At The Estate Lawyers, APC, we focus on inheritance disputes, bringing over 150 years of combined courtroom experience to families across Irvine. Since 2005, we’ve been a litigation-only firm, trusted for delivering results in the toughest estate battles while guiding clients with clarity and compassion.
Inheritance disputes in Irvine often center on real estate, the most valuable and contested family asset. With the median home value around $1.6 million, according to Zillow, fights over property in communities like Shady Canyon can escalate quickly into high-stakes litigation.
As reported by OC Aging services in 2024, Orange County residents aged 65+, are expected to represent nearly 25% of the county’s population, indicating that disputes over wills, trusts, and inheritances will continue to rise.
We represent heirs, beneficiaries, and executors in cases involving will contests, trust disputes, fiduciary misconduct, and other probate controversies. Families turn to us because we fight with precision while never losing sight of preserving legacies and protecting what matters most.
Understanding Inheritance Disputes in Irvine
An inheritance dispute occurs when heirs or beneficiaries challenge how an estate or trust is managed, distributed, or interpreted. The most common grounds in Orange County include:
- Undue influence: a caregiver or family member pressures a vulnerable elder into changing their estate plan.
- Lack of capacity: the decedent lacked the mental ability to sign a valid will or trust.
- Fraud or forgery: estate documents are falsified or manipulated.
- Executor or trustee misconduct: mishandling, concealing, or mismanaging estate property.
In Irvine, these cases are heard in the Probate Division of the Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, where probate judges regularly handle disputes over family homes, trust distributions, and sibling conflicts.
Because estates in Irvine often include high-value properties and complicated assets, inheritance disputes require seasoned litigators with deep local experience.
Why Choose Us For Your Inheritance Dispute
Families in Irvine choose The Estate Lawyers, APC because we bring focus, strength, and results to inheritance disputes.
- Nearly 20 years of serving Southern California, founded in 2005
- Attorneys with more than 150 years of combined trial experience
- Exclusive focus on litigation, no estate planning distractions
- No junior associates, every case is handled by senior litigators
- Strong rapport with Orange County probate judges
- Proven record in will contests, trust disputes, and fiduciary removals
- Recognized by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Avvo
Our Inheritance Dispute Services
Our practice covers the full range of inheritance disputes in Irvine:
- Will contests
- Trust disputes
- Beneficiary disputes
- Fiduciary breach claims
- Executor or trustee removal
- Accounting disputes
- Elder financial abuse cases
- Capacity + undue influence challenges
- Fraudulent transfer claims
- Real estate inheritance disputes
- Business succession disputes
- Mediation + settlement negotiations
Trusted by Estate Planning Professionals & Families
When Trusts & Estates Face Disputes
Contact UsMeet The Estate Lawyers, APC
The Estate Lawyers, APC has served Southern California since 2005, with offices in Irvine and San Diego. We have sole focus in litigation, allowing us to resolve inheritance disputes, protect vulnerable elders, and enforce the rightful wishes of the deceased.
Our attorneys have more than 150 years of combined courtroom experience. We are known for precise preparation, relentless advocacy, and compassion for families facing some of life’s most difficult conflicts.
In Irvine, we regularly represent heirs, beneficiaries, and executors in high-value disputes. Families choose us because we fight with strength, skill, and integrity, never losing sight of the people and legacies at the center of each case.
Our Inheritance Dispute Litigation Process in Irvine
Inheritance disputes demand strategy and speed. At The Estate Lawyers, APC, we guide clients through every stage of the process with a litigation-ready approach.
Case evaluation
We begin by reviewing wills, trusts, financial documents, and family history. Many cases involve forensic accountants from local CPA firms to trace assets and prepare accountings.
Filing in court
Cases are filed in Santa Ana’s Superior Court, where judges hear inheritance contests involving wills, trusts, and fiduciaries.
Discovery and evidence
We gather medical records to prove capacity issues, interview witnesses on undue influence, and subpoena financial records. When necessary, we bring in professionals from UC Irvine Medical Center or Hoag Hospital to testify on mental competency.
Settlement negotiations
Many disputes resolve in mediation, especially sibling conflicts. Our trial readiness often pushes the other side to negotiate fairly.
Trial and remedies
If settlement fails, we present a focused case in court. Remedies can include setting aside a fraudulent will or trust, removing a bad executor or trustee, and making sure rightful inheritances are protected.
How Is Inherited Property Divided in California?
In California, inherited property is divided based on the terms of a will or trust. If no plan exists, assets pass under intestate succession, starting with spouses and children, then parents, siblings, and more distant heirs.
Real estate often creates the biggest conflicts. When multiple heirs inherit a home, they usually share ownership as tenants in common. Each heir has the right to sell their share, and if they cannot agree, one may file a partition action in Superior Court to force a sale or division of the property.
At The Estate Lawyers, APC, we handle inheritance disputes throughout Irvine and Orange County. Our litigation-only firm represents heirs, beneficiaries, and executors in disputes over wills, trusts, and real estate, making sure rights are protected and family legacies preserved.
Local Inheritance Dispute Trends in Irvine
Inheritance disputes are rising in Irvine, fueled by valuable real estate, an aging population, and family conflicts.
High-value real estate
With the median home value in Irvine around $1.6 million, property is the number one contested inheritance asset. Estates involving multimillion-dollar homes, can lead to disputes that combine legal and emotional battles.
Common grounds
The most frequent disputes in Orange County involve undue influence, lack of capacity, trustee misconduct, and fraud. California law even presumes undue influence in cases where caretakers benefit from sudden estate changes.
Business and community impact
The Irvine Chamber of Commerce regularly emphasizes fiduciary responsibility and financial accountability in family-owned businesses, which often become flashpoints in inheritance disputes when control passes between generations.
Elder protection
The Orange County Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates financial elder abuse, which frequently overlaps with inheritance litigation. Many contested wills and trusts originate from abuse or manipulation uncovered by APS reports.
Professional support
Inheritance disputes often require forensic accounting. Irvine heirs commonly work with CPA firms near Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard to produce accountings that probate judges rely on in trust and estate disputes.
Local Resources We Work With
Inheritance disputes in Irvine often require coordination with local courts, agencies, and professionals, including:
- Orange County Superior Court – Probate Division (Santa Ana): where inheritance disputes are filed and resolved.
- Irvine Chamber of Commerce: Inheritance disputes frequently impact family-owned businesses tied to the local economy.
- Orange County Adult Protective Services (APS): investigates financial elder abuse, often a factor in undue influence or contested wills.
- UC Irvine Medical Center & Hoag Hospital: provide medical records and professional testimony in capacity and undue influence cases.
Protect Your Inheritance Today
If you’re facing an inheritance dispute in Irvine, whether it’s a contested will, a trust conflict, or sibling disagreements over property, the sooner you act, the stronger your case.
Contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation at our Irvine office.
The Estate Lawyers, APC: Here to guide, Here to Fight, Here for You.