Case Alerts

Summary: The trial court improperly dismissed for lack of exclusive jurisdiction of the probate court where the decedent’s trust no longer held the property in dispute and his probate had closed in another county 27 years ago. Read more

Summary: The court lacks authority to require a conservatee to receive a visitor against her will and over the objection of the conservator. Read more

Summary: Substantial evidence supported the imposition of a limited conservatorship, even under the clarified standard of review for findings requiring clear and convincing evidence Read more

There is no statutory requirement that the court make an express finding of a conservatee’s decisional incapacity if substantial evidence exists to support the need for involuntary medication, and psychologists may opine on the need for medication. Read more

Summary: The causation element of an intentional interference with expected inheritance claim does not shift the burden of proving capacity to the plaintiff. Read more

California courts have case-linked personal jurisdiction over out-of-state trustees and beneficiaries who have purposefully availed themselves of forum benefits, where the controversy relates to the respondents’ contacts with the forum, and where the exercise of jurisdiction comports with fair play and substantial justice. Read more

Summary: A general disinheritance clause suffices to express a decedent’s intent to disinherit potential heirs living at the time of execution of a will or trust, even if unknown to the decedent. Read more

Where a trial court decision must be supported by clear and convincing evidence, on appeal the standard of review must reflect that heightened burden of proof. Read more

Summary: Unless a trust explicitly states that its revocation procedure is exclusive, a trustor can utilize the statutory method of revocation. Read more

Jose B. suffered from schizophrenia and was unwilling and unable to accept voluntary treatment. For a 10-year period starting in 2008, the Los Angeles County Public Guardian was granted a Lanterman-Petris-Short (“LPS”) conservatorship over Jose with no objection. Read more