Skip to content
  • Latest
2024 Success Stories
  • Call Today: 310.444.9060
  • Probate Services
    ▼
    • Trust & Will Disputes
    • Fiduciary Misconduct
    • Property Disputes
    • Elder Financial Abuse
    • Trust & Estate Administration
    • Conservatorship
    • Guardianship
    • Probate Appeals
  • Who We Help
    ▼
    • Executor / Administrator
    • Trustee
    • Beneficiary
    • Spouse
    • Power of Attorney
    • Conservator
    • Guardian
    • Creditor
  • Our Firm
    ▼
    • Attorneys
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • 10th Anniversary
  • Learn
    ▼
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Newsletters
    • Testimonials
    • Whitepapers
  • Request a Consultation
  • Probate Services
    • Trust & Will Disputes
    • Fiduciary Misconduct
    • Property Disputes
    • Elder Financial Abuse
    • Trust & Estate Administration
    • Conservatorship
    • Guardianship
    • Probate Appeals
  • Who We Help
    • Executor / Administrator
    • Trustee
    • Beneficiary
    • Spouse
    • Power of Attorney
    • Conservator
    • Guardian
    • Creditor
  • Our Firm
    • Attorneys
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • 10th Anniversary
  • Learn
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Newsletters
    • Testimonials
    • Whitepapers
  • Request a Consultation
  • Probate Services
    • Trust & Will Disputes
    • Fiduciary Misconduct
    • Property Disputes
    • Elder Financial Abuse
    • Trust & Estate Administration
    • Conservatorship
    • Guardianship
    • Probate Appeals
  • Who We Help
    • Executor / Administrator
    • Trustee
    • Beneficiary
    • Spouse
    • Power of Attorney
    • Conservator
    • Guardian
    • Creditor
  • Our Firm
    • Attorneys
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • 10th Anniversary
  • Learn
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Newsletters
    • Testimonials
    • Whitepapers
  • Request a Consultation

Home » Blog » Recap of Keystone’s 2018 Successes

Last Updated: April 17, 2024

Recap of Keystone’s 2018 Successes

Search

Keystone’s attorneys have achieved myriad and significant successes for their clients during the past year. For this first issue of the Keystone Quarterly in 2019, Keystone would like to share with our readers some of these successes (and of course, these successes do not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter):

  • Through creative arguments and vigorous litigation, Keystone obtained a settlement on behalf of non-relative, contingent trust beneficiaries of the vast majority of decedent’s multi-million-dollar trust estate, despite the fact that decedent’s new trust was prepared by a premier estate planning firm, it named a third-party as sole beneficiary and Keystone’s clients’ connection to the decedent were as relatives of decedent’s divorced spouse.
  • In a combined conservatorship and trust action involving the Petitioner’s request to remove Keystone’s client as successor trustee of his mother’s trust, which the mother endorsed and claimed that Keystone’s client kidnapped her and threatened her life, Keystone achieved settlement with the Petitioner after just one day of trial, which fully vindicated client’s position by allowing him to remain acting as trustee and having the trust pay his attorney’s fees. The testimony of Petitioner’s own expert raised doubt about the mother’s ability to grasp the financial ramifications of removing her son, who was working as trustee without compensation, and replacing him with a paid private professional fiduciary.
  • Keystone substituted into a protracted, ongoing action on behalf of the sole trust beneficiary involving a hostile trustee, the beneficiary’s mother, who not only refused to distribute any of the beneficiary’s share (despite unambiguous trust language requiring this distribution to be made immediately and free of trust), but who also claimed that the beneficiary should be entitled to nothing due to distributions the trustee allegedly made during the beneficiary’s childhood. Shortly thereafter, by demonstrating that the trustee was no longer acting neutrally or in the best interests of the beneficiary, Keystone was able to get this trustee suspended, which created considerable leverage and ultimately allowed this case to settle for a greater settlement sum to this beneficiary than had ever previously been offered.
  • Keystone represented beneficiaries of decedent’s prior estate plan in an action to invalidate decedent’s new trust, which disinherited Keystone’s clients on the primary basis that Keystone’s clients, who lived with the decedent, were allegedly responsible for her deteriorating physical condition. However, by procuring evidence demonstrating that the new trust was executed by the decedent during a time that the decedent was under a temporary conservatorship and hospitalized, was signed only three days before decedent’s death and was prepared by the attorney who represented the new trust’s beneficiary rather than the decedent, Keystone obtained a settlement for clients which represented the majority of the decedent’s multi-million-dollar estate.
  • Keystone successfully represented trustee clients at trial on the guardianship of the estate of a minor, arguing that no guardianship was necessary because all of the minor’s assets were held in trust (managed by these trustees) and that if a guardianship of the estate was necessary a professional fiduciary should be appointed rather than the Petitioners who, Keystone argued, had a history of aggressive litigation tactics and hostility with the trustees. On the basis of Keystone’s trial brief and oral arguments alone and without the need for a full trial, the court agreed with Keystone that there appeared to be no assets in the guardianship estate and appointed a professional fiduciary to act on an interim basis as the minor’s guardian ad litem to represent the minor’s interests, thereby achieving clients’ goals.
  • Keystone successfully settled a case on behalf of the brother beneficiary, who along with his sister were the two unequal trust beneficiaries, against an action brought by his sister contesting the decedent’s will, reforming a trust provision, and holding her brother liable for financial elder abuse, all of which, the sister argued, should have the effect of entirely disinheriting her brother. But through Keystone’s representation, and even though the contested trust instrument benefiting Keystone’s client was drafted by a paralegal and not a licensed attorney, Keystone was able to obtain a favorable resolution at mediation, which resulted in the brother beneficiary receiving most of what he would have received under the terms of contested instruments.
  • Keystone represented a client whose husband had passed away many years prior, and who had left behind the family residence, which was titled as separate property in his name only. Since the husband passed away without a will, under California law, Keystone’s client would be entitled to only one-half of the home that she had been residing in for approximately 40 years, with the remaining one-half going to husband’s heirs. Keystone’s client was growing older and needed to sell the property to provide for her own long-term care. Keystone worked closely with the client to identify and prove a long history of community property contributions toward the property over the lifetime of the client and her husband. By doing so, Keystone was able to obtain a court order establishing that the client was entitled to all but a nominal percentage of the interest in the property, allowing client to sell the property and receive almost all of the proceeds to comfortably provide for her future care.
  • Keystone petitioned to recover its clients’ shares of two pieces of real property, each owned by a separate trust – both of which named the opposing side as its sole beneficiaries. Nonetheless, through aggressive litigation – asserting that the trusts and trust amendment which benefited the opposing side should be invalidated on account of lack of capacity and undue influence – Keystone was able to secure a settlement for clients that approximated what clients would have otherwise obtained, had the clients received a successful judgment at trial on their claims.
  • Keystone represented the surviving spouse of the decedent in an action to recover the community property interest of a life insurance policy obtained by decedent as a non-ERISA benefit of decedent’s employment. Decedent did not change the beneficiary designation on the life insurance policy after getting married, and thus, Keystone argued that the surviving spouse was entitled to a share of the death benefits because, regardless of the beneficiary designation, the surviving spouse held a community property interest in the insurance proceeds. When the named beneficiary refused to give the surviving spouse a share of the life insurance proceeds, Keystone was retained and immediately negotiated a settlement at a mandatory settlement conference, resulting in the surviving spouse receiving the full fifty-percent share of the life insurance proceeds she was entitled to receive.

