Shawn S. Kerendian is the founder and Managing Partner of Keystone Law Group, P.C., and is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization). Shawn founded Keystone to provide clients with specialized, focused and efficient legal services in probate, trust and estate matters. Shawn supervises and manages a team of probate attorneys in the administration and litigation of estates, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships.
As an experienced litigator with over 15 years of experience in this practice area, Shawn helps clients resolve contested litigation through creative thinking and the implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to accomplish a client’s goals within the client’s budget. Shawn and his firm has litigated thousands of probate disputes, including heirship claims, community/separate property issues, property ownership disputes (850 petitions), breach of trust and other fiduciary misconduct claims, financial elder abuse claims, will contests, trust contests, Marvin actions, creditor’s claims, equitable adoption claims, breach of contracts to make a will, interpretation and construction disputes, etc.
Shawn is comfortable handling all stages of litigation, from the development of case strategy at the inception of the case through settlement or trial. Shawn represents professional fiduciaries, trustees, beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, creditors, corporations, non-profit organizations, conservators and guardians.
Shawn received his undergraduate degree from UCLA, graduating cum laude, and his law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
Shawn is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization).
Shawn has been appointed by the Probate Department of the Los Angeles Superior Court as a member of its Court Appointed Counsel (CAC) Panel (2018-present). This designation allows Shawn to be appointed by the court as CAC to represent persons in special proceedings, such as a proposed conservatee – i.e., a person who is currently the subject of a judicial proceeding to determine whether a conservatorship is appropriate (typically an older adult with symptoms of dementia).
Shawn has also qualified to act as a member of the CAC Panel for Guardian ad Litem (2019-present), which is one of only four specialty panels within the CAC Panel, which is reserved for highly experienced probate attorneys. This designation allows Shawn to be appointed by the court in contested matters to act as a representative on behalf of one or more of the parties (usually a minor or an incompetent adult) who lack the ability to represent themselves in the litigation.
Shawn has also been selected to act as a settlement officer in the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Pro Bono Probate Settlement Program. This Program is intended to provide parties with probate, trust, estate, guardianship, and conservatorship litigation matters which are pending before the Central District of the Los Angeles Superior Court an opportunity to resolve their cases by an experienced attorney in the field. Shawn has been successful in settling probate litigation cases as a settlement officer.
Shawn is a passionate Los Angeles Lakers and Green Bay Packers fan; spends his free time working out and playing competitive basketball; and enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and pets.
