California Trust & Probate Mediation
Resolve inheritance disputes without losing the inheritance.
Confidential, neutral mediation for beneficiaries, trustees, executors, and families navigating trust and probate conflict in California. A calmer path toward agreement, on your terms.
What mediation is
A private conversation, guided by a neutral.
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which a neutral third party helps the people involved in a trust or estate dispute talk through the issues and look for terms everyone can accept.
The mediator does not take sides and does not decide who is right. You keep control of the outcome, often with less delay, less expense, and less strain on relationships than a contested court process.
Find your path
Where you sit at the table matters.
Every role in an inheritance dispute carries different worries. Start with the one that sounds most like yours.
Beneficiaries
You may feel uninformed, overlooked, or unsure what you are entitled to see. Mediation gives you a structured place to ask questions, raise concerns, and be heard.
Trustees & Executors
Serving as a fiduciary can feel heavy, especially when family members question your decisions. Mediation can help clarify concerns and move administration forward.
Families
Grief and money are a difficult mix. If you want to protect relationships while working through hard questions, a facilitated conversation can help.
Areas of focus
Mediation for the disputes that divide families and consume assets.
Trust disputes
Disagreements over trust administration, interpretation of trust terms, trustee communication, distributions, and accounting questions.
Probate disputes
Conflicts that arise during estate administration, including questions about wills, executor decisions, timing, and how assets are handled.
Elder financial concerns
Sensitive family conversations about concerns involving an older loved one’s finances, decision-making, or the handling of their assets.
Facilitated family settlement discussions
Guided, respectful conversations that help siblings and relatives work toward practical, written agreements about shared concerns.
The process
Four steps, no surprises.
01
Confidential consultation
We talk through your situation, your goals, and whether mediation is a suitable next step. There is no pressure to proceed.
02
Preparation and agreement to mediate
Each participant shares background facts and relevant documents in advance. Everyone agrees to the ground rules, including confidentiality.
03
Mediation session
In private conversations, the mediator helps each person be heard, clarifies the issues, provides evaluative feedback, and explores options for resolution.
04
Written next steps
If participants reach common ground, the agreed-upon terms will be memorialized in a written, enforceable agreement.
Our commitments
Rooted in California.
We resolve trust and probate disputes within the context of California statutes, rules, and court practices.
Confidential by design
Mediation is a private process. Participants agree to confidentiality expectations before sessions begin.
Neutral and independent
The mediator does not represent, advocate for, or advise any one participant, and does not decide the outcome.
Respect for your counsel
Mediation works alongside legal advice and does not replace it. Participants are encouraged to consult their own attorneys. That said, mediation can be conducted either with or without the direct participation of attorneys, depending on the status of the dispute and litigation.
Honest about outcomes
Every situation is different. We never promise a particular result. We promise a fair, thoughtful, respectful process.
Flexible appearance options
Mediation can be in-person, remote, or hybrid depending on the needs of the participants.
Questions, answered plainly
Frequently asked questions
Is mediation confidential?
Mediation is designed to be a private process, and participants are required to agree to confidentiality before sessions begin.
Do you provide legal advice?
No. This website and the mediation process are not legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. We encourage every participant to consult their own attorney about their rights and options.
Who decides the outcome?
You do. The mediator guides the conversation but does not impose a decision. Any agreement depends on the voluntary participation of everyone involved.
Do I need an attorney to take part?
Many participants choose to involve their own attorney, and we welcome that.
What if not everyone wants to participate?
Mediation is voluntary. During your consultation, we can talk about how invitations are typically extended and what to consider if someone is hesitant.
Can you guarantee a settlement?
No. No mediator can responsibly promise a particular result. What we can offer is a thoughtful, structured process that gives everyone a fair chance to be heard and to explore agreement.
How does remote mediation work?
Participating in mediation (and court) remotely is now common-place and the experience is exceptionally similar to an in-person mediation.
Is a remote mediation effective?
Yes! Remote mediations are highly effective and help remove logistical and financial obstacles that may discourage individuals from participating in-person.
Is mediation expensive?
The cost of mediation is typically less than even the initial retainers charged by many attorneys. In many situations, the cost of mediation is paid as a general expense of the trust or estate administration; otherwise, the cost is split among the various participants. Our flat-fee approach means you know upfront exactly how much the process is going to cost.
