trust and estate administration disputes can be resolved in the following ways:

• Negotiation — Parties hold discussions to reach solutions, with the help of their respective attorneys. 
• Mediation — Mediation also involves compromise and negotiation between parties, with the assistance of a trained-third party who guides discussions toward agreement. 
• Litigation — Trust and administration conflicts that cannot be resolved through negotiations or mediation may need to go to court for resolution. 

We are skilled at representing clients who are involved in trust and estate disputes using all of these methods, dependent upon the specific conflict, circumstances and parties’ willingness to work with each other. We help parties in bringing legal claims or in defending against them. 

Estate administration and planning services our Palm Springs law firm provides 

A legal dispute is potentially costly in time, money and relationships and you want it handled by an experienced attorney. Our firm offers the full spectrum of services related to managing and distributing trust and estate assets, providing conflict resolution support and knowledgeable advice and assistance. We also assist individuals in estate planning, helping them develop comprehensive and enforceable plans that clearly state their wishes and so reduce the potential for disagreements. 

Contact our Palm Springs firm for help with estate administration conflicts

The trust and estate administration disputes attorneys at Schlecht, Shevlin & Shoenberger in Palm Springs, California, resolve conflicts between beneficiaries, trust administrators and estate personal representatives in the most advantageous ways possible. You can schedule a consultation by calling 760-320-7161 or contacting us online.