Trusts and Estates Section

Listen Here Listen to host Kristin Yokomoto discuss various aspects of the CLA Trusts and Estates Section Executive Committee (TEXCOM) with guests Matthew McMurtrey and Ryka Farotte.  Learn about how TEXCOM monitors all California bills, some of which become law that impacts our trusts and estates practice. We discuss Matt’s 11 year term on TEXCOM and Ryka’s 6 year term, their leadership roles, and some of the contributions they have made to the CLA Trusts and Estates Section and the community. Learn more about the… Read more

Revocation of a will by cancellation must occur by physical alteration of the will and a separate, stand-alone document does not constitute a subsequent will unless it also transfers property upon death.  Read more

Listen to TEXCOM Members Kim McGhee, Ben Schwefel, Jadene Tamura, and Kristin Yokomoto discuss the benefits of becoming a Certified Legal Specialist and the five TEXCOM making up The Exam and You preparation course.  Read more

In this episode of Trust Me! we will be discussing King Lear, the Shakespearean tragedy, and the fallout from an estate plan gone wrong. Read more

Merely being a proposed conservatee’s neighbor is insufficient to qualify as an interested person or friend with standing to file a petition for conservatorship. Read more

Listen to two TEXCOM members in this podcast where Kim McGhee, a legal specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the California State Bar, certified Elder Law attorney and VA accredited attorney, discusses key incapacity issues with respect to estate planning, as hosted by Kimberly Strand. Read more

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In this episode of Trust Me!, our guest Bill Sias, who works for the Office of County Counsel in Los Angeles, will discuss the basics of LPS Proceedings.  Read more

With the Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law Specialization Exam right around the corner on October 21, 2025, the Trusts and Estates Section Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association (TEXCOM) wants to make sure you have everything you need to prepare! Read more

A demurrer may be filed any time at or before the initial hearing in a probate case. Read more

Licensed Professional Fiduciaries play a key role in the trusts and estates ecosystem in California. In this episode, we discuss the role that professional trustees play in trust administration, and the skills and experience they bring to bear in order to secure the legacies and wishes of the clients they serve.   Read more