Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation

Larson successfully prosecutes and defends our clients' interests in trust, probate, and estate matters in both court and arbitration.
 

Our clients look to us to protect their personal and financial concerns in matters that can be contentious, consequential, and emotionally charged.

Larson represents heirs, entrepreneurs, conservators, and their families, many whom are high-net-worth individuals.

Trust and estate disputes are rarely just about money – they impact family relationships, legacies, and long-term financial security. We bring the full force of our trial experience to these matters, combining courtroom skill with a deep understanding of fiduciary obligations, probate procedure, and the sensitive dynamics at play.

Our team handles a wide range of complex disputes, including:

  • Breach of fiduciary duty
  • Beneficiary disputes
  • Family and estate management disputes
  • Contested heirship
  • Charitable pledge disputes
  • Wrongful death recovery
  • Theft of trust assets and fraud
  • Financially dependent adult and elder abuse

While we aim to swiftly resolve claims before litigation arises, we are always prepared to go to trial to protect or recover our clients’ assets.

 
  • Represented trust beneficiaries in challenge to a trustee sale of stock in closely held family business.
  • Represented a widow in disputes arising from the administration of decedent husband’s estate.
  • Represented the president of a charitable foundation with more than $100 million in assets during disputes between the founder’s children and the foundation, following the death of the founder. We achieved successful resolution of all disputes prior to litigation.
  • Represented the owner of one of California’s largest wineries in trust litigation brought by a disaffected daughter seeking more than $25 million based on allegations of breach of trust and fiduciary duty. Immediately following opening statements at trial, we resolved the case on favorable terms for the client.
  • Representing an adult trust beneficiary in a pending action against his stepmother for financial elder abuse, civil theft, fraud, and misuse of trust assets in case involving a $350 million estate. The claims arise from alleged forged amendments executed shortly before the trustor’s death after a prolonged illness.
  • Represented trust beneficiaries in a family dispute involving breach of trust and fiduciary duty claims concerning an estate exceeding $100 million. We secured a favorable settlement for the client.
  • Representing beneficiary in trust dispute involving over $200 million in assets arising from step-brothers’ wrongful assumption of control over the trust estate, excluding beneficiaries from management, access to information, and distributions. We are pursuing restoration of beneficiaries’ rights, removal of the current trustees, and full recovery of equitable share of the trust estate, and double damages.
  • Represented conservator for his 97-year-old father in a financial elder abuse and marital fiduciary breach case involving the alleged misappropriation of over $60 million in real estate and other assets. We replaced prior counsel and achieved the recovery of nearly all real property. We further secured a substantially favorable settlement for our client, despite a competing “sweetheart” settlement proposed by the Court-appointed Guardian ad Litem.
  • Represented trustee-beneficiaries of a $40 million estate in defending against claims of undue influence and lack of capacity brought by a disinherited sibling. We achieved an extremely favorable settlement on the eve of trial.