* * *

Keystone thanks all of its clients for a successful 2018, and wishes everyone a great start to 2019!

Want to read about Keystone’s Recap of 2017 Successes? Click here.

Share Post
PrevPreviousSuper DJ Avicii Dies With $50M Net Worth & Without A Will
Read NextExercising a Valid Power of Appointment: Insight into the Requirements of Probate Code Section 632Next

Related Articles

KLG-VERLAN-POST
Super Lawyers Selects Partner Verlan Kwan as One of the Top 50 Women Lawyers
Read More
KLG-SHAWN-POST
Managing Partner Shawn Kerendian Recognized as a Leader of Influence: Thriving in Their 40’s
Read More
shutterstock_2304763731-cropped
2024 Success Stories
Read More
Signing contract and buying agricultural machines and farming equipment
Restoring Ownership of Home — and Justice — for Financially Exploited Elder
Read More
Close up of hands using phone
Shutting Down a Scandal: Protecting a Son’s Legacy From Influencer’s Social Media Attacks 
Read More
talking with trustee
Keeping the Peace in Decades-Old Family Feud
Read More
senior caucasian man open mail letter sign contract document at home
Securing Multimillion-Dollar Settlement for Nephew of Hollywood Icon Without Litigation
Read More
Angry neighbours having argument near fence outdoors
Using a Summary Judgment Motion to Shut Down a Baseless Trust Dispute
Read More
Contract, signature and attorney consulting a client in his office with legal paperwork or agreement
Safeguarding Daughter’s Inheritance From Trust Mismanagement
Read More
Subscribe to The Keystone Quarterly  

Stay up to date with the latest news in the exciting world of probate law through our quarterly newsletter, The Keystone Quarterly. 

Each issue provides insight into the latest probate developments, delves into some of Keystone’s more interesting cases, and gives important updates about our firm. The Keystone Quarterly is a must-read for attorneys and clients alike.

Linkedin Instagram Facebook
Contact
  • 11300 West Olympic Blvd.
    Suite 910
    Los Angeles, CA 90064
  • 310.444.9060
Contact Us
Linkedin Instagram Facebook
Company
  • Our Firm
  • Attorneys
  • Staff
  • Careers
  • 10th Anniversary
Probate Services
  • Trust & Will Disputes
  • Fiduciary Misconduct
  • Property Disputes
  • Elder Financial Abuse
  • Trust & Estate Administration
  • Conservatorship
  • Guardianship
  • Probate Appeals
Who We Help
  • Executor / Administrator
  • Trustee
  • Beneficiary
  • Spouse
  • Power of Attorney
  • Conservator
  • Guardian
  • Creditor
Learn
  • Blog
  • Case Studies
  • Newsletters
  • Testimonials
  • Whitepapers
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap

©2025 Keystone Law Group, P.C. All rights reserved.

This website is for general information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Connection to this website, and communication to this law firm via email or other electronic transmission do not constitute an attorney-client relationship with Keystone Law Group, P.C. unless a separate written agreement is signed by you and Keystone Law Group, P.C. as to the nature of any relationship and the amount to be charged for the intended legal services.

Manage Cookie Consent
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}