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As an estate planner, your job is to capture your client’s wishes. But what happens years down the line when those wishes are challenged, family relationships have fractured, and memories have faded? In our latest episode, we sit down with Judge Johnston (Ret.) to look at estate planning through the lens of litigation. We dive deep into how you can create an unassailable contemporaneous record today, so your files can withstand intense scrutiny tomorrow. In this episode, you’ll learn: The exa...

In this episode, R. Sam Price and Tanis Kluever discuss how probate and trust loans secured by real property can solve liquidity problems while preserving the family home. The conversation focuses on practical, legally compliant strategies attorneys and fiduciaries can use to cover expenses, prevent forced sales, and protect estate and trust assets during administration. R. Sam Price is a California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, and the managing attorney of...

New laws were enacted in 2025 that will affect California trusts and estates practitioners on January 1, 2026. Join our three speakers, attorneys Kristin Yokomoto, Paul Gruwell, and Mara Mahana, on this episode as they summarize the highlights of the new laws and how they affect estate planning, trust administration, incapacity, litigation, and more. Look for an in-depth article on the new laws in an upcoming issue of the Trusts & Estates Quarterly. About Our Podcast Panel: Kristin Yok...

Host: Ben Schwefel Speaker: Anthony Lai This episode explores how community property interests are identified, asserted, and litigated in post-death trust and estate administrations. We break down the legal framework, common pressure points, and practical strategies for navigating disputes when ownership and control are anything but clear. Speaker Bio: Anthony Lai is a Senior Associate at Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein LLP in Pasadena and a Certified Family Law Specialist who represents c...

What happens when beneficiaries disagree about the family home or other inherited real estate? In this episode, guest, James Ulwelling and host, Ben Schwefel, will discuss partition actions, co-ownership conflicts, lis pendens (notice of pendency of action), and practical strategies for resolving real property disputes that arise in trust and estate administrations. About our guest: James Ulwelling practices in the areas of real estate litigation, real estate transactions, community associati...