When conflicts emerge related to a trust or estate, it is vital to seek guidance from an experienced trust and estate litigation lawyer. At Trusts and Estates Group, San Luis Obispo, attorney Jed Hazeltine offers counsel and representation to beneficiaries, trustees, personal representatives, and other fiduciaries in disputes involving probate, estates, and trusts.

With over 20 years of litigation and transactional experience in these areas, along with distinctive credentials, Jed is exceptionally well-qualified to assist clients in navigating the complex legal issues that arise from trust or estate conflicts.

Experience and Credentials

Jed Hazeltine, the founder and owner of Trusts and Estates Group, brings over two decades of extensive legal expertise in representing clients in complex trust, estate, and probate litigation, as well as providing high-level transactional counsel. As a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law, Jed possesses the in-depth knowledge and skills necessary to address intricate trust and estate disputes and represent clients in related court actions. His additional qualification as a licensed professional attorney fiduciary and his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation further augment his exceptional credentials.

Jed’s meticulous approach to estate and trust disputes ensures that clients receive personal attention and care throughout the process. He understands that conflicts often involve more than just legal issues, given the close family relationships between the parties. This keen awareness enables him to address legal complexities while being mindful of the delicate emotional aspects.

In navigating potential resolutions for estate and trust disputes, Jed leverages his comprehensive knowledge to find solutions that avoid the time and expense of court proceedings. This includes informal negotiations, mediation, and arbitration. However, when necessary to protect his clients' interests, Jed confidently pursues litigation.

Jed's ultimate goal is to ensure that the decedent’s intentions are properly executed and that the beneficiaries’ interests are safeguarded. His dedication to providing personalized, insightful guidance through the estate planning process helps clients make fully informed decisions, ultimately achieving their estate planning goals.

Types of Trust and Estate Disputes

Potential litigation over a trust or estate can arise in various ways, but may be avoided with a well crafted estate plan:

  1. Breach of Fiduciary Duty: Poorly managed estates or trusts may lead to claims for breach of fiduciary duty by a trustee or personal representative during administration.
  2. Beneficiary Disputes: Disagreements between beneficiaries, often stemming from past family conflicts, may result in disputes over the distribution of assets and property.
  3. Document Interpretation: Family members may interpret language in an estate document differently, leading to contests over the meaning or validity of a will or trust.

Jed Hazeltine assists clients with a wide range of trust and estate disputes, ensuring their interests are protected and their conflicts resolved efficiently. Here are some types of claims he handles:

  • Claims for breach of fiduciary duty
  • Disputes over asset distribution
  • Contests over the interpretation or validity of wills and trusts
  • Financial elder abuse

Jed's extensive experience and dedication to providing personalized guidance help clients navigate these complex legal issues, aiming for resolutions that align with the decedent’s intentions and protect beneficiaries' interests.

Schedule a Consultation

From the Trusts and Estates Group office in San Luis Obispo, attorney Jed Hazeltine represents clients in trust and estate litigation throughout the State of California. To schedule a consultation with Jed, please call (805) 439-2323 or reach out through the online contact form.

Representative Cases

The total results of Jed Hazeltine’s litigated matters have resulted in millions of dollars of court awards and settlements for his clients. The following matters are a representative sample of the types of cases litigated by Jed Hazeltine. The list is not all-inclusive.

  • Obtained summary removal of successor trustee based on allegations of misuse of trust property and immediate appointment of client as successor trustee. In re the Matter of the Dungan Family Trust, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. PR110309.
  • Obtained summary suspension of successor trustee and appointment of temporary trustee based on allegations of misuse of trust property and failure to follow terms of the trust. The matter ultimately resulted in a favorable settlement for elderly client-beneficiary. In re the Matter of the Trupp Family Revocable Trust, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. YP010841.
  • Successfully represented successor trustee in accounting and removal action and on appeal to the California Supreme Court concerning the enforceability of an arbitration provision in a trust. The case reignited the nationwide debate about whether a mandatory arbitration provision is enforceable as part of a trust proceeding. The case was returned to the Court of Appeal, and the parties reached a settlement. Diaz v. Bukey (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 315, review granted and opinion superseded and depublished at 148 Cal.Rptr.3d 495.
  • Successfully obtained removal of health care agent under durable power of attorney. In re Durable Power of Attorney of Donald D. Haney II, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. PR110127.
  • Obtained surcharge orders against beneficiaries totaling in excess of $575,000 for filing frivolous legal claims and use of trust property without authorization. In re the Matter of the Carl H. Goedinghaus Trust, San Luis Obispo Superior Court, Case No. 12PR-0281.
  • Obtained judgment awarding ownership of $400,000 insurance annuity to trustee instead of the settlor’s former spouse. In re the Matter of the James D. Albera Living Trust, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. 21PR-0117.
  • Obtained $250,000 judgment against disbarred attorney-trustee for misappropriation of trust assets. In re the Matter of the Sorenson Living Trust, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. PR110309.
  • Jointly obtained a seven-figure settlement on behalf of sub-trusts in purported breach of contract action. Teece v. Davies et al., San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. 14CV-0161.
  • Obtained judgment dismissing entire action against out-of-state successor trustee on ground of lack of personal jurisdiction. In re the Matter of the Robert W. Haynes Trust, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. 19PR-0152.
  • Obtained substantial settlement on behalf of out-of-state beneficiary in trust proceeding, where sibling-trustee misappropriated and exhausted trust assets. In re the Matter of the Bagnard Family Trust, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. 18PR-0400.
  • Successfully intervened in a probate matter on behalf of out-of-state children of decedent to prevent longtime girlfriend of decedent from inheriting majority of father’s estate. In re the Matter of the Estate of Charles T. Williams, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. 20PR-0087.
  • Successfully defended hand-written amendments to trust resulting in distribution of settlor’s Cambria home to trustee-beneficiary. In re the Matter of the 2002 Jacklyn M. Matthews Revocable Trust, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Case No. 16PR-0266.