Inheritance Rights Attorney in Irvine, CA
If you are a beneficiary of a trust or an heir to an estate, California law gives you the right to information, to an accounting and to your share of what was left to you. When an executor or trustee isn’t honoring those rights, The Soto Law Group represents beneficiaries and heirs in Irvine and across Orange County.
Learn more about our inheritance rights and beneficiary representation services.
Your Rights as a Beneficiary in California
- Notice. When a trust becomes irrevocable, the trustee must notify beneficiaries and heirs, and you can request a copy of the trust’s terms.
- Information. A trustee must keep beneficiaries reasonably informed about the trust and its administration.
- Accountings. A trustee must account to beneficiaries at least once a year, when the trust ends and when there is a change of trustee, unless an exception applies.
- Fair treatment. A trustee or executor must manage the assets carefully and treat all beneficiaries impartially.
- Court oversight in probate. In a probate case, interested people receive notice of key hearings and can review the inventory and accountings filed with the court.
Signs Something May Be Wrong
- Months pass with no information about the trust or estate
- You asked for an accounting and never received one
- The trustee is living in, using or selling trust property for their own benefit
- Assets are sold for less than they appear to be worth
- The estate plan was changed shortly before death, in favor of a caregiver or one relative
How We Help Beneficiaries and Heirs
We start by reviewing the documents and what you have been told. Often a clear request from an attorney is enough to get the information you are owed. When it isn’t, we can petition the Orange County Superior Court to compel an accounting, remove a trustee, recover assets or hold a fiduciary responsible for losses. Where it makes sense, we pursue mediation to resolve the matter without a long court case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inheritance Rights in Irvine
Can I get a copy of the trust?
Yes. Once a trust becomes irrevocable, beneficiaries and heirs who receive the trustee’s notice can request a copy of its terms.
How long does a trustee have to distribute my inheritance?
California doesn’t set one fixed deadline, but a trustee must administer the trust within a reasonable time. Long, unexplained delays are a reason to ask questions.
Can a trustee be removed?
Yes. The court can remove a trustee for reasons such as a breach of trust, failure to act or a serious conflict with the beneficiaries.
Why Work With The Soto Law Group
Attorney Romelia “DeDe” Soto has more than 20 years of legal experience and has seen estate and trust matters from every side, as a planner, an administrator and an advocate. That experience helps us identify quickly whether your rights are being respected.
Related Services in Irvine
Inheritance Rights in Other Locations
- Inheritance Rights in Newport Beach
- Inheritance Rights in Costa Mesa
- Inheritance Rights in Riverside
- Inheritance Rights in San Bernardino
- Inheritance Rights in Huntington Beach
- Inheritance Rights in Laguna Beach
- Inheritance Rights in Santa Ana
- Inheritance Rights in Anaheim
- Inheritance Rights in Orange County
Directions to Our Office From Irvine
Talk With an Inheritance Rights Attorney
Call our Newport Beach office at (949) 945-0059 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.