Santa Barbara Trust Litigation Lawyer Robert Baskin

The experienced Santa Barbara Trust Litigation Attorneys from the Law Office of Robert M. Baskin offer reliable representation that protects the interests of trustee and beneficiary clients. Our knowledgeable attorneys  have spent close to 40 years guiding clients in resolving trust litigation disputes.

We offer a case analysis and the opportunity to discuss your concerns and questions during the free initial consultation. To schedule an appointment, contact our office at (805) 658-1000.

Dependable Trust Litigation Law Firm Serving Santa Barbara

If a trust dispute is currently developing or has been ongoing, our skilled trust litigation lawyers can provide insightful and effective guidance. The law firm of Robert M. Baskin handles a range of cases, including those related to the following situations:

• Breaches of Fiduciary Duty
• Trustee or Co-Trustee Self-Dealing
• Removing a Trustee
• Defending a Trustee
• Valuation Dispute
• Trust Asset Misappropriation
• Disbursement Dispute
• Improper Drafting/Execution – Challenging a Trust’s Validity
• Invalidating a Trust due to Fraud, Undue Influence, Incapacity, or Duress
• Clarifying Trust Provisions
• Negligence in Trust Administration
• Spendthrift Trust Disputes

Due to the complexities of the trust administration duties that are assigned to trustees, it is common for a trust administration dispute to develop. A trustee is required to invest trust assets in a prudent manner, provide precise accounts to the beneficiaries, maintain accurate records and appraisals of trust assets, and follow the terms of the trust exactly. If any of these requirements are not met in some way, a litigious situation may occur.

Although it is not uncommon for someone creating a trust (the trustor) to choose a friend or family member as the one who will administer and manage the trust (the trustee), problems often arise when the designated trustee does not have experience administering a trust. They are expected to administer property and distribute assets. When inexperienced, the trustee may often make an inventory or accounting error, fail to invest assets prudently, or take self-dealing actions that could be a breach of fiduciary duties and result in litigation being pursued by beneficiaries against the trustee.

Due to these difficulties that a trustee can encounter in trying to carry out their duties, it is often highly beneficial to appoint a skilled trust administrator and thereby reduce the risk of trust litigation. Our Santa Barbara estate planning attorneys have provided reliable guidance in trust administration and planning since 1975. We offer experienced representation that helps clients avoid the stress and cost of future litigation.

Consult a Santa Barbara Trust Litigation Attorney

Resolving a litigious situation in a timely manner is in your best interests; failing to act when needed may cause additional financial harm. If necessary, we are able to use appraisers to help properly determine valuation. We also can bring in forensic accountants, investment professionals, or other financial professionals to accurately determine whether misappropriation of trust assets has in fact taken place. The Law Office of Robert M. Baskin is ready to assist you in resolving your trust litigation matter.

To gain high-quality legal advice regarding a trust matter, please contact us by filling out our online case evaluation form or by calling us at (805) 658-1000. Our trust litigation attorneys are highly experienced and will carefully review your trust documents with you while providing reliable guidance on how to resolve a dispute efficiently.